Sr. Public Affairs Specialist (Remote Eligible)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay with bonus

Excellent insurance package (medical,

Relocation bonus

Hybrid work environment

401(k) with employer-match plus a DBP

Job summary

Southwest Power Pool, Inc. is seeking a Senior Public Affairs Specialist based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The role develops and executes strategic communications to support SPP’s priorities and strengthen understanding of its mission in the electric energy industry. The position requires translating complex policy and regulatory issues into clear messaging, coordinating with Legal, Regulatory, and organizational leaders, and preparing leaders for media engagements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Political Science, English, Marketing, or a related field, or 2 additional years of experience in lieu of the degree requirement.
• 6 years of relevant professional experience in communications, public affairs communications, corporate communications, external communications, public relations, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public affairs communication strategies and materials that clearly communicate SPP’s priorities, positions, and perspectives to appropriate audiences.
• Translate complex legislative, regulatory, policy, industry, and technical information into clear, audience-appropriate communications.
• Develop high-quality public affairs content, including talking points, briefing materials, presentations, fact sheets, issue summaries, correspondence, digital content, and other communications needed to support organizational objectives.
• Monitor emerging issues, policy developments, regulatory activity and external trends that could affect SPP’s reputation, stakeholders or ability to fulfill its mission.
• Identify communications opportunities and potential reputational risks and develop proactive strategies to address them.
• Partner with External Affairs, Legal, Regulatory, subject matter experts, and organizational leaders to ensure public affairs communications are accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with SPP priorities.
• Provide strategic communication counsel on complex, sensitive, or high-visibility public affairs matters, recommending messaging approaches that appropriately address organizational considerations and audience needs.

Skills

Public affairs

Strategic communications

Executive talking points

Relationship building

Crisis communications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications (or related field)

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

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.

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist | Salary Range: $97,580 – $126,795

Overview

The Senior Public Affairs Specialist develops and executes strategic communications that support Southwest Power Pool's proactive public affairs priorities and strengthen understanding of SPP's mission, positions, and role in the electric energy industry. This position translates complex legislative, regulatory, policy, industry, and organizational issues into clear, accurate, and compelling communications for external and internal audiences. The role partners with subject matter experts and organizational leaders to develop messaging and communication strategies for complex or high-visibility issues. The Senior Public Affairs Specialist is a strategic thinker and strong relationship builder who applies strong judgment, research, writing, and strategic communication expertise to help ensure SPP communicates effectively and consistently on matters affecting the organization and its stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public affairs communication strategies and materials that clearly communicate SPP’s priorities, positions, and perspectives to appropriate audiences.
• Translate complex legislative, regulatory, policy, industry, and technical information into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications that support understanding of SPP and its priorities.
• Develop high-quality public affairs content, including talking points, briefing materials, presentations, fact sheets, issue summaries, correspondence, digital content, and other communications needed to support organizational objectives.
• Monitor emerging issues, policy developments, regulatory activity and external trends that could affect SPP’s reputation, stakeholders or ability to fulfill its mission and recommend proactive approaches that support organizational readiness and reduce communication risk.
• Identify communications opportunities and potential reputational risks and develop proactive strategies to address them.
• Partner with External Affairs, Legal, Regulatory, subject matter experts, and organizational leaders to ensure public affairs communications are accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with SPP priorities.
• Provide strategic communication counsel on complex, sensitive, or high-visibility public affairs matters, recommending messaging approaches that appropriately address organizational considerations and audience needs.
• Develop and maintain key messages, talking points, briefing materials and communication resources that enable consistent representation of SPP positions across public affairs activities.
• Prepare leaders and subject matter experts for communications and media engagements by developing talking points, presentations, briefing documents, anticipated questions, and other communication resources.
• Manage communications for assigned public affairs initiatives from planning through execution, coordinating input and approvals to deliver accurate and effective materials within required timelines.
• Help establish SPP’s positions and narratives around issues affecting reliability, markets and the evolving energy landscape.
• Evaluate communication effectiveness and incorporate stakeholder feedback, changing conditions, and lessons learned to continuously improve public affairs messaging and communication approaches.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Political Science, English, Marketing, or a related field Or 2 additional years of experience beyond the requirements stated below can be considered in lieu of the degree requirement
• 6 years of relevant professional experience in communications, public affairs communications, corporate communications, external communications, public relations, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing communications related to public policy, legislative, regulatory, governmental, or industry matters.
• Experience in the electric utility, energy, infrastructure, regulatory, or another highly regulated industry.
• Knowledge of the electric energy industry and the role of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) or Independent System Operators (ISOs).
• Experience developing executive-level talking points, briefing materials, presentations, issue summaries, or other communications supporting external engagements.
• Experience with issues management and crisis communications.
• Experience positioning executives or subject-matter experts as thought leaders.
• Experience working in a matrixed or highly complex organization.
• Experience communicating complex technical or regulatory subject matter to nontechnical audiences.

Other Requirements

• Demonstrated experience developing strategic communications plans and written materials for complex, sensitive, or high-visibility topics.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical, regulatory, policy, or business information into clear and compelling communications for varied audiences.
• Advanced writing, editing, research, and message-development skills with demonstrated attention to accuracy, consistency, and audience needs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop communications in partnership with leaders, subject matter experts, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information, emerging issues, and communications that may create organizational or reputational risk.
• Experience providing strategic counsel to senior leaders and executives.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple communication priorities, projects, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Position Type, Location, and Expected Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Candidates residing within a 50-mile radius of Little Rock are required to work in a hybrid arrangement with a minimum of two days per week in the office. Candidates residing outside the 50-mile radius of Little Rock (Central Arkansas) are eligible for a remote work arrangement. 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 10%)

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.