?Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

McKenzie Electric Cooperative

Watford City, North Dakota

The Board of Directors for McKenzie Electric Cooperative (MEC), headquartered in Watford City, North Dakota, is seeking a collaborative and visionary individual with the strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to lead change and manage risk to replace the retiring CEO. MEC has retained NRECA’s Executive Search Group to facilitate the search process.

Serving part of the Bakken oil and gas field area, MEC is a member-owned cooperative serving parts of five counties in western North Dakota and a small part of eastern Montana.  MEC employs fifty-five professionals serving 4,613 consumer-members/13,500 meters through 75 substations, 445 miles of transmission, 2740 miles of OH and 1275 miles of UG lines.  The Cooperative has annual sales of over 4,600,000 MWH, annual revenue of about $360M and total utility plant investments of $863M with 74.7% equity.  MEC purchases wholesale power from Basin EC through Upper Missouri G&T and is a member of the ND Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, NRECA, NISC and Federated Insurance. 

Candidates should have broad electric/energy utility experience and knowledge including such areas as accounting and finance, engineering and operations, focus on safety, team building, power supply, member relations, employee development and internal/external leadership.  Successful candidates should have a minimum of 10 years electric/energy utility experience preferably with an electric cooperative, and must have at least 5 years of senior management experience preferably as a CEO/GM.  A bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field is required with advanced degree preferred.  The successful candidate will have a strong member focus and commitment to Cooperative values and principles, be a person of integrity and have a proven ability to collect and analyze information, problem-solve and make decisions.

Once a small rural town of 1,200, Watford City has blossomed into a growing community of over 15,000 residents and has become the epicenter of the state's Bakken oil/gas energy boom.  Watford City is an area steeped in history, culture and scenic beauty, and today it is bustling with new things to see and do.  With the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands, Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea close by, there are many year-round recreational activities to pursue. Watford City also holds community events year-round to give residents the chance to enjoy the town and to socialize with other residents.  Add to these two new public schools, new healthcare/hospital facilities plus the Rough Rider Center featuring an all-weather/indoor Sports Fieldhouse, Aquatic Center and Sports/Hockey Arena, Watford City is a wonderful place to live, work and play.      

McKenzie Electric Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers an excellent retirement plan through NRECA, competitive benefit programs, and a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications.  Interested parties should apply via https://nreca.applytojob.com/apply/5ts9VlzAC3/McKenzie-Electric-Cooperative-CEO  with the following: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) contact information for three professional references.

Applications must be received by January 17, 2022.    If you have any questions, please contact Bob Matheny at 423-605-2626 or via email at Bob.Matheny-contractor@nreca.coop.

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