Principal Operations Specialist at Southwest Power Pool in Little Rock, Arkansas

Job Description:

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is about more than power. We’re about the power of relationships. Our employees have the opportunity to work together to ensure electricity is delivered reliably and affordably to the millions of people living in our service territory. We have been voted one of Arkansas’ Best Places to work by Arkansas Business and we are looking for a member of our team who is passionate about our mission to keep the lights on!

We have a core ideology here at SPP that we stand by: Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way.

We believe in supporting our employees through a fantastic benefits package:

• Competitive pay with bonus opportunities


• Excellent insurance package including three great medical plans to choose from, employer-paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance


• Relocation assistance


• Flexible working environment for positions that are eligible where employees have the flexibility to work from home and come in where collaborative in person work is needed.


• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a defined benefit plan fully funded by SPP

Overview

The Principal Operations Specialist is a senior level position that will assist the SVP, Operations and the SPP management team in addressing the ongoing and strategic operational policy issues. This role requires broad and detailed experience and knowledge of SPP history, governing documents, stakeholders and the national operational policy directions and issues and how these apply within the SPP culture and organization. This position will provide operational policy support as necessary for stakeholders and other SPP departments.  The Principal Operations Specialist will assist the coordination of operational policy issues between and within other departments to ensure compliance. This position serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in operational policy issues on an ongoing basis. The Principal Operations Specialist provides SPP with a key resource to NERC, Regional Entities, SPP members and stakeholders.  The incumbent also provides support for associated MRO,WECC, and NERC technical subcommittees and working groups.  A wide range of skills, knowledge and experience will be required including interpersonal skills, supervisory ability, public speaking, organizational skills, teaching competencies, basic accounting and financial management knowledge.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for providing strategic direction leading and assisting internal, external or combined groups to address operational issues and set future direction.


• Assess areas of needed change and/or improvement leading to the resolution of issues.


• Interaction with consultants, internal and external legal counsel.


• Monitor administration of SPP’s operational governing documents to ensure compliance with requirements and obligations of the tariff.

• Support the various organizational groups of SPP related to operations in the Eastern and Western Interconnections.


• Develop as needed strategic whitepapers, guidance, etc. to benefit other members of the SPP management team or the SPP membership.


• Represent SPP on specified operational related research and development groups.


• Maintain a working knowledge of operational matters related to reliability and markets.


• Communicate frequently with senior management regarding organizational vision, strengths, weaknesses, and progress towards goals.  Provide input into Company strategy and goals.


• Provide assistance in areas of expertise to other departments and employees, as needed.


• Manage special projects as assigned.

The incumbent has shared responsibility to:

• Assist with any special projects.


• Prepare strategies, goals, objectives, and working papers for assigned SPP organizational groups.


• Assist in education where specific expertise is required.

ECC, and NERC technical subcommittees and working groups.  A wide range of skills, knowledge and experience will be required including interpersonal skills, supervisory ability, public speaking, organizational skills, teaching competencies, basic accounting and financial management knowledge

Qualifications 

Education Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Accounting, Economics or another relevant field of study. (three years relevant job-ralated work experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements)

Experience Requirements:

• Fifteen (15) years’ experience in electric system operations, real-time operations support, operations training or other area of responsibility related to reliability operations and market operations   

Required:

• Extensive knowledge of electric utility operational policies and practices, electric utility market operations, and markets including: market monitoring, generally accepted ratemaking, cost allocation and pricing principles, resource planning, policies and procedures of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state regulatory commissions


• Operational knowledge and experience in the Western Interconnection


• Knowledge of computer business applications and data base management systems


• Regular attendance


• Flexibility and the ability to function with constantly changing and multiple priorities


• Excellent organizational skills


• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures

Preferred

• Previous supervisory experience

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to make decisions, interpret data, and problem solve.


• The employee frequently is required to stand or sit for extended periods; use hands to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment.


• The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 10 pounds.


• Requires the ability to work and collaborate with managers and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, and opinions to facilitate the task.


• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focu

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of workweek are Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Working extended hours may be required.

Travel Requirement:

This position requires travel (approximately 30%)

SPP is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us at HR@spp.org and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process. We will accommodate the needs of any qualified candidate who requests a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

At SPP we value Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Visit our website to learn more: LINK

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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