Sr. or Tariff Services Specialist III - Business 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

The Generation Interconnection Tariff Services Specialist  is responsible for independently making determinations of best process and practices for the multiple business and technical functions relating to Generation Interconnection Studies.  The Senior Specialist is also expected to successfully contribute to the business management of Generation Interconnection Studies.

The position requires frequent interaction with SPP staff, stakeholders and policy decision makers requiring the incumbent to be able to communicate professionally. This communication, both written and oral, is for the purposes of requests, analysis, coordination, guidance, and presentations.

This position also requires advanced job experience and leadership skills with the ability to mentor other staff members. Leadership activities may include officer involvement with working groups, active involvement with multiple Generation Interconnection efforts, representing Generation Interconnection inside and outside of the Engineering department, and reviewing and approving work efforts of team members.

The Tariff Services Specialist is expected to work with minimal to no supervision. As such, an excellent working relationship with all parties must be maintained to ensure the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the organization.

The employee must develop a very detailed (Subject Matter Expert) understanding of the SPP Transmission System, the Governing Documents, and Generation Inerconnection processes and procedures.  The employee must communicate and work well with SPP employees in other departments, SPP Transmission Owner personnel, outside consultants, other transmission providers, and SPP Interconnection Customers.

Essential Functions

General Support Responsibilities:

• Independently analyze, review and lead business activities performed by the SPP Generation Interconnection Studies team and make recommendations regarding compliance and process administration with SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC, or other regulatory requirements.
• Participate in engineering analysis support of Generation Interconnection Studies for SPP, which could include modelling development, power flow analysis. The Generation Interconnection Senior Tariff Services Specialist will be able to exercise advanced technical judgement working with specialists/engineering staff in the use of SPP power system analysis tools, data management tools, and software and processes necessary to support Generation Interconnection Studies.
• Lead and mentor Generation Interconnection staff in the management of the SPP Generator Interconnection study queues. This includes Generator Interconnection request acceptance and coordination of study agreements; evaluation of workflow requirements; development and assessment of junior specialist skillsets on best practices administrating various facets of Generation Interconnection Studies; and  recommend appropriate training in support of Generation Interconnection Studies administration.
• Independently develop and present analysis reports on Generation Interconnection Studies for use by both internal SPP departments and external member and stakeholder groups. These reports may contain detailed technical analysis, operational and business data, and compliance with or support of general business rules and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the interaction with other SPP departments to support the multiple activities related to SPP Generation Interconnection Studies, regulatory policy and department business needs.
• Independently develop recommendations for improvements, and document processes and procedures for, transmission service and generator interconnection studies, transmission service and generator interconnection agreements and requests, and SPP Business Practices and Open Access Transmission Tariff activities.
• Effectively communicate with customers, SPP members, and stakeholders in a positive manner in multiple engagement opportunities necessary for all business associated with SPP Engineering Tariff Studies and administration.
• Lead automation processes related to Tariff administration and Generation Interconnection queue management
• Lead the financial analysis related to Generation Interconnection processes.
• Vet results and reports prior management approval.
• Promote facilitation and delegation skills, finding a balance to deliver the results on time with quality and at the same time developing/creating opportunity for senior specialists.
• Approve scopes and schedules developed by the team, and share it with management for final approval.
• Advise management about technical and policy questions related to Generation Interconnection studies.
• Independently select the consulting firm to perform necessary studies.
• Independently supervise and lead kick-off meetings to commence actions related to Generation Interconnection Studies.

Governing Processes:

• Develop an advanced understanding of the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, FERC & NERC governing documents, SPP By-Laws, SPP Criteria, and the SPP Committee structure.
• Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of the governing and process documents specific to the evaluation of generator interconnection requests and be able to apply them and relate them to customers, stakeholder groups, and transmission owners
• Lead discussions and develop necessary changes related to the generation interconnection governing documents under management supervision.

Judgment:

• Lead decision-making situations for non-technical/technical studies and services to adapt between standard and non-standard techniques
• Independently complete assigned non-technical/technical processes, studies, and tasks with complex scopes and schedules, being able to define and lead the scope and plan and organize tasks with only general direction
• Be able to lead and manage key processes and see them completed accurately and in a timely manner
• Fully understand the Generation Interconnection concepts, defend the logic and methodology applied to evaluate the governing language, defend the logic and concept related to processes/automation, demonstrate it in front of management, transmission owners and generation interconnection customers and SPP members meeting when requested.

Teamwork and Leadership Skills:

• Provides teamwork and leadership support to help project groups meet aggressive time schedules
• Demonstrate advanced teamwork and resource management skills to assign and manage accountability in complex projects and new process development
• Maintain full accountability in decision making, project scopes, deadlines, etc.
• Supervise a small group of non-technical/technical personnel under the direction of applicable manager resources in a stakeholder driven environment
• Mentor and guide junior and senior specialists.
• Understand and promote the department goals developed by management.
• Promote and encourage the team to apply principles developed by management, as well help management to develop the necessary structure, in order to promote organization, motivation and efficiency in our work environment.

SPP Culture and Core Values:

• Embrace and promote the SPP Culture, Mission and Core Values in attitude toward stakeholder relationships, current work assignments as well as long term goals and strategic initiative of the organization. 
• Incorporate a fundamental working understanding of the SPP Culture Drivers, Mission and Core Values and apply this directly to all assignments and any SPP related effort
• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures    

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field or equivalent experience

Experience Requirements:

• Tariff Service Specialist III - Five (5) years of experience in the electrical industry or related experience
• Sr Tariff Service Specialist -  Seven (7) years of job-related work experience

Other Requirements:

• Strong inter-personal and team work skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with communication and data handling software such as Microsoft Office© Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.

Preferred:

• Experience in the electric utility industry, database management systems, data analysis and ad hoc report writing
• Experience with advanced decision-making in a multi-client environment
• Familiarity of one or more power systems analysis tools applicable to power system steady state, dynamic, production costs & economics, or database management systems.
• Advanced degree in related field of study

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 0-15%)

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)