Sr. Operations Applications Analyst - Southwest Power Pool

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

Senior Ops Applications Analyst is responsible for the support and maintenance of computer applications and databases that support daily operations and services provided by Southwest Power Pool. This position supports software applications and maintains processes, procedures, and controls for systems, data exchanges, data interfaces, and modeling to support the SPP Coordinated Operations: Integrated Marketplace, Consolidated Balancing Authority (CBA), Reliability, Tariff, Markets, Scheduling and Engineering.  The accurate and reliable functioning of the supported applications is critical to the operation of Southwest Power Pool and its members.  

Senior Ops Applications Analyst is expected to have subject matter expertise in one or more application areas and technologies. This position is expected to apply business and technical support concepts to troubleshoot software, provide customer support, and resolve application and usability problems.

Senior Ops Applications Analyst ensures the effective operation of all assigned systems. This position will work with other SPP staff to manage systems to minimize downtime, utilizing IT standards. Senior Ops Applications Analyst will work with Programmer/Developers and Architects to review system architecture and design to identify and recommend hardware and software acquisitions/upgrades, process improvements and design changes to strengthen system security and stability as well as enhance systems and processes.

The Senior Ops Applications Analyst will provide technical training, coaching and guidance to other members of the Applications Teams based on experience. 

Senior Ops Applications Analyst will function as the liaison with SPP Departments, IT, and external vendor staff to ensure that end user and organizational needs are met.

Senior Ops Applications Analyst is expected to work with minimal supervision, exercising good judgment in helping develop implementation project plans, prioritizing assignments and resolving issues.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate detailed knowledge in specific technical areas, assigned applications and interfaces (Recognized as Subject Matter Expert).
• Install, configure, maintain and support assigned application systems.
• Monitor, investigate and resolve system issues and/or abnormalities ensuring that the system operates and performs per requirements.
• Acknowledge and remediate customer-reported issues and inquiries in a timely manner.
• Participate in 24/7/365 on-call rotation.
• Multi-task, problem-solve, and demonstrate an ability to administer and support complex and highly integrated systems.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the business and technical requirements of their assigned system and a competent understanding of other systems supported by their team.
• Engage in applicable phases of SDLC and project life cycle including but not limited to requirements and design, test execution, environment support, release deployment and coordination of implementation plans across multiple teams, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Create, refine, and maintain technical system documentation.
• Recommend and implement changes and enhancements to systems, processes, and documentation.
• Continue to develop and retain technical skills applicable to their assigned focus area.
• Provide training in areas of expertise to other employees.
• Mentor Level I/II and new team members.  Provide mentoring to team members based on experience.
• Understand and comply with corporate and departmental policies and procedures including applicable SOC1 and FERC CIP audit controls.
• Perform tasks or special projects as assigned by the management team or by senior team members.

• Provide technical support for one or more of the following areas:
• Development Support
  • Develop and support tools, displays, and processes with a focus on increasing operator situational awareness while reducing human error risks.
  • Develop and support geographic applications used within the major areas of the SPP Coordinated Operations.
  • Develop and support Resource adequacy program in support of the Western Power Pool.
• Operational Archive Support
  • Create and maintain existing data points within the operational archive data systems (such as AVEVA PI)
  • Support organizational uses of operations historical data for Operations, as well as other organizational business units.
  • Support and configure synchrophasor applications for both real-time situational awareness and provide support for engineering staff performing post event analysis.
• Business Analyst Support
  • Work collaboratively with stakeholders to gather requirements and establish test cases/test plans.
  • Provide analysis of customer, business, and technical needs to articulate and develop business goals, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, etc., using SPP’s established requirements methodology. Present requirements in a manner that is appropriate to the project.
  • Identify, recommend, and implement changes and enhancements to processes and documentation to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Support complex projects/implementations that impact multiple systems, interfaces, and departments.
  • Provide guidance, direction, feedback, and coaching to ensure team effectiveness.
  • Assist supervisor of team with day-to-day task assignments, status tracking, and issue resolution

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; Two (2) Years of Information Technology development/programming/support experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirement

Experience Requirements:

• Six (6) years of Information Technology development/programming/support experience

Required:

• Effective working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Unix or Linux operating systems, application support, and database management systems
• Effective troubleshooting, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Effective working knowledge of SDLC and project life cycle methods and practices
• Good customer service and organizational skills
• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures
• Proficient in scripting, SQL, deciphering error and event logs, data analysis

Preferred:

• Advanced experience with User Experience (UX) design
• Advanced experience in C#, JavaScript, SQL, and other similar development languages
• Advanced experience with MVC, WebAPI, and MVVM
• Advanced understanding of object-oriented analysis and design concepts
• Advanced experience with version control including Git
• Advanced 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, SAS70 Modeling Controls and SPP Change Control procedures
• Working 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, and the Integrated Market System
• Initiative to stay abreast of industry developments

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 and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to 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 10%).

SPP is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us at HR@spp.org 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. We will accommodate the needs of any qualified candidate who requests a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

At SPP we value Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Visit our website to learn more: LINK

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)