Director of Operations

Start Date:

February 2026

FLSA status:

Regular full time, exempt

Salary Range:

$80,000-$90,000 annual salary based on experience

Reports to:

General Manager

Location:

Minneapolis, Minnesota (hybrid)

Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) is a member-owned cooperative that works to make clean energy accessible to all. We envision a future where community members own, manage, and use clean energy systems together for the collective benefit of all of us. While one person can only influence their own energy bills and use, many people acting together can change the entire energy system.

CEF developed and operates 13 community solar gardens across Minnesota, offsetting the electricity costs and saving money for 1,400 member households and counting. We have an active affordable housing solar program that serves income qualified renters and home owners in the Twin Cities, an energy efficiency program that provides upgrades for households across Minneapolis, and is building a geothermal program to provide community-owned heating and cooling to members of our community.

CEF has a particular focus on economic and racial justice, working to ensure that all projects are developed using an economic model that is deeply accessible to members regardless of income or ability to pay, as well as prioritizing workforce equity in the solar industry. CEF uses member participation in these projects to build community wealth and unite and activate members from many different communities around a vision for our energy future that is rooted in community-controlled clean energy.

Primary Purpose:

We are looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented Vice President of Operations to work with CEF's finance, operations, outreach, subscription management/billing, and communications teams to ensure that the cooperative is running as smoothly as possible.

The role will manage several core functions of the organization with an emphasis on problem-solving, process mapping, continuous improvement, and an ability to execute on major deadlines that our team needs to meet.

You will be responsible for playing a leadership role in several parts of the organization, working with teams to set and achieve goals, and manage several logistical elements of the organization’s work.

The position requires strong administrative skills, insights into organizational management and development, problem-solving ability, strong relationship management skills, and the ability to manage projects with very different timelines simultaneously.

Job Responsibilities:

- Play a cross-functional leadership and coordination role at CEF, provide strategic input on leadership decisions, and ensure quality control and process alignment.

- Manage goals for the Communications, Operations, Outreach, and Project Development teams, provide operational support and problem-solving for internal teams.

- Oversee workstreams for new project site acquisition and construction management, including proposals, site selection, lease creation, contractor management, and more.

- Ensure the brand and creative strategy is being employed across the organization.

- Oversee onboarding and staff integration processes.

- Plan and execute on monthly lunch-and-learn sessions for the internal team.

- Manage the process for software management and product development,

- including content management systems, customer relationship management,

- billing, and more.

- Manage the human resources operation for the organization, up to and including

- health benefits, vacation, personnel and organizational policies, and issues

- arising from staff grievances as needed.

- Plan and manage staff outings and office needs.

- Prepare and submit grants and RFPs as needed.

- Review contracts for all organizational relationships as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

3-5 years’ experience in relevant field.

- Strong relationship management skills, with demonstrated ability to coach peers, navigate hard conversations, and set boundaries.

- Demonstrated project management success.

- Strong organizational and administrative skills; comfort juggling multiple

- timelines.

- Reliable, self-motivated, able to take direction and be trusted to work independently with minimal supervision.

- Ability to think quickly and solve problems in dynamic environments.

- Team player with strong ability to work in a collaborative environment.

- Strong communication and documentation skills.

- Experience or familiarity with contracts, grants, or RFPS.

- Experience with software systems for project management, sales, or customer

- relationship management (CRMs).

- Management experience.

Desired Qualifications:

- 5-10 years’ experience.

- Human Resources certifications, professional credentials, or experience.

- Understanding of the solar, energy efficiency, or geothermal industries.

To Apply:

- Submit a Resume and a Written Statement explaining why you are interested in this position to hiring@cooperativeenergyfutures.com. We will send additional follow up questions and interview scheduling to candidates we wish to interview. This position will remain open until filled with a target start by or before October 2025.