OPPORTUNITIES

Chief Operating Officer

Apply confidentially through the SCI REMC website – https://www.sciremc.com/careers  Include a cover letter, resume and salary history.  Applications will be accepted through May 7, 2025.

Company and Position Summary

South Central Indiana REMC (SCI REMC) is seeking candidates for the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to replace the current COO who retires in January 2026 after a very successful career.

SCI REMC is one of the largest not-for-profit electric distribution and fiber cooperative in Indiana and a leader in innovative technology.  The cooperative focuses on providing safe, reliable, cost-effective electricity and life-enhancing solutions to its more than 41,500 members and subscribers.  SCI provides services to Morgan, Monroe, Owen, Brown, Putnam, Johnson, and Clay counties. In addition to the core businesses of electric and fiber, SCI employs vegetation management personnel to provide exemplary services to support reliability and member satisfaction.

The cooperative is headquartered in Martinsville, Indiana located just 30 minutes south of Indianapolis airport and 20 minutes north of Bloomington Indiana off I-69.  SCI REMC serves over 3,646 miles of energized lines. SCI REMC has 150 highly valued, member-focused employees.

The ideal candidate will be a people-oriented leader who is adept at fostering a trusting, respectful relationship with employees and cooperative members to carry out the mission of SCI REMC.  This unique position is key as it provides a daily, on-site leadership presence for employees and frees up the CEO to honor key outside commitments needed to ensure SCI REMC remains a leader in its local and extended community.   The COO must help articulate and follow a broad strategic vision with in-depth financial and business acumen. Personal, entrepreneurial business experience would be helpful as the COO will need to balance efforts to help lead SCI Fiber, a relatively new, delicate for-profit business along with leading a strong, well-established electric cooperative. The ideal candidate possesses a unique background with a sprinkling of sales and business experience.  A strong financial acumen is a must.  These skills are important as SCI will be seeking new business ventures to better provide life-enhancing services for our members.

Key Attributes

• An ethical, professional, honest, trust-worthy person, who demonstrates integrity, leads by example and values of the cooperative and its employees.
• A competent, visionary leader who has the personality, self-awareness and ability to communicate with people from various social and economic backgrounds in a clear, concise and confident manner across a broad range of audiences and step-in for the President & CEO, as needed. A respectful person who is an effective listener demonstrates that listening is as important as speaking for effective communications.
• A strategic leader with the discipline and persistence to support a strong, energized team environment based on trust and invites diverse viewpoints. A person who encourages collaborative review and commits to decisions and plans of actions and holds people accountable for achieving measurable results against strategic initiatives, plans or budgets focusing on the achievement of the collective results and equally willing to celebrate the accomplishments of teams.
• A leader who manages business intelligence with a balance of practical and reality-based experience. A person who can lead and support the President & CEO and the cooperative through continually evolving challenges and continually practices servant leadership.
• A leader who manages daily business operations in pursuit of the President/CEO’s goals and objectives by providing leadership to the employees of the Cooperative; and maintains a very close view on financials to ensure appropriate stewardship of member money. The COO has the full authority of the President/CEO, as directed by the President/CEO and the COO will keep the President/CEO advised of any decisions made without the President/CEO’s involvement.
• A leader who will support and appreciate the cooperative principles, business model and value of being a member-owned business.

SCI REMC offers competitive pay and excellent benefits including a front-loaded pension plan, 401(k) matched savings, healthcare, HSA with a generous employer contribution and much more.  Joining the co-op family will prove to be a welcoming, friendly experience where employees are focused on providing the best service to all members and subscribers.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, finance, or engineering, MBA preferred.

Experience:

At least five years’ prior management experience required. Ten years preferred in positions of progressive levels of responsibility as such as a general manager, vice president or department manager. Experience in a rural electric system fiber ISP or in the utility industry is preferred.  Entrepreneurial experience with focused finance experienced balanced with a broad business understanding, strategic sales, process improvement, and overall business intelligence. Experience in managing people, reviewing finances, planning and developing work programs, presenting reports, and organizing and coordinating operations is required.

QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Knowledge of the utility industry and its economic, regulatory and governmental requirements, technical aspects, and its operations.
• The ability to represent the Cooperative within the community and in public relations situations, and skill in achieving trust and respect with such contacts is required.
• Skill and ability with decision making, delegating effectively, and developing a competent staff are required.
• Must be free of outside interests, financial or otherwise, which might affect or conflict with the Cooperative’s policies and objectives.
• Must be an analytical thinker and approach solutions with a conscious, strategic manner balancing the culture of the company with business needs.
• Must demonstrate high standards of conduct through careful investigation of references.
• Must be able to meet and relate to people easily and command the respect of those with varying backgrounds.
• Must present a professional presence to represent the cooperative.
• Must live on the SCI REMC lines or close to the headquarters office.
• Must be regular in work attendance.

SCI REMC is an EO Employer – Minorities/Female/Disabilities/Veterans