OPENING DATE: January 15, 2025 CLOSING DATE: February 28, 2025
POSITION: President and Chief Executive Officer LOCATION: Kiln, Mississippi
Coast Electric Power Association (“Coast Electric”) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution system serving more than 80,000 members in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River counties in Mississippi. Coast Electric has 240+ full-time employees, a headquarters office, three district offices and two branch offices and revenue in excess of $200 million and total assets in excess of $500 million. The President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) reports to a 9-member Board of Directors and is ultimately responsible to Coast Electric’s members. Coast Electric’s mission is to “safely provide our member-owners superior service and dependable electricity at the lowest possible price and to improve the economy and quality of life in our community.” The CEO develops the vision for the cooperative and must work with the Board of Directors and Coast Electric’s executive team to lead in the development of strategies, plans, goals, and objectives to achieve the mission.
CoastConnect, LLC (“CoastConnect”) is a for-profit wholly owned subsidiary of Coast Electric providing high speed broadband and telephone services to over 22,000 subscribers in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River Counties. CoastConnect has revenue in excess of $19 million and total assets in excess of $18 million. The President and CEO reports to a 7-member Board of Managers and is ultimately responsible to Coast Electric’s members and CoastConnect subscribers. CoastConnect’s mission is “to bring communications through fiber internet and phone service to Coast Electric members and others throughout South Mississippi and to improve the economy and quality of life in our community.” The CEO develops the vision for the subsidiary and must work with the Board of Managers and the Coast Electric and CoastConnect leadership teams to lead in the development of strategies, plans, goals, and objectives to achieve the mission.
Plans, develops, and establishes policies and objectives of the Coast Electric Power Association (“Coast Electric”) and its broadband subsidiary, CoastConnect, LLC (“CoastConnect”) in accordance with the directives and objectives of Coast Electric’s Board of Directors and CoastConnect’s Board of Managers (collectively, “Boards”). Recommends to the Boards short and long-range financial and operating goals; capital plans and budgets; annual plans and budgets; and strategies, plans, programs, and policies. Determines the need for changes in rates and changes in rate structure and submits to the Boards for approval.
Plans for the election of the Coast Electric Board and ensures Coast Electric’s annual meeting is conducted in accordance with its Bylaws. Delivers the CEO report to members at annual meeting.
Ensures efficient structuring of Coast Electric and CoastConnect. Articulates the role and accountabilities of each organizational unit ensuring that personnel are developed and that they are provided with a fair and competitive compensation package commensurate with job responsibilities and experience. Fosters a work culture of responsibility and participative/shared leadership with Coast Electric’s and CoastConnect’s executive teams. Ensures that personnel are treated with fairness, respect and courtesy and that they are provided a safe working environment with opportunities to develop and advance.
Demonstrates a good work ethic, a desire to provide exceptional service, and a cooperative spirit of teamwork and encourages the same in all employees. Ensures that programs are administered to strengthen employee morale, employee-member/subscriber relations, employee management relations, and employee health and productivity.
Ensures that all employees and applicants for employment are considered and treated fairly in all aspects of their employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, etc., without regard race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status, and ensures that supervisors are trained and instructed to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.
Manages and directs the executive staff in evaluation and improvement of procedures and processes used in the day-to-day operation of Coast Electric and CoastConnect. Ensures that work is planned and executed to ensure the highest possible member/subscriber satisfaction and the highest productivity at the least possible expense.
Oversees the financial affairs of Coast Electric and CoastConnect to ensure that financial resources are available to meet operating requirements and service objectives, reviewing and monitoring financial policies and procedures to ensure that assets are properly utilized.
Reviews activity reports and financial statements to determine progress and status in attaining objectives and revises objectives and plans in accordance with current conditions. Approves operating and capital expenditures within established budgetary limits.
Ensures that a system of internal controls is developed, that its results are evaluated and that needed corrective action is taken. Ensures internal controls, financial policies, rates, margins, and financial ratios are adequate to maintain a solid financial position, and to provide timely and accurate reporting to Coast Electric’s Board of Directors and CoastConnect’s Board of Managers.
Strives to ensure that members/subscribers are consistently served in a timely manner and treated with fairness, respect, and courtesy.
Understands the changes impacting the U. S. electric utility industry, telecommunications industry, and the broadband industry, and the ramifications of the changes. Participates in and contributes time and effort to national, state, and local organizations wherever there is an opportunity to further the interest of Coast Electric and/or CoastConnect.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
A bachelor’s degree in engineering, accounting, business, or a related field is required.
At least five years of experience at the senior management level is required. Management experience in the electric utility industry and with electric cooperatives is preferred.
Must have the ability to bring about strategic change to meet organizational goals. Must also have the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
Must have the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals.
Must have the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
Must have the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
Must have strong business acumen and be thoroughly familiar with cooperative principles and cooperative business models.
Must have the ability to grasp complex industry specific and general business practices and understand their impact on the membership. A firm grasp of the electric utility and telecommunications industry’s evolving legislative and regulatory challenges is critical.
Must be a proven leader of great integrity with strong management, mentoring and team building skills.
Must have the ability to build coalitions internally, with other cooperatives, within the community and private organizations to achieve common goals.
Must be able to anticipate future social, economic, and technical trends in order to position the cooperative and subsidiary to provide long-term value.
Should have working knowledge of all phases of the telecommunications system, such as construction, maintenance, service, operations, and broadband use.
Must have the ability to create an environment where employees are motivated to work together to meet cooperative goals and create a development-oriented culture that encourages open feedback, recognition, and on-the-job coaching.
Must be knowledgeable of safety rules and regulations, the National Electric Code, federal and state regulations, EPA regulations, OSHA regulations and safety issues and practices at the state and national level.
Must have good communication skills to effectively communicate with multiple groups including the board, members, staff, community institutions, and government agencies.
Must have the ability to persuade and influence others, analyze complex issues, and identify solutions.
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDER:
During times of natural disasters, pandemics, or other unique situations, Coast Electric is designated as an essential business and/or emergency responder. All employees must be prepared to report to work and continue performing job duties and responsibilities at a job site or facility at any time in the event of an emergency consistent with essential business requirements or applicable local, state, or federal law.
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION:
Coast Electric Power Association is a recipient of federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
BENEFITS:
Coast Electric provides a comprehensive benefit package including paid vacation, sick leave, appointment leave, holidays, defined benefit, and defined contribution retirement plans, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance, as well as the opportunity to work for a company that values its employees, families, members, and community.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
This position is open to all qualified candidates. This is a two-part application process and includes: (1) submission of a cover letter, resume, and email address to the physical address listed below; and (2) submission of a completed application packet (to be emailed to qualifying candidates upon receipt of cover letter, resume, and email address). Candidates’ submissions must be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by overnight courier to:
Peter Abide (Coast Electric Board Attorney)
Currie Johnson Law Firm
2355 Pass Road
Biloxi, MS 39531
Applicants must submit both responses by 5:00pm (CST) on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Interviews will be conducted at Coast Electric’s Headquarters located in Kiln, MS.
Coast Electric Power Association (“Coast Electric”) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution system serving more than 80,000 members in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River counties in Mississippi. Coast Electric has 240+ full-time employees, a headquarters office, three district offices and two branch offices. Coast Electric’s mission is to “safely provide our member-owners superior service and dependable electricity at the lowest possible price and to improve the economy and quality of life in our community.”
CoastConnect, LLC (“CoastConnect”) is a for-profit wholly owned subsidiary of Coast Electric providing high speed broadband and telephone services to over 22,000 subscribers in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River Counties. CoastConnect’s mission is “to bring communications through fiber internet and phone service to Coast Electric members and others throughout South Mississippi and to improve the economy and quality of life in our community.”