Vice President of Engineering

Summary 

The Vice President of Engineering provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all engineering functions of the Cooperative. This role is responsible for planning and overseeing the design and long-term reliability of a safe, cost-effective electric distribution system.

This position owns engineering design, system planning, standards, and capital project prioritization. The VP of Engineering ensures that system design and infrastructure planning support operational effectiveness, safety, and long-term system performance.

Standards of Excellence

All employees are expected to contribute to a culture of excellence by:

• Professionally representing the cooperative and BOLT with accurate knowledge and a positive attitude.
• Adapting to change and actively supporting organizational initiatives.
• Communicating clearly, respectfully, and consistently with members, subscribers, and teammates.
• Managing responsibilities efficiently and maintaining attention to detail.
• Making informed decisions based on cooperative policies and subscriber service standards.
• Practicing and promoting safety in all work environments.
• Demonstrating ethical behavior and integrity at all times.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Provides executive leadership for all engineering functions of the Cooperative.
• Develops and executes long-range engineering strategies aligned with the Cooperative’s mission, strategic plan, and Board priorities.
• Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organization-wide planning and decision-making.

System Planning & Engineering Oversight

• Oversees system planning, engineering design, and technical standards to ensure a safe, reliable, and resilient electric distribution system that supports current and future member needs.
• Establishes and maintains engineering standards, specifications, and best practices.
• Provides executive oversight for major capital projects, system improvements, and infrastructure investments.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensures engineering activities comply with applicable safety, regulatory, environmental, and industry standards.
• Promotes a strong safety culture by integrating safety considerations into engineering design and planning.
• Identifies and manages engineering-related risks impacting system reliability, financial performance, and public safety.

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversees engineering budgets, capital forecasts, and long-range infrastructure planning in coordination with Finance.
• Supports responsible financial stewardship through data-driven planning and prioritization of capital investments.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Leads, mentors, and develops engineering leadership and staff.
• Establishes expectations for performance, accountability, and professional growth.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Board, Member & External Relations

• Prepares and presents engineering-related reports, recommendations, and long-range plans to the Board of Trustees.
• Represents the Cooperative with regulatory agencies, power suppliers, consultants, and industry organizations.
• Serves as a technical advisor to executive leadership and the Board on engineering and system matters.

Subsidiary Oversight

• Provides executive oversight and strategic alignment for engineering activities supporting the Cooperative’s subsidiary operations.
• Works collaboratively with subsidiary leadership to support infrastructure planning, design coordination, and long-term system strategies without directing day-to-day operations.
• Ensures appropriate governance, risk management, safety expectations, and engineering standards are aligned between the Cooperative and subsidiary, as applicable.

Emergency Response & System Reliability

• Supports emergency response, major outages, and system restoration efforts as part of the executive leadership team.
• Provides engineering guidance during system events to support safe and effective decision-making.

KPI / Success Measures

• System reliability metrics (SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI) aligned with engineering planning targets
• Accuracy and effectiveness of system planning and load forecasting
• Capital project planning accuracy (budget vs. actual, prioritization effectiveness)
• Engineering design quality and adherence to standards
• Compliance with regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements
• Long-term system performance and infrastructure resiliency
• Timeliness and quality of engineering support to Operations

Decision Authority

• Establishes engineering standards, specifications, and system design requirements
• Approves system planning models, infrastructure strategies, and long-range plans
• Recommends capital project priorities and infrastructure investments
• Provides engineering approval for system design and major project scopes
• Supports operational decision-making with engineering guidance but does not direct field execution or restoration activities (Operations)

Budget / Contract Authority

• Develops engineering-related budgets and capital forecasts in coordination with Finance
• Provides financial input and justification for capital projects and infrastructure investments
• Reviews and approves engineering-related vendor contracts, design services, and consulting agreements
• Partners with Operations on project execution budgets while maintaining ownership of planning assumptions and engineering scope

Compliance & Risk Accountability

• Ensures compliance with all engineering, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards (NESC, RUS, OSHA, etc.)
• Maintains engineering standards and design practices that support system safety and reliability
• Identifies and mitigates system design risks that could impact safety, reliability, or financial performance
• Partners with Operations on system risk, while maintaining accountability for design integrity and engineering standards

Cross-Functional Interfaces

• VP of Operations:
• Engineering = system design, standards, planning, and technical guidance
• Operations = construction, maintenance, switching, and restoration
• CFO:
• CFO = capital planning, financial analysis, and long-term investment strategy
• Engineering = project scope, cost inputs, and infrastructure planning assumptions
• VP of Administrative Services:
• Administrative Services = communication, dispatch coordination, and service impacts
• Engineering = system data, outage information, and infrastructure planning support
• CTO / IT:
• CTO = systems, infrastructure, and technology governance
• Engineering = integration of engineering systems (GIS, SCADA interfaces, data systems)
• Human Resources / Safety:
• HR/Safety = safety programs, policies, and compliance governance
• Engineering = safety integration in system design, standards, and planning
• BOLT Operations:
• BOLT = broadband service delivery and operations
• Engineering = coordination of infrastructure planning where electric and broadband systems intersect
• Executive Team / Board of Trustees:
• Executive Team/Board = strategic direction, capital priorities, and governance
• Engineering = system planning, technical recommendations, and infrastructure strategy

Competencies

Executive Leadership: Provides strategic direction, builds alignment, and holds leaders accountable for performance, safety, and results across the organization

Strategic Thinking & Planning: Anticipates future system needs, evaluates industry trends, and develops long-range engineering strategies aligned with organizational goals

Decision Making & Judgment: Makes informed, timely decisions by balancing technical, operational, financial, and regulatory considerations

Operational & Technical Expertise: Applies deep knowledge of electric system design, planning, and infrastructure to guide sound engineering decisions and system reliability

Communication & Influence: Communicates complex technical concepts clearly to leadership, the Board, and stakeholders; influences decisions and drives alignment

Collaboration & Organizational Leadership: Builds strong partnerships across departments and ensures coordination between Engineering, Operations, Safety, Finance, and external partners

Financial & Business Acumen: Oversees capital planning, budgeting, and resource allocation with a focus on long-term system performance and financial stewardship

Safety & Compliance Focus: Promotes a culture of safety and ensures adherence to regulatory, environmental, and industry standards

Change Leadership & Innovation: Leads teams through change, supports continuous improvement, and drives adoption of new technologies and practices

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required (Electrical Engineering preferred); Master’s degree strongly preferred
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license preferred or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive engineering experience in an electric utility or related infrastructure environment
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience overseeing engineering teams, system planning, and capital projects
• Experience supporting long-range planning, capital budgeting, and infrastructure investment strategies
• Experience working with executive leadership and Boards, including presenting technical information to non-technical audiences

Functional Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of electric distribution system design, planning, and maintenance practices
• Understanding of NESC, RUS, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory and industry standards
• Experience with system modeling, reliability planning, and infrastructure development
• Knowledge of capital project management, cost estimation, and engineering standards
• Familiarity with utility operations, including coordination with Operations, ROW, Safety, and external partners