Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement & Process Specialist

Southwest Power Pool; Little Rock (AR); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation bonus

401(k) with employer-match

Pension (defined benefit)

Job summary

Southwest Power Pool, Inc. is seeking a Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement and Process Specialist in a hybrid role based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

You will lead strategic governance processes across IMIP, MPEC, and Markets+, synthesizing stakeholder input into actionable briefs for executive leadership and partnering with legal on governance matters. The role requires 8+ years in stakeholder engagement or governance, a related bachelor’s degree, and the ability to work in a hybrid environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, or a related field required.
• Eight (8) years or more of progressively responsible experience in stakeholder engagement, governance, policy analysis, regulatory affairs, or related work.
• Experience supporting policy or regulatory committees, working groups, or task forces, and partnering with Legal on governance-related matters preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and analytical leadership for IMIP, MPEC, and Markets+ stakeholder groups and task forces to ensure issues are evaluated, coordinated, and advanced.
• Independently analyze issues and recommendations to identify interdependencies, gaps, and unresolved matters, developing actionable recommendations.
• Partner with leadership and chairs to set priorities, issue sequencing, and decision-support materials for timely leadership deliberation.
• Synthesize input and technical information into clear analyses and executive briefings for leadership attention.
• Lead governance process improvements and ensure consistent application across working groups and task forces.

Skills

Stakeholder governance

Policy analysis

Regulatory affairs

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement & Process Specialist

• Posted on November 5, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

• Hybrid
• Communications
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: LEADS002476

Description

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 and transparent 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 bonus (if applicable)
• Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (defined benefit plan) fully funded by SPP

PLEASE NOTE: This position may not be performed remotely from California or New York City, NY, nor can SPP sponsor employment visas or student-work authorizations (STEM OPT) for this position. Please ensure you are eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship prior to applying.

COMPENSATION INFORMATION The salary range(s) represents our good faith estimate for the role at this time. While we strive to provide competitive and transparent compensation, there may be circumstances where an offer is above or outside of the listed range. We are open to discussing salary expectations with qualified candidates considering factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, experience and geographic location will all be considered during the hiring process.

Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement and Process Specialist | Salary range: $97,580 – $126,795

Overview

The Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement and Process Specialist serves as a senior subject matter expert responsible for providing strategic and analytical leadership across SPP's stakeholder governance processes, with primary responsibility for supporting the Interim Markets+ Independent Panel (IMIP), Markets+ Participants Executive Committee (MPEC), and Markets+ working groups and task forces. This position independently evaluates complex stakeholder matters, identifies procedural and governance implications, and partners with committee leadership, subject matter experts, and organizational leaders to support informed decision-making and the effective progression of issues and recommendations. The Lead provides technical guidance to staff secretaries and working group leadership, resolves complex governance and procedural matters within established authority, and leads initiatives to improve the consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of stakeholder processes. Operating with substantial independence, this position serves as a key resource for stakeholder governance expertise and supports continuity across IMIP, MPEC, and Markets+ stakeholder processes.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and analytical leadership for IMIP, MPEC, and assigned Markets+ working groups and task forces to ensure complex issues, revision requests, and recommendations are appropriately evaluated, coordinated, and advanced through established stakeholder governance processes.
• Independently analyze issues and recommendations across Markets+ working groups and task forces to identify interdependencies, conflicting positions, procedural gaps, and unresolved matters, developing recommendations that support timely resolution and informed committee decision-making.
• Partner with IMIP and MPEC leadership, working group chairs, task force leaders, and subject matter experts to establish effective agenda priorities, issue sequencing, and decision-support materials that enable timely, well-informed consideration of stakeholder matters.
• Synthesize complex stakeholder input, technical information, and working group and task force recommendations into clear, accurate analyses and executive-level briefings that communicate key considerations, potential implications, and matters requiring leadership or committee attention.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on stakeholder governance procedures, independently resolving complex procedural questions within established authority and partnering with Legal and appropriate organizational leaders on matters requiring governance interpretation, escalation, or additional review.
• Lead the evaluation and improvement of Markets+ stakeholder governance processes by identifying recurring issues, assessing procedural effectiveness, developing recommendations, and implementing approved changes that strengthen consistency, transparency, efficiency, and accountability across working groups and task forces.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to Stakeholder Engagement and Process Coordinators, staff secretaries, working group chairs, and task force leaders to ensure consistent application of governance requirements, effective resolution of complex process matters, and development of stakeholder process expertise.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with committee leadership, working group and task force representatives, subject matter experts, and internal partners to facilitate cross-functional alignment, address complex stakeholder process matters, and support the effective progression of recommendations through the Markets+ governance structure.
• Provide analytical and procedural support for Markets+ stakeholder governance activities, ensuring continuity of stakeholder matters and accurate communication of recommendations, decisions, and outstanding issues as they progress through Markets+ working groups, task forces, MPEC, and IMIP, as applicable.
• Establish and maintain effective tracking, documentation, and reporting practices for Markets+ stakeholder issues, recommendations, decisions, and action items to ensure accurate governance records, timely follow-through, and reliable information for organizational leadership.
• Provide expert guidance and analytical support for complex Markets+ stakeholder engagement initiatives and cross-functional governance matters, identifying emerging trends, evaluating organizational implications, and recommending actions that support departmental objectives and the effectiveness of SPP's stakeholder processes.

To be successful in the role we're looking for:

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience Requirement:

• Eight (8) years or more years of progressively responsible experience in stakeholder engagement, governance, policy analysis, regulatory affairs, or related work involving complex organizational or committee-driven decision-making processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within an electric utility, Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), Independent System Operator (ISO), association, regulatory, or other stakeholder-driven environment.
• Experience supporting policy or regulatory committees, working groups, or task forces, and partnering with Legal on governance-related matters.
• Working knowledge of wholesale electricity markets, transmission operations, regulatory processes, or the stakeholder governance structure of an RTO or ISO.
• Experience interpreting governing documents, supporting policy or procedural development, and collaborating with Legal on governance-related matters.

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience independently analyzing and synthesizing complex issues, evaluating competing perspectives, and developing recommendations that support organizational or committee-level decision-making.
• Experience providing technical guidance, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, or leading improvements to established processes and procedures.
• Advanced analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize input from multiple stakeholder working groups into clear, organized materials for leadership and committee audiences.
• Advanced knowledge of stakeholder engagement, governance, and policy or regulatory process practices, with the ability to identify trends and risks and communicate them effectively to leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong relationship-building ability across committee leadership, working groups, and staff, and sound judgment handling sensitive matters.
• Ability to independently manage complex, concurrent issues and priorities, exercise sound judgement, and determine when matters require escalation or additional review.
• Proficiency in using business applications and information management tools to analyze information, maintain governance records, track complex issues, and develop reports and presentations.

Position Type, Location, and Expected Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with a minimum requirement of two days per week in the office. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional extended hours as needed.

Travel Requirement:

• This position requires moderate travel (approximately 20-45%)

SPP is an equal opportunity employer that makes employment decisions without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Further, SPP makes good faith efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] 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.

At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: Culture of Belonging - SPP.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.