Chief Operating Officer

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) seeks an innovative, collaborative, strategic executive to help lead our internal operations in support of 3CE’s mission to provide the Central Coast with reliable and affordable clean electricity and innovative electrification programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen our local economies.

Annual Salary Range: $350,000 - $375,000 annually, depending on qualifications.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Monterey, CA; Soquel, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; San Luis Obispo, CA. Hybrid.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and works in close, ongoing partnership with the CEO, Chief Customer Officer (CCO), and Chief Power Officer (CPO) as a core member of 3CE’s executive leadership team. The COO has visibility into all business operations of the agency and provides strategic leadership over those functions and organizational needs assigned by the CEO. The COO serves as a second in command when the CEO is away, leading the organization and keeping operations running without interruption. The COO will have several Director-level reports, including the Directors of General Services, Finance, Energy Risk Management, and Data Analytics and Technology. CEO will continually evaluate senior-executive assignments and oversight responsibilities and make such changes deemed necessary in support of 3CE’s operational needs.

Success in this role requires exceptional people management, a calm and grounded demeanor, strong operational and financial judgment, and the ability to translate strategic direction into execution across a complex, fast-evolving public agency. Energy-sector expertise is valuable, but the primary qualification is the ability to lead, develop, and align teams. A candidate with strong electricity or parallel utility experience (for example, water and wastewater) who is also a truly exceptional people manager will be prioritized; energy-sector expertise without strong people-management skills will not be considered.

This position manages performance and provides supervision of assigned staff and outside vendors retained to assist in carrying out the responsibilities of the position.

ABOUT 3CE:

3CE is a Community Choice Aggregation agency established by local communities to source clean and renewable electricity for 515,000 customers in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties. 3CE’s Boards of Directors represent thirty local city and five county jurisdictions throughout the Central Coast. 3CE is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through local control of renewable electric generation and storage provided at fair and stable rates and the implementation of innovative energy programs that facilitate the electrification of the transportation and built environments. 3CE is committed to investing and developing local electric generation and storage opportunities to support customers. 3CE has $753 million in projected FY2024-25 revenues with 519,000 enrolled customer accounts across residential, commercial, and agricultural operations. 3CE contracted for over 1.3 GWs of long-term eligible renewable resources and 745 MW of battery storage in furtherance of its goal to provide 100% of retail sales from GHG-free energy by 2030. 3CE community energy programs are regularly fully subscribed and driving market transformation. We are dedicated to serving the unique needs of our diverse community while achieving economic and environmental benefits through the advancement of renewable energy.

These job functions, in general terms, describe the type and level of work performed as well as the responsibilities of the COO. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the assignments of any position and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

The Chief Operating Officer will:

• Directly supervise the Director-level team, including setting clear expectations, giving timely feedback, conducting performance reviews, supporting professional development, and making staffing decisions as needed.
• Translate the CEO's strategic direction into operational execution across 3CE’s departments, setting metrics and monitoring progress.
• Coordinate closely with the senior-executive team to identify and resolve cross-departmental issues and ensure alignment among Directors and their teams.
• Actively raise the performance bar across the organization by developing talent, setting high standards, and building teams where excellence is the norm.
• Designs and fosters functional and engaging workplaces that incorporate technology to promote high performing workplaces and support employees seamlessly across our multi-office footprint.
• Leads strategy and governance for enterprise systems, data management, and cybersecurity programs, keeping 3CE's technology and information assets secure, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.
• Attend and present at regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings as requested by the CEO, and prepare Director-level staff to do the same.
• COO is responsible, in coordination with the Treasurer and senior-executive team, to develop and implement long-term financial goals, annual budgets, and operational efficiency improvements.
• Ensure 3CE’s operations run smoothly, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Sustain a culture of public entrepreneurship in which staff raise problems early, provide candid input on draft decisions, and pursue creative solutions.
• Model civic engagement by representing 3CE at community events and, as appropriate, serving on boards of local non-profit or industry organizations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the CEO, CCO, CPO, General Counsel, Boards of Directors, Community Advisory Committee, staff, regulatory agencies, and community partners.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITIES:

People Management

• Demonstrated ability to develop staff, including giving timely, specific, and kind feedback.
• Ability to manage managers: setting clear expectations, supporting their development, and intervening appropriately when they or their teams need help.
• Skill in managing conflict without taking sides prematurely and without allowing problems to fester.
• Ability to draw out candid input from staff, including staff who are reluctant to speak up.
• Comfort holding staff accountable, including having direct conversations around performance strengths and weaknesses.
• Genuine interest in the wellbeing of staff, including work-life balance and professional growth.
• Ability to engender a strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose among senior staff that permeates throughout the organization.
• Adhere to 3CE’s personnel rules and policies.

Temperament and Judgment

• Calm demeanor under pressure, including in politically visible or emotionally charged situations.
• Takes responsibility for outcomes, including mistakes, without deflecting.
• Honest communication, including willingness to say “I don't know” or “I was wrong.”
• Respect and tact when working with elected officials, Board members, staff, and the public.
• Confidence in addressing conflict swiftly, resolutely, kindly, and confidentially.

Operational and Financial Management

• Demonstrated experience designing and scaling operational and management systems that promote operational excellence as an organization grows in size and complexity.
• Strong budget and financial management skills, including the ability to evaluate public financing opportunities, read and use balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
• Ability to draft staff reports that recommend rate changes or other significant actions, and to defend them in public meetings.
• Strong project and time management skills; ability to prioritize and adapt quickly in a changing environment.
• Creative problem-solving, including the ability to develop novel solutions to organizational or personnel problems.

Communication and External-Facing Skills

• High-quality writing, including for Board packets, staff reports, and public communications.
• Clear and persuasive oral communication, including in public meetings.
• Ability to present and interact effectively with regulatory agencies, executive colleagues, Board members, staff, and the public.
• Comfort operating under California's Brown Act and related public meeting and public records requirements.

Energy and Public Agency Knowledge

• California energy markets, products, and regulatory structure.
• Community Choice Aggregation governance, financing, and operations.
• Public agency operations, including Joint Powers Authorities, the Brown Act, and the Public Records Act.
• Public Works projects and the California Contracting Code.
• Power procurement, hedging, and portfolio risk management.
• Utility rate design and cost-of-service analysis.

The Authority will invest in onboarding an exceptional people manager who brings other relevant utility or public-sector experience but is lighter on specific energy-sector knowledge.

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in economics, business, engineering, or public administration. A master's degree (MBA, MPA, engineering, public policy, or similar) is desirable but not required. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may also be considered.

Experience:

At least ten (10) years of full-time management experience, with several years serving at a senior management level, including substantial experience directly managing professional staff and managing other managers (i.e., managing people who themselves manage teams). Experience supervising staff in energy, utility, or other regulated technical fields is a strong plus but is not required if the candidate's people-management track record is exceptional and they bring other relevant energy or utility experience. Spanish language proficiency is desirable but not required.

3CE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS RECRUITMENT AT ANY TIME BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.

HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE AS DESIGNATED BY CEO:

Current remote workdays are scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays OR Employee may elect to work a 9/80 work schedule with alternating Fridays or Mondays off.

BENEFITS:

3CE offers a competitive benefits structure to its full-time employees.

RETIREMENT:

Employees contribute 10% of their salary on a pre-tax basis towards the PARS retirement system, and the employer contributes 10% towards PARS.

HEALTH INSURANCE:

3CE pays 90% employer paid coverage for employee plus family coverage. 100% employer paid for single coverage towards medical, dental, and vision. 3CE contributes up to $2400 annually towards flexible spending benefits and $3600.00 towards HRA.

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

3CE contributes $1,000 per fiscal year for health, wellness, or EV reimbursement.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION:

3CE offers 457 deferred compensations.

PTO:

180 hours annually on an accrual basis per pay period.

CELL PHONE ALLOWANCE:

This position is eligible for a cell phone allowance of $50.00 monthly.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, AND FAIR CHANCE ACT:

3CE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other applicable state, federal, and local law.

In accordance with FEHA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 3CE provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application, interview, and employment process. Applicants requiring accommodation should contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io

Consistent with California’s Fair Chance Act, 3CE considers qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in a manner consistent with applicable law and does not inquire into conviction history until after a conditional offer of employment has been made.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Physical: Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment and requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods, use a computer keyboard and monitor, communicate effectively in person and by telephone, and travel periodically to meetings, hearings, and site visits throughout 3CE’s service territory.

Mental: Requires the ability to analyze complex operational, financial, and regulatory information; exercise sound independent judgment; manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure; and interact professionally with elected officials, regulators, staff, and the public.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and operate assigned equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Environmental: Work is generally performed indoors in an office setting, with occasional travel to outdoor and field locations, including power generation and battery storage facilities.