Director, System Planning 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 Director of System Planning is a senior level position that will work with the VP of Engineering and the Engineering management team to provide meaningful input into the development of SPP’s corporate strategy and to ensure that the strategic vision and tactical plans for the Engineering organization are clearly defined, communicated, and executed to effectively support SPP’s corporate strategy.  This position is responsible for providing strategic and tactical leadership necessary to ensure successful completion of goals and essential functions assigned to the System Planning group. 

Functionally, this position is responsible for 1) continued development of a regional transmission expansion plan that ensures future reliable and efficient usage of the transmission grid covering SPP’s eight-state region, 2) performance of Compliance, and other Advanced Planning studies in compliance with the SPP OATT, NERC, and other applicable regulatory requirements, 3) development and distribution of network models representing future steady-state and dynamic electrical characteristics of the SPP and surrounding power systems as necessary to support planning and analytical activities performed by SPP and its members and in compliance with applicable reliability standards, and 4) provision of engineering services necessary to support members, regulators, and other departments and to comply with reliability standards and criteria.  The Director of Planning will ensure that these functions are performed in accordance with the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, SPP Business Practices, SPP Market Protocols and other applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

This position will, as needed, provide an Engineering interface to SPP members and stakeholders and serve as the SPP representative or witness before industry groups and federal/state regulatory commissions.  This position also provides as needed support for SPP organizational groups and numerous other industry forums.  The incumbent independently performs assignments with guidance on overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, unusual developments and policy matters.  The position provides “dotted line” coordination of activities with the SPP executive management team and with similar positions of SPP member companies.  This position understands the Company’s overall corporate goals and strategy and operates in a manner which supports and helps achieve the Company’s goals and strategy.

The Director of System Planning discusses development plans with their direct reports and manages individual performance through real-time coaching and periodic performance reviews.

Essential Functions   

• Direct the continuous development of SPP’s Transmission Expansion Plan to effectively and efficiently address future needs.


• Direct the performance of technical studies and administration of processes necessary to comply with the SPP OATT, NERC, and other applicable regulatory requirements.


• Direct the development and distribution of network models representing future steady-state and dynamic electrical characteristics of the SPP and surrounding power systems as necessary to support planning and analytical activities performed by SPP and its members and in compliance with applicable reliability standards.


• Direct the provision of engineering services necessary to support members, regulators, and other departments and to comply with reliability standards and criteria.


• Represent SPP as a subject matter expert, facilitator, or secretary for assigned organizational groups.


• Understand, comply with, and enforce SPP Policies and Procedures.


• Ensure compliance with SSAE 16 controls assigned to the System Planning department.


• Conducts regular touch-base meetings with direct reports to discuss development goals, business goals and performance matters


• Provides real-time coaching on performance


• Conducts annual performance reviews

LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT

• Work in effective partnership with the VP of Engineering and the Engineering management team to ensure that SPP’s strategic vision and objectives are clearly defined to provide appropriate context and focus for the organization’s work.


• Work with the VP of Engineering and the Engineering management team to ensure that the Engineering strategic vision, objectives, and initiatives are clearly defined, communicated, and executed to effectively support the SPP corporate strategic vision.


• Direct and lead the provision of high quality, customer responsive, and cost-beneficial planning services to ensure that SPP achieves and sustains the respect and admiration of SPP members and stakeholders.


• Ensure that information flows effectively and that all relevant parties (staff, leadership, Board) are provided with the information required to perform their respective responsibilities.


• Translate business objectives into specific System Planning initiatives with measurable outcomes and defined accountabilities to facilitate effective and efficient allocation of resources (organizational and capital).


• Ensure that the organization performs in compliance with relevant laws, regulations and standards.


• Recruit and retain professional staff; utilize SPP’s performance evaluation system to provide necessary evaluations to direct reporting staff - with emphasis on well-defined objectives, clearly defined responsibilities and appropriate levels of accountability; provide leadership in the development of staff and support a work environment that attracts and retains diverse and well-qualified individuals.

COMMUNICATIONS and ADVOCACY

• Be an effective spokesperson for the organization and ensure clear and effective communications of SPP’s organizational activities, objectives and performance with all stakeholders, including Staff, Board, Members, regulators, legislators, …etc.


• Build and maintain quality relationships with organizations and individuals working in SPP’s areas of interest; represent SPP in communications with these parties as requested by VP; leverage SPP’s effectiveness through these key relationships.


• Be a capable spokesperson for SPP on System Planning matters and, to the extent requested by the VP of Engineering, on other issues.


• Implement policies, program goals and objectives as directed by VP of Engineering; provide ongoing information to Executive Staff on System Planning performance matters.


• Maintain a strong collaborative relationship with SPP’s Members, SPP’s executive management team, and SPP organizational leadership.


• Provide strong inter-personal and leadership skills and the ability to encourage and foster teamwork externally with Members and internally across business functions and at all levels within the organization.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Direct the continuous development of SPP’s Transmission Expansion Plan to effectively and efficiently address future needs.


• Direct the performance of technical studies and administration of processes necessary to comply with the SPP OATT, NERC, and other applicable regulatory requirements.


• Direct the development and distribution of network models representing future steady-state and dynamic electrical characteristics of the SPP and surrounding power systems as necessary to support planning and analytical activities performed by SPP and its members and in compliance with applicable reliability standards.


• Direct the provision of engineering services necessary to support members, regulators, and other departments and to comply with reliability standards and criteria.


• Represent SPP as a subject matter expert, facilitator, or secretary for assigned organizational groups.


• Understand, comply with, and enforce SPP Policies and Procedures.


• Ensure compliance with SSAE 16 controls assigned to the System Planning department.


• Conducts regular touch-base meetings with direct reports to discuss development goals, business goals and performance matters


• Provides real-time coaching on performance


• Conducts annual performance reviews

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Mathematics, Engineering or other related degree

Work Experience Requirements:

• 12+ years of Engineering experience or work related industry experience with at least 5+ of those years in a supervisory position

Other Requirements:

• Advanced knowledge of power systems engineering and economic analyses


• Demonstrated problem solving skills, forward planning capabilities, organizational skills and ability to lead the execution of departmental strategies


• Demonstrated knowledge of transmission planning and operations associated with the bulk power grid and SPP’s specific circumstances


• Specific knowledge of federal and state regulatory policies and procedures


• An understanding of the history and operating requirements of interconnected electric networks


• Practical understanding of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria and the SPP Committee structure


• Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills


• Understanding of, compliance with and enforcement of SPP Policies and Procedures 

Preferred:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering


• Advanced degree


• Professional Engineer License (PE)

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

• 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 focus.

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 frequent travel (approximately 20%).

Should you elect to apply for this position SPP will review your qualifications and if after reviewing the qualifications and experience of all applicants, your skills and credentials meet our needs, someone from our organization may contact you. Please be advised that the time required to complete the applicant review process typically takes between 30 and 90 days, but could extend beyond that. Once the position has been filled, all applicants will be notified via email.

Southwest Power Pool is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age or any other protected category.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines “reasonable accommodation” as a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that allows a qualified individual with a disability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of a particular job, and does not cause an undue hardship for the employer. SPP adheres to the ADA and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions.

Education

Required

• Bachelors or better

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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