Careers

Careers

Working at Cooperative Energy

As we provide safe, reliable, affordable power to our members, we also work to improve the communities we serve. Join our team to be part of the positive energy we provide Mississippi!

Cooperative Energy is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We welcome all qualified applicants, who will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or other legally protected status. We value the diversity of our employees and the unique perspectives they bring to Cooperative Energy.  By valuing these differences, we demonstrate our commitment to treating everyone with fairness and respect.

Applications are accepted only for open positions. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources Department at 601-268-2083.

Career Paths

Which Opportunity is Right for You?

Across our organization, we each play an important role in delivering on our mission to improve the communities we serve. Discover the career paths available at Cooperative Energy to determine which one is best for your experience, background and skill set. To find current vacancies, search our open positions.

Career Paths

Power Plant Careers

Our power plant personnel does what it takes to ensure plant equipment is maintained and our processes are running smoothly.  Within the Operations and Maintenance groups at our power plants we routinely hire employees to fill the following positions:

  • Power Plant Operator
  • Mechanical Maintenance
  • Instrument and Control Technician
  • Electrician
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Lab Technician
  • Storekeeper

Line & Substation Careers

In order to ensure efficient, dependable, and safe operation of Cooperative Energy’s transmission lines, structures, and equipment we routinely hire employees in the following areas:

  • Lineworker
  • Relay Technician
  • Meter Technician
  • Substation Technician
  • GIS Technician
  • Heavy Equipment Operator
  • Fleet Mechanic

Engineering Careers

Cooperative Energy hires engineers from a variety of disciplines (electrical, mechanical, civil, environmental, chemical) that may work in our power generating plants, transmission, substation, environmental, and planning areas.  Job opportunities that may be available are:

  • Plant Engineer
  • Results Engineer
  • Planning Engineer (Operations/Transmission)
  • Project Engineer (Mechanical/Electrical)
  • Design Engineer (Substation/Line)
  • Metering Engineer
  • Relay Engineer
  • Communications Engineer

Business/Administrative Careers

Cooperative Energy employs talented, dedicated employees at our corporate office that help to keep all our operations running smoothly. Cooperative Energy offers a broad range of hourly and salaried positions in these areas:

  • Finance & Accounting
  • Corporate Communications
  • Government Affairs
  • Corporate Compliance
  • Human Resources
  • Legal
  • Information Technology
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Facilities Maintenance
  • Safety
  • Power Marketing

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits

In many ways, working to improve the communities we serve starts by taking care of our people. That’s why Cooperative Energy offers a highly competitive benefits package.

Health Plan

  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Cooperative Energy pays 60 percent for dependent coverage
  • Eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of employment
  • Included in the company-sponsored medical plan for enrolled employees and dependents
  • Mail service is available
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Cooperative Energy pays 50 percent for dependent coverage
  • Coverage begins on the first of the month following the date of hire 
  • Includes comprehensive annual exam and allowance for eyeglasses or contacts
  • Optional at additional cost
  • Cooperative Energy covers 50 percent of the premium cost for employee coverage
  • Dependent coverage optional at additional cost
  • Allows employees to select any licensed dentist
  • Eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of employment

Savings Plan

  • Automatic enrollment in Cooperative Energy’s Retirement and Security Program, a defined benefit pension plan
  • Eligibility begins on the first of the month following one year of service
  • The benefit calculation is based on the employee’s years of service, average effective salary and a benefit calculation rate
  • Optional enrollment in Cooperative Energy’s Retirement Savings Plan
  • Eligibility begins on the first of the month following one year of service
  • Allows you to save pre-tax dollars from your income for retirement
  • Cooperative Energy will match up to 6% of employee contribution 
  • Optional enrollment in healthcare and/or dependent care FSA
  • Allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars from your income to pay for eligible expenses

Insurance

  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Provides three times the employee’s annual base pay up to a maximum of $1,000,000 to the beneficiary(ies) in the event of death
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Offers additional benefits in the event of death and dismemberment due to a covered accident occurring on or off the job
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Provides $10,000 for both spouse and eligible dependents under the age of 26
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Provides financial protection for eligible employees who become disabled due to a non-occupational illness or injury
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Provides financial protection if an employee becomes totally disabled due to an on or off job accident or injury
  • Provided at no cost for employees
  • Provides $100,000 coverage if an employee is involved in an accident while traveling on Cooperative Energy business
  • Optional at additional cost
  • Provides up to five times the employee’s annual base pay
  • Paid by bi-weekly payroll deductions
  • Additional spouse and child(ren) coverage is available

More Benefits

  • Confidential service provided through Wesley Behavioral Health Center and Communicare for Batesville and Greenwood employees
  • Offers free counseling services to help with a variety of personal issues for employees and dependents

Disclaimer:

The information presented here is a general summary of the work/life benefits offered. When a conflict arises between this general summary and plan documents or policies, the Plan Document or Policy will prevail. Cooperative Energy reserves the right to amend or terminate its benefit plans at any time.

Work/Life Balance

Because your health and well-being affect everything.

Cooperative Energy recognizes the important role a healthy work/life balance plays in our employees’ personal wellness, work performance and job satisfaction. We all have lives outside of work, and Cooperative Energy supports your individual and changing needs with these helpful and flexible programs.

Alternative Work Schedules (AWS):

If you would like the opportunity to get an extra day off for personal errands and activities, an Alternative Work Schedule might be for you!

Cooperative Energy offers the following compressed schedules in which you will work a total of 80 hours during each biweekly pay period.  The advantage is that you will have extra days off.

  • 9/80 schedule in which you work eight 9-hour days in a 2-week period, one 8-hour day and then receive one day off every other week.
  • Four-day workweek in which you work four 10-hour days each week of the pay period and have an extra day off each week.

Eligibility may vary for AWS, as some may not be appropriate for particular jobs or for certain employees, depending on departmental needs.

Personal Leave/Vacation

Setting aside time for relaxation is a vital part of a health work-life balance. Cooperative Energy’s personal leave program allows employees to earn from 96 hours to 160 hours a year, depending on tenure.  Employees are eligible to use personal leave after two months of employment. Cooperative Energy’s personal leave carries over from year-to-year up to maximum of 520 hours.

Sick Leave

Employees are eligible to earn 96 hours per year, to be used for illness or doctor’s appointments that cannot be accomplished outside of work hours.  Employees are eligible to use sick leave after two months of employment.  Employees may earn up to a maximum of 600 hours of sick leave and may carry over from year-to-year unused sick leave.

Family Sick Leave

Cooperative Energy understands the importance of our employee’s responsibility for caring for their family.  Employees may use 40 hours of sick leave per year to care for an ill child or parent.   Employees may also be eligible for additional family leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Holidays

Cooperative Energy recognizes that holidays are times to be spent celebrating with family and friends. Cooperative Energy provides nine company-paid holidays each year, including New Years’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Bereavement Leave

Cooperative Energy offers 40 hours of paid time off for employees who experience the death of an immediate family member.

Jury Duty and Time Off to Vote

Cooperative Energy encourages employees to fulfill their civic responsibilities.  Reasonable time off is allowed to enable employees to perform jury duty or testify before a grand jury if subpoenaed without loss of regular pay.  Also when it is not possible for an employee to vote before or after normal working hours employees may be granted time off for voting.

Military Leave

Cooperative Energy complies with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act which protects job rights and benefits for veterans and members of the reserves.   Cooperative Energy’s military leave policy also allows employees to be paid the difference between their regular pay and their military pay, if less, for a designated period of time.

Catastrophic Leave

This program allows fellow employees to donate earned personal leave to help provide assistance to employees affected by a life threatening or catastrophic illness, whether their own or that of an immediate family member, that has resulted in the employee exhausting his/her eligible paid leave.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Cooperative Energy understands that troubling circumstances may arise in our employees’ personal lives at any time.   To help, but not intrude in the personal lives of our employees and their families, we offer five free counseling sessions per calendar year per employee and per family member,   through a confidential EAP.

Fitness/Wellness

Cooperative Energy encourages employees to be healthy and physically fit.  In order to promote this, Cooperative Energy reimburses each employee one time during their employment period the initial health club membership fee up to $100.   Employees are also offered the opportunity to participate in an annual wellness exam and flu vaccination program.

Will Preparation and Estate Resolution Services

Employees who are enrolled in the Supplemental Life Insurance have access to will preparation and estate resolution assistance.    Fees are covered when using a participating plan attorney.   Out of network attorney fees are reimbursed based on a schedule.

Educational Assistance Program

An educational assistance program is offered to employees.  Reimbursement is limited to $5,250 per calendar year and paid on the basis of grades achieved.  Courses require advanced approval and must be job related.

Scholarships

Dependents of Cooperative Energy employees are eligible for the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Foundation scholarships and a matching scholarship from Cooperative Energy.   Qualifying high school seniors planning to attend a two-year college are eligible to receive $300 from the Foundation and a matching $300 scholarship from Cooperative Energy.  Qualifying seniors planning to attend a four-year college are eligible to receive $600 from the Foundation and a matching $600 scholarship from Cooperative Energy.

Credit Union

Employees are eligible to participate in the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Credit Union.  Payroll deductions are available for savings and loan repayments.

Community Volunteer Opportunities

To help fulfill our mission of improving the communities we serve and to give each of us the gratification that comes with making an impact, Cooperative Energy and our individual electric cooperatives offer community volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Disclaimer:

The information presented here is a general summary of the work/life benefits offered. When a conflict arises between this general summary and plan documents or policies, the Plan Document or Policy will prevail. Cooperative Energy reserves the right to amend or terminate its benefit plans at any time.

Student Co-Op Program

The Student Cooperative Education Program:

Hands-on experience for tomorrow’s engineers

Cooperative Energy is committed to investing in students’ futures through our cooperative education (co-op) program. We offer engineering students practical, hands-on experience working alongside full-time engineers to complement their academic work. As the students gain experience, they also gain more responsibility, which will increase their ability to perform professionally after graduation.

The program focuses on four areas of engineering: mechanical, electrical, chemical, and civil. Whichever path students choose, this will help put them on track for career success.

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

On-the-job training supplements academic knowledge and increases a student’s ability to perform in a professional capacity.

Students rotate from job to school each term, usually working three or four alternating terms based on the student’s schedule.

Work cycles may begin in the spring, summer, or fall semester.

Most co-op positions entail a 40-hour work week.

Students are compensated with a competitive wage for their work.

A competitive housing allowance is provided for students during their work semesters.

Co-op students are assigned to positions at our plant facilities in Batesville, Purvis, and Moselle, or in our power delivery engineering and operations engineering departments in Hattiesburg.

Watch the videos

Belle Failla
Will Spates
Stephanie Kilgore
Alex Price
Group 2
Group 3

To be eligible for the co-op program, students must:

Be enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.

Have completed their freshman year of college.

Have a 2.75 grade point average cumulatively and in major coursework.

Have selected either mechanical, electrical, chemical, or civil engineering as a major course of study.

How to get started:

Contact your university or college cooperative program administrator to ensure you meet the school’s program criteria.

Visit our Open Positions page to apply for a posted cooperative position.

Disclaimer:

Cooperative Energy is an equal opportunity employer. It is Cooperative Energy's policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, veteran status or disability.

Open Positions

Open Positions

Disclaimer:
Cooperative Energy is an equal opportunity employer. It is Cooperative Energy's policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, veteran status or disability.

Diversity - EEO

Diversity

Cooperative Energy recognizes their talented and diverse work force as a strategic resource. Our business success is a reflection of the quality and skill of our people. Including the ideas, opinions, perspectives and talents of all who make up our work force enriches the entire cooperative and the member owners we serve.

Cooperative Energy is committed to the goals of equal employment opportunity. We strive to provide a work environment that fosters fairness, equity, and respect for diversity; one that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. We believe in fostering a climate of inclusion to promote learning, innovation, and opportunity for growth.

We also promote a drug-free work environment.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

 

Statement of Non-Discrimination USDA Programs

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).

Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Person with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape , American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/ad-3027-usda-program-discrimination-complaint-form and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.  To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)        mail:    U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2)        fax:      (202) 690-7442; or

(3)        email: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Spanish Translation

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las reglamentaciones y politicas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA), se prohibe al USDA, sus agendas, oficinas y empleados, e instituciones que participan o administran los programas del USDA, discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religion, genera, identidad de genera (incluidas las expresiones de genera), orientaci6n sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar/parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pOblica, creencias politicas, o reprimendas o represalias por actividades previas sobre derechos civiles, en cualquier programa o actividad Ilevados a cabo o financiados por el USDA (no todas las bases se aplican a todos los programas). Las fechas limite para la presentaci6n de remedios y denuncias varian segun el programa o el incidente.

Las personas con discapacidades que requieran medios alternativos de comunicacion para obtener informaciOn sobre el programa (por ej., Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje americano de sefias, etc.) deberan comunicarse con la Agenda responsable o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a traves del Servicio Federal de Transmisiones al (800) 877-8339. Asimismo, se puede disponer de informaci6n del programa en otros idiomas ademas de ingles.

Para presentar una denuncia por discriminacion en el programa, complete el Formulario de denuncias por discriminaci6n en el programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en linea en https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html, o en cualquier oficina del USDA, o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la informaci6n solicitada en el formulario.

Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncias, Ilame al (866) 632-9992. Envie su formulario connpletado o su carta al USDA por los siguientes medios:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Nondiscrimination Statement 3

(1) correo: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o

(3) correo electronico: proqram.intakeusda.qov.

El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA) es un proveedor, empleador y prestador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

Know Your Rights
E-Verify
FMLA
Right to Work
EPPA
NLRA
Pay Transparency

Disclaimer:

Cooperative Energy is an equal opportunity employer. It is Cooperative Energy's policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, veteran status or disability.