Lea County Electric Cooperative- Chief Operating Officer

Nreca•Lovington, NM

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Lea County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) in Lovington, NM is hiring a collaborative, results-driven leader for their Chief Operating Officer (COO). This key member of the leadership team will play a critical role in aligning strategy with execution, strengthening organizational culture, and ensuring operational excellence across the cooperative. The COO will operate as the General Manager’s principal partner with full authority to act in their absence. The COO is expected to lead decisively, move the organization with urgency, and deliver measurable results across a complex electric system. This role is being created to support ongoing growth in capital projects and to address an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory environment. In addition, it will play a critical role in ensuring continuity of leadership and institutional knowledge as the organization prepares for a significant wave of upcoming retirements, strengthening succession planning and reinforcing a resilient, future-ready organizational structure. LCEC has retained NRECA Executive Search to facilitate the search process for this newly created position. About Lea County Electric Cooperative Established in 1949, Lea County Electric Cooperative in headquartered in Lovington, New Mexico. The cooperative plays a vital role in powering communities across Southeast New Mexico and West Texas, encompassing portions of Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties in New Mexico, as well as Cochran, Gaines, and Yoakum Counties in Texas. Our dedicated team of nine trustees, in collaboration with our skilled management and workforce, has successfully navigated through periods of change and expansion. Key Statistics about LCEC 230 MW system peak 1.4+ billion kWh annual sales Over 4,300 miles of energized line 53 owned substations, switch stations and transmission interchange stations 70 MW renewable portfolio $100M+ annual revenue $300M+ total utility plant Full transmission and distribution operations Central operations hub with multiple satellite locations The cooperative has a full requirements contract with its G & T - Western Farmers Electric Cooperative located in Anadarko, Oklahoma. The COO position Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President and General Manager, the Chief Operating Officer will drive organization-wide performance against strategic and financial targets by aligning all functions to clear metrics, timelines, and outcomes. In the General Manager’s absence, the COO will have decision-making authority, while promoting strong operational discipline, and eliminating silos to ensure cohesive execution across the cooperative. This role serves as the bridge between strategic vision and day-to-day execution, ensuring that organizational priorities are effectively implemented across departments. The COO also plays a key leadership role in fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field
At least 5 years of progressive leadership experience
At least 10 years of electric utility experience
Strong operational and project management background

Nice To Haves

Electric cooperative or public power experience strongly preferred
Advanced degree (MBA or related)
Experience working with Boards, regulators, and community stakeholders
Experience with Southwest Power Pool (SPP) strongly preferred
Deep Expertise in transmission and distribution operations
MIP graduate is desired
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus
NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) experience
Direct experience in Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) environments

Responsibilities

Lead electric operations with an uncompromising focus on reliability, safety, and cost control
Own system performance across T&D infrastructure
Ensure compliance in a regulated, high-stakes environment
Oversee system resilience as a core operational priority
Convert strategy into executable capital plans—and deliver them without excuses
Ensure projects are completed on time, on budget, and to standard
Maintain real-time visibility into operational and financial performance
Partner on long-term system planning and grid modernization
Build a performance-driven, accountable organization
Lead teams/departments with authority and influence-not consensus alone
Develop the next generation of leadership and strengthen bench depth
Set the tone: high expectations, clear standards, no ambiguity
Oversight of Safety, Buildings and Grounds
Serve as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and Board
Represent the cooperative with credibility and command
Engage directly with Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) markets, including Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
Navigate regulatory, member, and industry relationships with confidence