Senior Operations Functional Specialist – Interchange Scheduling

Southwest Power Pool, Inc.; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 88,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Multiple medical plans

Relocation bonus

Hybrid work environment

401(k) with employer match

Pension plan

Job summary

Southwest Power Pool, Inc. is seeking a Senior Operations Functional Specialist - Interchange Scheduling to provide expert support for accurate interchange schedule creation, validation, and coordination.

This role works with the Balancing Authority, adjacent entities, and Transmission Providers to maintain reliable operations. The candidate leads real-time and next-day scheduling activities, supports audits for FERC/NERC/DOE, and collaborates with software vendors to optimize tools and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 6+ years in operations roles preferred.
• Strong knowledge of interchange scheduling practices and related standards.
• Experience with audit reporting and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead interchange scheduling tasks with accuracy across shifts.
• Coordinate with vendors to implement fixes and mitigations.
• Prepare audit-related documentation for FERC, NERC and DOE.
• Ensure scheduling activities align with tariffs, Business Practices, and standards.
• Develop training materials and mentor operations staff.

Skills

Interchange scheduling

Audit reporting

Regulatory knowledge

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Three years of related experience in lieu of degree

Tools

EMS

OASIS Scheduling System

Microsoft Office

Job 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

Senior Operations Functional Specialist Salary range: $87,950 – $112,190

Overview

The Senior Operations Functional Specialist – Interchange Scheduling provides advanced technical expertise and independent analytical support for SPP's Interchange Scheduling function. As a senior‑level subject‑matter expert, this role ensures accurate, compliant, and reliable interchange schedule creation, validation, and coordination across the SPP Balancing Authority, adjacent BAs, and Transmission Providers. The Specialist supports real‑time and next‑day operations by resolving complex scheduling discrepancies, validating modeling alignment, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure operational implications are fully understood. This position leads operational reporting requirements for FERC, NERC, SPP, DOE, and SSAE16 audits and serves as a primary contributor to audit readiness. The Senior Specialist works directly with software vendors to identify issues impacting schedule processing and implements mitigations that preserve operational continuity. As a key liaison to SPP Market Operations, Reliability Coordination, Balancing Authority operations, and Interchange Scheduling customers, the Specialist must consistently exercise sound judgment and effective decision‑making under stressful operational conditions. The Senior Specialist provides training, guidance, and documentation for Operations staff, ensuring consistency across shifts and supporting continuous improvement in tools, procedures, and operational quality. The position handles complex and sensitive scheduling and compliance tasks and is expected to operate with substantial independence.

Core Responsibilities

• Displays deep knowledge of industry concepts, SPP Tariff and Business Practices, and NERC INT requirements, and communicates these effectively to real‑time operations staff.
• Prepares and reviews audit‑related documentation and ensures accurate, timely submissions for FERC, NERC, SPP, DOE, SERC, and SSAE16 reporting requirements.
• Investigates and resolves system problems impacting interchange schedule creation or validation, identifies operational impacts, and works with vendors to implement corrections or mitigations.
• Ensures that system changes, modeling updates, customer submissions, and operational tasks correctly align with Interchange Scheduling requirements and do not introduce operational risk.
• Implements and maintains updates to the SPP Interchange Scheduling Reference Manual, ensuring alignment with SPP Tariff, Business Practices, and applicable industry standards.
• Coordinates with Functional Analysts to support SPP System Operations reporting related to interchange activities, scheduling metrics, modeling validation, and compliance documentation.
• Identifies, investigates, and resolves schedule conflicts, POR/POD inconsistencies, settlement area errors, or modeling misalignments involving customers and BA counterparts.
• Works with Lead Functional Coordinators and Shift Supervisors to ensure interchange tasks are performed consistently across all shifts with accuracy and common structure.
• Develops training materials, mentors operators and analysts, and delivers coaching to strengthen cross‑functional understanding of interchange processes and compliance requirements.
• Recommends changes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of interchange scheduling tools, workflows, and procedures.
• Makes well‑informed decisions regarding scheduling discrepancies, system issues, and compliance needs in time‑critical or stressful situations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (Three Years of experience in a responsible position on one or more of the SPP Operations functions may be considered in lieu of degree requirement)
• 6 years of relevant job‑related experience In excess of degree requirements

Other Requirements:

• Knowledge of the calculation principles, functionality and data interfaces of applications used by multiple Functional Areas of Coordinated Operations and Market Operations.
• Knowledge of the Southwest Power Pool high voltage transmission system, the SPP Criteria, SPP Business Practices, NERC Reliability Standards, SPP Market Protocols, SPP Regional Tariff, SSAE16 Modeling Controls, SPP Change Control procedures, and SPP Contract Services.
• Knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards, SPP Criteria, SPP Market Protocols, the SPP OATT and SPP OATT Business Practices.
• Knowledgeable of and conversant with tools such as the EMS, Open Access Same‑time Information System, OASIS Automation and scheduling systems
• Strong inter‑personal and teaming skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Motivation to take appropriate expedited action when required
• Initiative to stay abreast of industry developments
• Ability to work with a broad spectrum of individuals with diverse interests when resolving problems
• Competent skills with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office© Word, Excel, and Access

Travel Requirement:

This position requires minimal travel (approximately 0-15%)

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: Culture of Belonging - SPP.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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