Vice President of Engineering

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative • Vinita, OK

14h

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required (Electrical Engineering preferred); Master’s degree strongly preferred
• 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
• 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
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing engineering teams and leaders
• Ability to set direction, establish expectations, and drive accountability across departments
• Strong strategic leadership with the ability to align engineering initiatives with organizational goals
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence executive leadership, the Board, and external stakeholders
• Ability to lead through change, manage competing priorities, and make sound, timely decisions

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license preferred or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive