Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement & Process Specialist

Southwest Power Pool•Little Rock, AR

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Western Stakeholder Engagement and Process Specialist is a senior subject matter expert who provides strategic and analytical leadership across SPP’s stakeholder governance processes. The role primarily supports the Interim Markets+ Independent Panel (IMIP), Markets+ Participants Executive Committee (MPEC), and Markets+ working groups and task forces. It independently evaluates complex stakeholder matters, identifies procedural and governance implications, and works with committee leadership, subject matter experts, and organizational leaders to support informed decisions 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 stakeholder-process consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness. The position operates with substantial independence and serves as a key resource for stakeholder governance expertise and continuity across IMIP, MPEC, and Markets+ stakeholder processes. This is a full-time hybrid position based in Little Rock, Arkansas, requiring at least two days per week in the office. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional extended hours as needed. Moderate travel of approximately 20–45% is required. The position may not be performed remotely from California or New York City, New York. SPP cannot sponsor employment visas or student-work authorizations for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Eight 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.
Demonstrated ability to independently analyze and synthesize complex issues, evaluate competing perspectives, and develop recommendations for 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, including synthesizing input from multiple stakeholder groups into clear, organized materials for leadership and committee audiences.
Advanced knowledge of stakeholder engagement, governance, and policy or regulatory process practices, including identifying trends and risks and communicating them to leadership.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, relationship-building ability across committee leadership, working groups, and staff, and sound judgment when handling sensitive matters.
Ability to independently manage complex, concurrent issues and priorities, exercise sound judgment, and determine when matters require escalation or additional review.
Proficiency with business applications and information-management tools to analyze information, maintain governance records, track complex issues, and develop reports and presentations.
Ability to work in the Little Rock, Arkansas, hybrid arrangement with at least two days per week in the office and undertake moderate travel of approximately 20–45%.

Nice To Haves

Experience in 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.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and analytical leadership for IMIP, MPEC, and assigned Markets+ working groups and task forces, ensuring complex issues, revision requests, and recommendations are evaluated, coordinated, and advanced through established governance processes.
Analyze issues and recommendations across Markets+ working groups and task forces to identify interdependencies, conflicting positions, procedural gaps, and unresolved matters, and develop recommendations supporting timely resolution and informed committee decisions.
Partner with IMIP and MPEC leadership, working group chairs, task force leaders, and subject matter experts to establish agenda priorities, issue sequencing, and decision-support materials.
Synthesize stakeholder input, technical information, and working group and task force recommendations into clear analyses and executive-level briefings describing key considerations, potential implications, and matters requiring leadership or committee attention.
Serve as a subject matter expert on stakeholder governance procedures, resolve complex procedural questions within established authority, and partner with Legal and organizational leaders when interpretation, escalation, or additional review is needed.
Evaluate and improve Markets+ stakeholder governance processes by identifying recurring issues, assessing procedural effectiveness, developing recommendations, and implementing approved changes to strengthen consistency, transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
Provide technical leadership and guidance to Stakeholder Engagement and Process Coordinators, staff secretaries, working group chairs, and task force leaders on governance requirements, complex process matters, and stakeholder-process expertise.
Maintain effective working relationships with committee leadership, working group and task force representatives, subject matter experts, and internal partners to support cross-functional alignment and progression of recommendations.
Provide analytical and procedural support for Markets+ stakeholder governance activities and ensure continuity and accurate communication of recommendations, decisions, and outstanding issues as they progress through working groups, task forces, MPEC, and IMIP, as applicable.
Establish and maintain tracking, documentation, and reporting practices for stakeholder issues, recommendations, decisions, and action items to support accurate governance records, timely follow-through, and reliable leadership information.
Provide expert guidance and analytical support for complex stakeholder engagement initiatives and cross-functional governance matters; identify trends, evaluate organizational implications, and recommend actions supporting departmental objectives and effective stakeholder processes.