Lead Western External Affairs Liaison

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

PLEASE NOTE: SPP is not able to 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.

Lead External Affairs Liaison| Pay Range:  $97,580.00  - $126,795.00

Join Southwest Power Pool (SPP) as a Lead External Affairs Liaison – West and help shape the future of the Western Interconnection. In this highly visible role, you’ll serve as a key relationship builder and strategic representative for SPP across the region, supporting initiatives tied to Markets+, regional expansion, stakeholder engagement, and public policy awareness.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in relationship-driven environments and understands the complexity of the energy industry, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), public policy, and stakeholder engagement. You’ll work closely with member companies, policymakers, industry groups, and internal leadership to strengthen SPP’s presence, build trust with western stakeholders, and support strategic growth initiatives across the region.

The Lead External Affairs Liaison – West requires strong communication skills, political and industry awareness, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while representing SPP’s mission of ensuring reliable, resilient, and affordable power.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with member companies, policymakers, elected officials, industry organizations, stakeholders, and prospective participants throughout the Western Interconnection.


• Lead external engagement activities that support awareness and understanding of SPP’s Markets+, reliability mission, governance model, RTO expansion efforts, and broader strategic initiatives.


• Represent SPP at stakeholder meetings, conferences, legislative events, industry forums, and member engagements while serving as a trusted and credible organizational representative.


• Monitor and communicate legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments that may impact SPP, its members, stakeholders, or regional initiatives.


• Support and coordinate stakeholder engagement strategies, outreach efforts, and government affairs activities that strengthen collaboration and regional participation.


• Develop presentations, briefing materials, talking points, reports, testimony, and stakeholder communications that support organizational objectives and executive awareness.


• Facilitate engagement opportunities with policymakers, stakeholders, member companies, and prospective participants through meetings, events, visits, and outreach activities.


• Partner closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to support alignment, communication, consensus-building, and successful stakeholder processes.


• Lead or contribute to strategic initiatives and special projects that enhance stakeholder engagement, external partnerships, and SPP’s regional presence in the West.


• Ensure activities are conducted in alignment with applicable SPP policies, procedures, and state and federal requirements related to government and external stakeholder interactions.


• Travel extensively throughout the Western Interconnection to support relationship management, stakeholder engagement, and regional outreach activities.

Ready to help shape the future of the Western Interconnection? Apply today and join a mission-driven organization working to ensure reliable, resilient, and affordable power across the evolving energy landscape. If you’re passionate about stakeholder engagement, strategic relationship building, and making an impact across the energy industry, we’d love to hear from you.

To Be Successful as a Lead External Affairs Liaison, We're Looking For: 

Education Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in public affairs, public administration, business, communications, political science, policy analysis or related fields.

Experience Requirements: 

• Eight (8) years of relevant experience


• Experience working in the Western Interconnection and familiarity with Western energy market issues, regional transmission planning, and stakeholder processes.


• Knowledge of and experience related to SPP’s Markets+ initiative and RTO expansion efforts.


• Strong relationships and credibility with stakeholders across the Western energy landscape, including utilities, public power entities, policymakers, trade organizations, and industry groups.


• Experience representing an organization in external-facing environments, including conferences, public meetings, stakeholder forums, and government engagement activities.


• Strong communication, presentation, relationship management, and consensus-building skills.


• Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and coordinate across diverse internal and external groups.


• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the Western Interconnection.


• Residency within the Western Interconnection required.


• Flexibility and the ability to function with constantly changing and multiple priorities


• Excellent written and communication skills for facilitating and representing company needs, including Microsoft Word technical skills


• Excellent presentation skills, including PowerPoint technical skills


• Excellent organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within the Western energy landscape, including utilities, public power entities, policymakers, trade organizations, and industry groups.

Position Type, Location, and Expected Hours of Work: 

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  This is a full-time, remote position. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional extended hours as needed.

  
  

Travel Requirement:

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  This position requires significant travel, up to 40%

  
  

Southwest Power Pool 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, Southwest Power Pool 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 [email protected] 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 - Southwest Power Pool.