Director of Member Services & Communications

Director of Member Services & Communications

Hiring Range: $100,234 – $116,888

Lead Relationships. Inspire Communities. Make an Impact.

Wild Rice Electric Cooperative is seeking an engaging, relationship-driven leader to serve as our next Director of Member Services & Communications
. This executive leadership position is ideal for someone who thrives on building relationships, leading exceptional teams, communicating with purpose, and making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

If you're energized by public engagement, strategic leadership, and creating exceptional member experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

Wild Rice Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Mahnomen, Minnesota
. We proudly serve more than 11,000 members across 3,645 miles of line throughout Mahnomen, Polk, Norman, Clay, Becker, and Clearwater counties.

Our service territory showcases the best of northwest Minnesota, a beautiful landscape of prairie, pines, and lakes. Just as unique as the communities we serve is our workplace culture. Our team of 41 dedicated employees is committed to safety, collaboration, innovation, and having fun while delivering exceptional service to our members.

As the Director of Member Services & Communications, you'll serve as a key member of the cooperative's leadership team, providing strategic direction for member services, communications, marketing, energy services, and rural community development initiatives.

More importantly, you'll become the face of the cooperative
, a trusted ambassador who builds meaningful relationships with members, employees, community leaders, businesses, elected officials, and industry partners. Whether you're speaking at a community event, leading organizational initiatives, or helping members navigate important issues, your leadership will help strengthen the cooperative's connection to the communities we proudly serve.

In this role, you'll provide executive leadership for:

• Member services and the overall member experience.
• Strategic communications, marketing, branding, and public relations.
• Community engagement and rural economic development initiatives.
• Energy services, conservation, and member education programs.
• Key account and strategic member relationships.
• Department leadership, employee development, and team performance.
• Legislative and industry communications impacting members.
• Cross-functional initiatives that support the cooperative's long-term strategic goals.

Our ideal candidate is an authentic leader who enjoys working with people as much as strategy.

You are someone who:

• Leads with integrity, humility, and sound judgment.
• Builds trust through genuine relationships and exceptional communication.
• Is comfortable serving as the public face of an organization.
• Inspires and develops employees while fostering a positive team culture.
• Thinks strategically, embraces change, and enjoys solving complex challenges.
• Understands the importance of balancing member needs with sound business decisions.
• Respects the value of rural communities and the cooperative business model.

Experience in the electric utility or cooperative industry is valued; however, we also encourage candidates with leadership experience in utilities, public infrastructure, municipalities, telecommunications, construction, engineering, or other service-oriented organizations to apply.

Candidates with an understanding of technical and skilled trades environments —such as electrical systems, line operations, HVAC, construction, or engineering— will be especially successful in building credibility with employees, members, and industry partners.

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience) is required. Candidates should possess progressive leadership experience with demonstrated success in communications, member or customer service, organizational leadership, team development, and relationship management.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.…