Consider an Electric Cooperative Career

The search for a purposeful career can begin and end at your local electric cooperative because working toward a greater purpose is at the heart of the co-op business model. Electric co-ops are community-focused organizations that deliver safe, reliable and affordable energy to the consumer-members they serve.

Electric co-ops need a variety of skill sets to develop new technologies and infrastructure, keep the electric grid secure and power the lives and economy of our local communities.

Check out the job openings below. You may also post your résumé and search for employment with other Kansas electric cooperatives—and electric cooperatives in other states—by visiting our online nationwide Career Center.

KEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

 

The communications intern will work on a variety of hands-on, portfolio-building projects that support the rural electric cooperatives in Kansas. Your responsibilities could include assisting with the publication of a monthly magazine, designing print materials, writing articles for the magazine and an internal newsletter, providing event support for youth programs, photography assignments, and more. This internship offers flexible start/end dates and will take into account your class schedule. The position works from the Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. headquarters in Topeka. Hours are flexible, but will be scheduled during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday). Applicants must be a junior or senior in college majoring in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field. For more information, email sread@kec.org.

Custer Public Power District, located in Broken Bow, Nebraska, has two job openings. Please contact Carol Fritzler at  cfritzler@custerpower.com, if interested.

  • Operations Manager

  • Engineering Assistant

  • Communications Specialist I - Hays

  • Project Management Intern - Hays

  • Journey Line Technician - Colby

  • Line Technician Apprentice I-IV - Colby

  • Lab Tech Trainee - Holcomb

  • Environmental & Science Intern - Summer 2019 - Holcomb

  • Transmission Engineer I - Great Bend

  • Transmission Engineer II - Great Bend

  • Transmission Engineer Intern - Summer 2019 - Great Bend

  • Senior Transmission Engineer (System Protection) - Great Bend

  • Transmission Geotechnician I - Great Bend

  • Instructional Designer - Garden City

  • Operator Technician EI&C I-IV

 

Apply for Sunflower Careers

The Multimedia Communications Specialist is responsible for assisting in the development, design and deployment of multiple forms of media to support Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KEC) and Kansas Country Living (KCL) strategies. This person will:

• Work closely with internal clients and member co-ops to help facilitate the creation of multimedia content including original text, graphics and video; repackage magazine materials for digital consumption. (Current platforms include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.)

• Lead creative aspects in design and development for websites, mobile/tablet applications, digital and email marketing initiatives.

• Manage websites and apps, with initial emphasis on assisting with the development of a Kansas Country Living website.

• Write and edit content for Kansas Country Living magazine. 

• Collaborate with director of communications and manager of creative solutions to strategize and implement designs, communication plans and strategies.

Magazine Production Requirements:

  • Assist editor as needed to conduct interviews, write features, paginate and photograph for print and digital uses.
  • Assist with graphic design for both print and online media.
  • Film, edit and publish video reports as needed.
  • Record, edit and publish audio reports including podcasts as needed.

Social Media:

  • Coordinate social media for KCL and KEC by creating, organizing and updating content as needed, leveraging these platforms to communicate brand stories and execute communication plans.
  • Manage posts and respond to followers.
  • Research, implement and optimize search engine marketing strategies (traditional, video, etc.) and pay-per-click advertising in the various search engines.

Web and Apps:

  • Develop new web applications as identified by director of communications for both KEC and KCL and maintain and enhance existing web applications.
  • Assist in development and maintenance of KCL website; maintain KEC website and identify solutions to enhance consumer-members’ experience.
  • Stay current in researching and identifying solutions to enhance consumer-members’ experience.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Must be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Adobe Acrobat).
  • Experience in web development using WordPress (or similar CMS experience).
  • Graphic editing and video editing skills preferred (Avid, Premiere, Photoshop, and After Effects).
  • Proficient in planning, executing and managing digital and social media, specifically in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat and other emerging platforms and can spot and articulate current trends.
  • Exceptional writer with a strong knowledge of AP style.
  • Be able to work on multiple projects and meet deadlines.
  • Strong verbal communication skills.
  • A creative and team-oriented mindset.
  • Excellent customer service skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

  • Understanding of convergence journalism and packaging easily accessible content for various mediums.
  • Experience using Constant Contact (or other email marketing software).
  • Knowledge of web scripting languages helpful but not required (HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, jQuery).

Education/Other Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or marketing. Bachelor’s degree is preferred for this role; however candidates with commensurate experience will be considered.
  • At least three to five years of solid writing, editing and design experience.
  • Understanding of applications from the user perspective and how each user will utilize applications in their environment.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving ability using methodical reasoning.
  • Ability to work occasional events that take place in the evening and on weekends.
To apply, send resume to vestes@kec.org. 

Top 10 Reasons To Consider a Co-op Career

There are many ways to earn a paycheck, but some are more rewarding than others. Here are 10 reasons to consider joining the electric cooperative family.

10. Tech-focused

The electricity industry is at the leading edge of a global energy revolution. Rapid advances in renewable generation, energy storage and smart grid technologies will change the way we use electricity. If you work at an electric cooperative, you can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime industry transformation.

9. Business on a human scale

Cooperatives hold themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while still maintaining a close-knit, family-friendly working environment. Decisions are made locally by managers who know employees by name, not halfway across the country in some corporate headquarters. Their smaller size and local control also gives co-ops more flexibility to innovate and try new ideas to improve the service they provide.

8. Support a clean environment

Electricity is one of our cleanest energy sources, and as technology improves, electric cars, next-generation heating and cooling systems, home automation and other forms of environmentally beneficial electrification will reduce our reliance on less efficient forms of energy.

7. Retirement security

It might seem a long way off today, but we all need to plan for retirement. Co-op employees deliver a valuable service to their communities, and they’re rewarded for that dedication with outstanding retirement benefits.

6. National reach

America’s 900-plus electric cooperatives serve 47 states and 56 percent of our nation’s landmass. So whether you want to stay in your hometown or explore another part of the country, odds are good that there will be an electric cooperative nearby.

5. Stability

There are no guarantees in life, but some bets are safer than others. Electronics play a critical and growing role in our daily lives, and as our reliance on technology increases, so too will our demand for electricity. As long as we need electricity, we’ll need workers to ensure it is safe, reliable and affordable.

4. Principles, not profit

When you work for an electric cooperative, you’re not helping some out-of-towner get richer. You’re working to serve your friends, family and neighbors who collectively own the cooperative.

3. Join a global movement

As a member of the co-op family, you’re part of something much larger than yourself. The cooperative movement represents a human-centered, ethically driven way of doing business. More than 250 million people around the world earn their living working in cooperatives, and the cooperative economy generates approximately $2.5 trillion in global economic activity each year.

2. Competitive pay

You won’t get rich working for your local electric co-op, but you’ll enjoy excellent pay and benefits that can help you and the people you love achieve the American dream.

1. Build a stronger community

Safe, reliable and affordable energy is critical to the health and prosperity of a community. Electric cooperatives power our homes, schools, farms and businesses, and keep rural America connected to the global economy.