SVP of Operations

HJ Staffing•Manassas, VA

About The Position

The SVP of Operations is an executive-level member of the Leadership Team at a well-established electric distribution cooperative serving a high-growth service territory. The Cooperative provides power to residential, commercial, and large-load industrial customers, with substantial growth tied to data center and infrastructure expansion. The role leads the people, systems, and strategy needed to maintain grid reliability, safety, and modernization while meeting sustained load growth. The SVP oversees a sizable workforce of internal staff and contract line and substation crews, with director-level direct reports across electric system operations, substation and telecommunications, system operations and technical services, business services, and fiber optic systems. The position reports directly to the President & CEO. The role leads power delivery system construction, operation, maintenance, service restoration, and dispatch control across transmission and distribution infrastructure. It also oversees operational technology, electric metering, vegetation management, emergency management, budgets and staffing plans, safety and compliance, labor relations, grid modernization, and external relationships. The SVP provides executive input on rate cases, capital planning, and cost-of-service studies, and develops leadership succession and talent. The package includes a competitive executive base salary and incentive package, a retirement plan with employer contributions and match, comprehensive benefits, and relocation assistance for the right candidate.

Requirements

At least 15 years of directly related experience in power delivery system operations and maintenance.
At least 5 years of management experience in operations and maintenance at an electric utility.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business from an accredited institution.
Working knowledge of utility operations, engineering, large project management, finance, and power supply.
Understanding of multiple utility business models, including cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and public power.
Proven ability to operate strategically while maintaining sufficient attention to detail to deliver.
Track record of building and retaining top-tier operations talent.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business or Management.
Experience serving large industrial or data center loads, or managing rapid load growth.
Familiarity with regional reliability organizations, RTOs, and utility partnerships.
Experience leading unionized workforces.
Executive sponsorship of grid modernization and cybersecurity initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy and performance of power delivery system construction, operation, maintenance, service restoration, and dispatch control across transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Oversee operational technology, electric metering, vegetation management, and emergency management functions.
Lead annual and multi-year operations, maintenance, safety, and security budgets and staffing plans.
Foster a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with worker protection standards and government mandates.
Represent the Cooperative with its transmission provider, regional cooperative associations, and Regional Transmission Operator, including on operations and emergency actions.
Manage labor relations with union workers under collective bargaining.
Lead grid modernization strategy involving SCADA, fiber, substation computing, field devices, cybersecurity, and resilience.
Provide executive input into rate cases before the state regulatory commission, capital planning, and cost-of-service studies.
Lead succession planning, leadership pipeline development, and mentorship of directors and managers.
Engage with legislators, local jurisdictions, universities, and community partners.
Oversee a workforce of internal staff and contract line and substation crews and direct reports spanning multiple operational functions.