Career Center

COMPANY

Cedarburg Light & Water Utility (CL&W) is a locally owned and operated electric and water utility, serving more than 6,700 electric customers and 4,400 water customers in the city of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and a small area outside of the city. The utility provides high quality, low-cost, reliable service with a community-focused, personal touch.

Cedarburg Light & Water was founded by the citizens of Cedarburg in 1901. While a lot has changed over the past century, the focus of the utility has not. Today, the utility offers its customers some of the lowest electric rates in the area - rates significantly lower than those in territories that are served by most investor-owned utilities.   CL&W also provides its customers with clean, high-quality water that meets or exceeds all state and federal standards.

CL&W is also a member-owner of WPPI Energy.  Over the past forty years, WPPI has built a diverse, competitive, and responsible power supply for its member-owners. 

OVERVIEW

The CL&W General Manager (GM) is expected to provide a vision and possess strong leadership skills.  He/she will direct all activities within the CL&W organization and build upon CL&W’s strong record of safety, reliability, cost effective operations, continuous improvement, and exemplary customer service.

The CL&W GM reports to a 7-person Commission appointed by the City of Cedarburg and oversees an annual operating budget of approximately $15 million dollars. The GM will be responsible for the administration and operation of CL&W’s electric and groundwater-based water systems and all ancillary systems such as billing, engineering, customer service, etc.  He/she must be an effective and proactive communicator who will work collaboratively with CL&W’s Commission, City leadership, industry peers, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.  The GM will lead three direct reports with indirect management of the entire CL&W organization of approximately 19 employees.  

The successful candidate will be a self-starter who possesses maturity, confidence, and sound business judgment.  He/she will have the capability to establish credibility as a leader, strategic thinker, and pragmatic doer.  The selected candidate’s personal style will allow for effective interaction with individuals at all levels within and outside the organization.  He/she will be an outgoing individual that enjoys being an active member of the Cedarburg community, helping to promote the benefits of a municipal utility and encouraging the economic development of the region. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CL&W General Manager will be charged with ensuring safety, maintaining reliability, improving efficiencies, and managing costs, all with an eye toward meeting the growth needs of the community. He/she will:

• Facilitate Utility Commission oversight and governance decision-making by providing information and perspectives relative to utility operations and industry data; develop policy recommendations; and facilitate Commission meetings and agendas.
• Maintain a highly effective organization culture that is safety driven, employee empowered, and focused on high levels of achievement in all areas including safety, reliability, customer service, sound fiscal policies, technology development and employee development and performance.
• Enhance and protect the public image and position of the utility through a highly effective communications and community relations program to increase awareness, understanding and support of utility goals and plans; interact with customers and respond to concerns and complaints; communicate with the public and news media through appropriate means.
• Establish and implement both short and long-term strategic plans, as approved by the Commission, to maintain the highest levels of satisfaction and competitive rates for customers, and maintain a safe, productive, and motivated workforce.
• Maintain and enhance utility human resources by providing tools and resources necessary for team members to perform their job responsibilities in an effective, efficient, and accountable work environment.
• Take an active role in utility associations, local business, and economic development organizations. Serve on various boards, commissions and committees on a local, regional, statewide and national basis to create a positive and cooperative relationship with all stakeholders.

The General Manager position is responsible for the following specific duties:

• Develop long range goals and objectives, including a statement of organizational philosophy and purpose, annual work program, long range financial plan, and annual financial budget
• Establish, with the input and assistance of his/her staff, the Utilities’ policies regarding, but not limited to, finance, organization, personnel, public relations, operations, employee development, compensation, purchasing and billing
• Present recommended policies to the Commission for approval
• Develop the organizational structure best suited to meet the approved goals, objectives and viewpoints of the Commission and present the recommended structure to the Commission for approval
• Review position descriptions to verify that the descriptions are up-to-date and appropriately detail the specific qualifications, duties, and expectations for each of the Utilities’ positions
• Select, appoint and/or terminate his/her immediate staff and participate in all selections, appointments and terminations made by his/her staff for positions within their respective departments
• Initiate and develop a management and staff development program, for recommendation to the Commission, that provides for effective communication, growth, and management of the organization and its employees
• Develop, with input from his/her staff, a total compensation plan for recommendation to the Commission, to determine and recommend wage, salary, and benefits adjustments for all staff
• Develop the monthly Commission agendas; participate in all regular and special Commission meetings; and review Commission minutes
• Oversee the Utilities’ engineering program; review, with the assistance and input of the staff, all engineering studies and monitor progress of approved studies
• Review and recommend, for Commission approval, all major construction projects of the utilities; monitor the progress of construction projects and report progress to the Commission
• Oversee the financial matters of the utility
• Develop, with his/her staff, their respective departmental budgets and long-range financial plans and present, for Commission approval, the annual budget and long-range financial plan
• Coordinate all investment activity as directed by the Commission; report the results of investment activity, with the assistance of staff, to the Commission
• Review, on a periodic basis, financial statements of the Utility; review the revenue, expenditure and cash reports as needed to keep current and informed of the Utilities’ financial position; analyze and review the quarterly financial and operating statements in light of budgeted or planned results; and review variances with the appropriate departmental manager(s)
• Present, with the assistance of staff, the monthly financial results and related reports to the Commission for review and approval
• Encourage the participation of all Utility employees in related seminars, conventions, and professional organizations and review and approve participation in related educational courses

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

The new General Manager will be a uniquely talented leader who is technically adept, demonstrates a strategic mindset, and has the desire and capability to lead a high-performing, customer-focused work environment.   He/she will have a focus of continuing to ensure that CL&W is a leader in the provisioning of high quality, low-cost electric and water utility service and building a values-based culture focused on service, collaboration, and accountability.

Ideally, this individual will possess the following experience and qualifications:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in the electric and/or, water utility sector
• Five years of management experience
• Exceptional business and financial acumen with a solid understanding of the electric utility ecosystem, including renewables and clean energy technology
• Ability to work collaboratively, influence decisions and outcomes, and facilitate consensus
• Exceptional service orientation
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong negotiating skills
• Ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
• Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving skills

The finalist must possess the ability to:

• Analyze complex issues and develop recommendations and solutions based on sound business judgement
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply local, state, and federal policy, law, regulation, and court decisions as they relate to CL&W system operations
• Lead, facilitate and/or participate in the strategic planning, organization design, implementation, and monitoring of comprehensive programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of CL&W employees, commissioners, elected officials, business and community leaders, media representatives and the public
• Communicate and respond effectively to inquiries or complaints from employees, customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the community
• Interact effectively through public speaking and presentations on complex topics to internal staff, the CL&W Commission, public groups and forums, and/or elected officials
• Become actively involved in the community and help represent the city in advancing economic development, and promote the utility’s image with Cedarburg residents

EDUCATION

A Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, public administration, or equivalent experience is generally required.