Electric Distribution Senior Leader

Seeking an experienced electric utility professional who is passionate about developing people as much as operating an electric distribution system.

This position provides leadership for the electric operations team while serving as a mentor and coach to journeyman linemen, apprentice linemen, foremen, and future supervisors. The successful candidate will bring decades of practical utility experience, sound judgment, and a servant leadership mindset to help prepare the next generation of operational leaders.

This is a unique leadership opportunity designed to strengthen the company's long-term succession plan. Over the next four to five years, this individual will intentionally develop employees, transfer institutional knowledge, and help prepare future leaders to assume increasing operational responsibilities.

The ideal candidate understands that leadership is measured not only by keeping the lights on, but by leaving behind a stronger team than they inherited.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead the electric operations in a manner consistent with company values.
• Build a culture focused on safety, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Develop trust and credibility with field employees through visible leadership.
• Provide guidance and support to foremen and emerging leaders.
• Help employees navigate difficult situations while maintaining high expectations.

Coaching & Mentorship

• Serve as the primary mentor for field employees.
• Coach apprentices and journeyman linemen on professional growth.
• Develop future foremen and supervisors.
• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching conversations.
• Identify leadership potential and create individualized development plans.
• Share operational knowledge developed through years of field experience.
• Foster a culture where employees learn from mistakes while remaining accountable.

Operations Leadership

• Provide leadership for construction, maintenance, restoration, and system operations.
• Support emergency response and outage restoration efforts.
• Coordinate field activities with engineering and customer service departments.
• Assist in work planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NESC, RUS, PSCW, and company policies.
• Promote operational efficiency while maintaining high quality workmanship.

Safety Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture.
• Participate in safety meetings and job briefings.
• Coach employees on safe work practices.
• Conduct field observations.
• Support investigations and corrective actions when necessary.
• Reinforce that safety is a leadership responsibility.

Workforce Development

• Develop training plans for field employees.
• Recommend educational opportunities.
• Work with apprenticeship programs.
• Assist in evaluating employee performance.
• Help establish career pathways for operations employees.
• Prepare employees for increasing leadership responsibility.

Succession Planning

One of the primary purposes of this position is to prepare others for leadership.

The successful candidate will intentionally:

• Develop future foremen.
• Develop future operations managers.
• Document institutional knowledge.
• Improve operational procedures.
• Leave the department stronger than they found it.

Demonstrated Capabilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Humility
• Emotional intelligence
• Patience
• Excellent listening skills
• Integrity
• Sound judgment
• Ability to coach rather than simply direct
• Calm decision making during emergencies
• High personal accountability
• Ability to earn respect rather than demand it

Minimum & Preferred Qualifications

• Journeyman Lineman certification.
• 15-20 years of progressively responsible electric utility experience.
• Significant electric distribution system experience.
• Experience leading line crews.
• Strong understanding of distribution construction and maintenance.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations and NESC.
• Valid CDL (or ability to obtain if required).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous foreman, superintendent, operations manager, or similar leadership experience.
• Experience mentoring apprentices and developing leaders.
• Experience with outage management systems.
• Budgeting and operational planning experience.
• Experience leading organizational change.
• Experience developing training programs.

Success in This Position

During the first year, success will include:

• Building trust with the operations department.
• Learning the culture.
• Establishing credibility through visible leadership.
• Beginning structured coaching with employees.
• Identifying future operational leaders.

Within three years:

• Multiple employees are demonstrating measurable leadership growth.
• Foremen are functioning with increased confidence and independence.
• Training and development programs are well established.
• Operational processes have improved.

Within five years:

• The next generation of operational leadership is prepared.
• Institutional knowledge has been successfully transferred.
• Journeyman Lineman team is stronger, more capable, and positioned for long-term success.

Leadership Philosophy

The ideal candidate recognizes that the greatest legacy of a leader is not the work they personally accomplish, but the people they develop. This individual should have the wisdom that comes from experience, the humility to continue learning, and the desire to invest in others so they are prepared to lead when the time comes.

Salary & Benefit Expectations

This position is expected to start at $150,000 annually with potential for growth, company bonuses, and other incentives. Full benefits packages are available.

Pay: $140,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $140,000 - $160,000