Secretary to Chief Executive Officer jobs in Illinois

Position Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President
Reports to: Board of Directors FLSA: Exempt
Department: CEO/President Date Updated: 03/26/2024

Mission Statement: EnerStar Electric Cooperative exists to reliably distribute affordable electricity to its member-owners while upholding our values of integrity, accountability, and commitment to our community.

POSITION PURPOSE

The CEO & President is responsible for managing EnerStar Electric Cooperative ("Coop"). Such management is to:

•  Promote the highest level of service quality to Coop members.
•  Promote a Coop image built on trust and respect.
•  Promote the goals and objectives as outlined in approved company governing documents, policies and short and long-  range plans.
•  Develop and maintain a high quality of staff members.
•  Maintain compliance with all relevant governing rules, regulations, and laws.
•  Promote teamwork, collaboration among staff and board, transparency, and integrity in all business dealings.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To be successful in this role, an individual must be able to perform in a satisfactory manner the functions listed below. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP

• Ensures that the activities and operations of the Coop are conducted in accordance with the bylaws, policies, mission, and goals established by the board of directors.
• Promotes and generates cooperation between the board of directors and senior staff to achieve a collaborative outcome built upon teamwork, transparency and integrity.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee growth and development and ensures all employees within the cooperative function at a high level.
• Consistently behaves in a manner that conveys a deep commitment to serving internal customers and external members. This includes listening, building confidence, increasing satisfaction, and responding to needs.
• Uses sound judgment to make and take responsibility for decisions in a timely manner while taking the impact to the whole Coop into consideration.
• Adapts to changing circumstances and considers new approaches, while keeping the best interests of the Coop in mind.
• Uses a variety of approaches to manage and resolve concerns, disagreements and conflicts while preserving relationships.

VISION

• Builds and shares a compelling vision of the direction/purpose of the Coop with the goal of engaging and motivating others toward this common view.
• Demonstrates strategic thinking and innovative thinking that analyzes issues and trends and how they link to the overall goals and objectives of the department and Coop.
• Uses analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to comprehend a situation by breaking it down into its logical components and identifying the underlying issues. Determine cause-and-effect relationships to create awareness of implications of action or inaction, and resolve problems in a sound, decisive manner. Proactively and accurately assess problems.
• Keeps abreast of all pending and current legislative and industry trends and issues impacting the Coop.
• Maintains positive business relationships including, but not limited to, the Chamber of Commerce, local service organizations, economic development councils, and industry groups.
• At the discretion of the Board of Directors, the CEO may be asked to represent cooperative at various affiliates such as AIEC, WVPA or industry related trade shows.

EXECUTIVE DISPOSITION

•  Consistently conveys an image that promotes transparency and integrity.
•  Consistently behaves in a professional and ethical manner consistent with the seven cooperative principles and with the organization's values.
•  Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work; achieves results with little oversight and follows  through on commitments.
•  Demonstrates consistent commitment and focus on achieving high quality, efficient and timely results.
• Demonstrates a high level of resilience by maintaining effective performance and self-control under pressure or adversity.
•  Proactively looks for opportunities to develop his or her skills and behaviors to maximize performance and effectiveness.

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

• Communicates well both verbally and in writing. Effectively conveys and shares information and ideas with others. Listens carefully and understands various viewpoints. Presents ideas clearly and concisely and understands relevant detail in presented information.
• Works together with others and helps others to work cooperatively to accomplish goals/objectives.
• Demonstrates a commitment to member service. Displays a willingness to go above and beyond for both internal customers and external members. Holds oneself accountable for high quality outcomes.
• Communicates with and resolves customer issues and concerns as needed.
• Establish and maintain harmonious professional relationships by demonstrating respect and concern for others. Ensures staff members adapt their own actions and communications to support the goals and objectives of the cooperative.
• Plans and facilitates board meetings in a professional manner by providing data, facilitating participation, and building consensus among the directors.

BUSINESS ACUMEN

• Understands and utilizes economic, financial, and industry data to accurately diagnose business strengths and weaknesses, identifying key issues, and developing strategies and plans.
• Uses appropriate financial strategies and systems to maximize cash flow and limit risk to the organization.

SAFETY

• Upholds and promotes all safety standards and proactively identifies and corrects conditions that affect employee safety.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fulfills supervisory responsibilities including, but not limited to, planning, scheduling, delegating, appraising, coaching, counseling, and teaching; supports business systems and policies, procedures, and practices relative to supervisory responsibilities.
•  Displays a team style by encouraging constructive handling of conflict and providing and accepting feedback. Encourages personnel to use creativity in an effort to find ways to eliminate unnecessary tasks and to streamline others. Assists personnel in seeing how the Coop's goals are best accomplished. Takes genuine interest in the development of personnel. Conveys feelings of respect for all personnel and encourages the same from others.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have an equivalent of the following education and/or experience.

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, marketing/communications, engineering, accounting, or a related field or 10 years of experience with an electric cooperative, public power district or municipality and 5 years of increasingly responsible administrative, management, and/or supervisory experience are required.
• Valid driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to describe and explain complicated or sensitive information, the ability to negotiate with and motivate others, the ability to maintain confidentiality, and strong listening skills.
• Ability to communicate information to groups.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to make judgments based on interpretation of  information and when others' opinions may be in conflict.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and manage tasks and time effectively for self and others. 
• Strong financial skills, including the ability to develop and monitor a budget, to track and control revenues, to verify financial documents, to check the financial/accounting work of other employees, and to authorize expenditures.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The environmental and physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

•  Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented office environment.
•  Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
•  Ability to sit and stand for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the workday within or between   departments or facilities.
•  Strong sensory skills, such as good hearing, dexterity, and good eyesight.
•  Ability to interact frequently with others, both in person and through phone, e-mail, and written correspondence.
•  Travel required approximately 20 percent of the time; overnight travel required on occasion.