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

A Planning Specialist, Transmission Planning Policy, is responsible for cross-organizational coordination of the Planning Policy functions within SPP Engineering. This position is responsible for planning policy, data analysis and business case development supporting SPP transmission expansion planning efforts per applicable FERC Orders and Tariffs, metrics measurements and creation of proposals and business assessments.  The Specialist will support the overall objectives, critical issues, new concepts, policy matters, and other relevant issues.  This position involves frequent interaction with SPP staff, stakeholders and regulators requiring the Specialist to be able to communicate effectively.  This communication, both written and oral, is for the purposes of requests, analysis, coordinating, guidance and presentations. The Planning Specialist will be responsible for learning and providing support for planning policy development and coordination (internally and externally), supporting stakeholder meetings, and helping senior specialists with required analysis or initiatives.

A Planning Specialist II is expected to work more independently than a Planning Specialist I.  As such, an excellent working relationship with all parties must be established and maintained to ensure the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the organization.

Essential Functions

• Develop and present robust business cases supporting planning policy initiatives for review and consideration by SPP stakeholders


• Independently develop/support reviews and analysis reports of engineering, market, operational and business data for compliance with or support of general business rules, state and federal requirements and SPP transmission development objectives


• Independently develop/support recommendations and improvements to the planning policy processes


• Develop with planning engineers and planning specialist solutions for policy recommendations. .


• Independently track technical data and the financial costs and impacts to SPP for the performance of proposed transmission research and policy projects


• Independently support, modify, and develop database processes and administration for use with Transmission Planning Policy function


• Independently identify process improvement and automation opportunities by using a combination of industry specific knowledge and process management skills


• Independently provide initial feedback to more experienced engineers, specialists, and/or management, explaining the process and provide an initial solution for the analysis or simulations. The initial solution later will be analyzed/ adjusted/vetted by senior engineers/specialists and/or management.


• Understand SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria, and the SPP Committee structure.  A more detailed understanding of specific governing documents and processes will be required depending on support needs.


• Embrace and promote the SPP Culture, Mission and Core Values in attitude toward stakeholder relationships, current work assignments as well as long term goals and strategic initiative of the organization. 


• Incorporate a fundamental working understanding of the SPP Culture Drivers, Mission and Core Values and apply this directly to all assignments and any SPP related effort


• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures   

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in economics, mathematics, engineering or other related field; (Four (4) years of extensive engineering or technical related experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirement)

Experience Requirements:

• Planning Specialist II - Two (2) years of job-related experience


• Planning Specialist I -  no job-related experience required but highly preferred

Required:

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


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


• Strong inter-personal and team work skills and the ability to work with a broad spectrum of individuals with diverse interests when resolving problems


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Competent working skills with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office© Word, Excel and Powerpoint

Preferred:

• Four year or advanced degree in technical or other related field of study or professional certification


• Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards, SPP Criteria, Integrated Marketplace Protocols, and applicable OATT (Tariff), and OATT Business Practices


• Experience in business assessment and analysis, reliability operations, data analysis and ad hoc report writing


• Experience in analyzing and evaluating business and power system behavior


• Experience with Atlassian's tools such as JIRA and Confluence


• Expertise in project management principles

Physical and Mental 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 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 minimal travel (approximately 0-15%).

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.

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)

See job description

Apply Now