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

• This position is open to remote individuals living outside of a 50 mile radius of our headquarters

Overview

The Principal, Market Policy is a senior level position that will assist the Director, Seams & Western Services Development and the SPP management team in addressing the ongoing and strategic market development and operations policy issues. This role requires broad and detailed experience and knowledge of organized wholesale markets, RTO governing documents, stakeholders and the broader operational policy directions and issues and how these apply within the SPP culture and organization. This position will provide market operations policy support as necessary for Western stakeholders and other SPP departments. The Principal, Market Policy will assist the coordination of market operational policy issues between and within other departments to ensure compliance with industry and SPP contract services or governing documents. This position serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in market operations policy issues and Western developments on an ongoing basis. The Principal, Market Policy provides SPP with a key resource to NERC, Regional Entities, SPP stakeholders in the West as well as RTO members and stakeholders. The incumbent also provides support for internal and external stakeholder and industry groups related to energy markets and power operations. 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 market operational issues and set future markets direction.
• Assess areas of needed change and/or improvement leading to the resolution of market issues.
• Interaction with consultants, internal and external legal counsel.
• Monitor administration of SPP’s contract services and market operational governing documents to ensure compliance with requirements and obligations of the tariff.
• Support the various organizational groups of SPP’s Markets , WEIS or RTO governance related to markets and 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 market operational related research and development groups.
• Maintain a working knowledge of market operations matters related to reliability and economics.
• 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.

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position, but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work duties and responsibilities. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other areas to cover absences, or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload. 

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

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

Experience Requirements:

• 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 market 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 Eastern and Western Interconnections
• Knowledge of computer business applications and data base management systems
• 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

• Experience in power systems operations in the Western Interconnection
• Strong understanding of OATT framework and NERC functional model
• Advanced degree in economics, math or other related field of study
• Experience in utility operations, RTO operations or energy trading
• 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 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 travel (approximately 30%)

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.