Director, Risk and Insurance

About the role

This position is responsible for developing the vision for building a culture of risk awareness throughout the organization. This position oversees identifying, evaluating, analyzing, and mitigating risks integral to the operations and strategic vision of the cooperative.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, continually improves, and oversees compliance with Enterprise Risk Management tools, practices, and policies to analyze, report on, and mitigate all risks of the cooperative.
• Manages, updates, and works with the board of directors, executive team and all levels of the cooperative to maintain the EKPC risk register.
• Fosters a culture of risk awareness, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Develops, recommends, and implements the company's corporate insurance program (e.g., property, unit outage, excess liability, etc.) and all other lines of coverage applicable to the industry to maintain maximum protection of the cooperative’s assets at the most competitive rates including negotiation of new lines and renewals, managing relationships with the industry, and supervision of the claims process.
• Provides executive oversight and management of all aspects of the Cooperative’s cell captive insurance company, evaluating, and recommending risks to be included in the captive structure.
• Provides strategic oversight and management of market risk, commodity risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and collateral management activities. Oversees compliance with approved risk management policies, trading authorities, credit limits, and risk tolerances.
• Serves as Chairperson of the Internal Risk Management Committee (IRMC) and regularly reports to the Board Risk Oversight Committee (BROC) on risk related matters. Ensures risk governance activities support effective Board oversight and informed decision-making.
• Provides leadership, mentoring, coaching, and performance management for risk management and insurance personnel. Develops departmental goals, objectives, budgets, and performance metrics. Evaluates and recommends improvements to risk management systems, analytics, reporting tools, and governance processes.
• Develops and maintains enterprise-wide business continuity management program including development of tools and instructional guides for business units and working with business units to ensure continuity plans are current.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field. Master’s degree in a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience: Twelve (12) years of related experience. Must have at least five (5) years of supervisory experience in a related area.
• Extensive experience with corporate insurance programs, brokerage relationships, insurance negotiations, and claims management.
• Experience with captive insurance and alternative risk financing structures strongly preferred.
• Experience in enterprise risk management, governance, and board-level reporting.
• Experience in electric utility sector including knowledge of market and credit risk management, fuel markets, and energy trading preferred.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership skills with proven ability to manage, develop, and motivate staff.
• Knowledge of utility operations and the unique operational, financial, regulatory, environmental, cybersecurity, and physical risks affecting the electric utility industry.
• Understanding of utility construction, transmission, generation, fuel procurement, and energy market risks.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards applicable to electric utilities and cooperative business models.
• Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and build partnerships throughout the organization, with the Board of Directors, and with external stakeholders (co-op managers, PSC, external auditors, legal counsel).
• Extensive knowledge of enterprise risk management, insurance, captive insurance structures, risk financing, market risk, credit risk, and business continuity.
• Strong knowledge of insurance markets, underwriting practices, policy interpretation, renewals, brokerage services, and carrier negotiations.
• Ability to proactively identify emerging risks across the enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain an enterprise risk management framework, risk appetite, risk tolerance, and governance processes.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate risk financing alternatives, insurance costs, self-insured retentions, deductibles, and total cost of risk.
• Ability to interpret complex legal, contractual, regulatory, and insurance policy language and recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Knowledge of corporate governance principles, internal controls, compliance programs, and audit processes.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships throughout the organization and with external contacts.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to lead enterprise-wide risk assessments, business continuity planning, and crisis management initiatives.
• Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and adapt to changing business needs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance risk and business objectives.
• Ability to develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with personnel throughout the organization, including external contacts.
• Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present information to executive leadership and Board levels.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise reports/presentations and communicate complex risk issues to executive leadership, Board members, regulators, and external stakeholders.
• Adaptable, forward-thinking, and able to lead through change.
• Proficiency with risk management systems, insurance information systems, analytics platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a generous 401(k) retirement plan, and a flexible vacation and sick leave package.

Work Environment

Usual office conditions apply to this position with occasional lifting up to twenty (20) pounds. Extensive travel required, which may be overnight or for extended periods. Frequent work outside normal business hours required.

Mandatory qualifications: Valid driver’s license and ability to wear personal protective equipment as appropriate.