Director, NERC Compliance

COMPENSATION INFORMATIONThe 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.

Director, NERC Compliance | Pay Range: $174,710.00 - $231,450.00

Join SPP as Our Next Director, NERC Compliance

At Southwest Power Pool, our work matters. Every day, we help keep the lights on for millions of people by supporting the reliability and security of the Bulk Electric System (BES) across an evolving energy landscape. We're looking for a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking leader to join us as Director, NERC Compliance.

In this high-impact leadership role, you'll shape and lead SPP's enterprise-wide compliance strategy and governance framework supporting applicable NERC Reliability Standards and regional regulatory requirements. You'll work at the center of reliability, operations, cybersecurity, engineering, and executive leadership - helping guide the organization through an increasingly complex and fast-moving regulatory environment.

This is more than a compliance role. It's an opportunity to influence industry standards, strengthen operational resilience, drive proactive risk mitigation, and represent SPP as a trusted leader across the electric utility and reliability community. If you're energized by strategy, collaboration, and mission-critical work that supports grid reliability and security, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Lead SPP's enterprise-wide strategy, governance framework, and oversight activities supporting compliance with NERC Reliability Standards, regional requirements, and related regulatory obligations.
• Direct SPP's participation in the development, refinement, interpretation, communication, and implementation of national and regional reliability standards and policies.
• Partner across Operations, Reliability Coordination, Planning, Engineering, IT, Cybersecurity, Legal, and executive leadership teams to align operational practices with evolving regulatory expectations.
• Represent SPP in industry forums, standards drafting teams, working groups, and stakeholder discussions focused on reliability standards, compliance governance, and emerging regulatory issues.
• Drive collaboration with member organizations, registered entities, regulatory stakeholders, and industry groups to support practical, risk-informed, and sustainable compliance solutions.
• Ensure continuous audit readiness through strong governance practices, effective internal controls, evidence management, and accountability processes.
• Oversee organizational responses to audits, investigations, self-certifications, enforcement actions, mitigation activities, and regulatory inquiries involving NERC and Regional Entities.
• Lead enterprise impact assessments and implementation planning for new or revised reliability standards, including operational, organizational, financial, and compliance considerations.
• Develop and maintain proactive, risk-based compliance monitoring and corrective action programs that identify, mitigate, and communicate reliability and regulatory risks.
• Provide executive-level reporting, strategic recommendations, and guidance related to compliance posture, industry trends, enforcement developments, and regulatory strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop compliance professionals and subject matter experts while fostering a culture centered on accountability, transparency, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Drive continuous improvement of SPP's Internal Compliance Program (ICP), governance processes, training initiatives, compliance communications, and organizational awareness programs supporting BES reliability and security.

If you're ready to lead at the intersection of reliability, strategy, and regulatory excellence while helping shape the future of the grid, apply today and join the mission at SPP.

To be successful in the role we're looking for:

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or related field.

Experience Requirements:

• Ten (10) plus years experience in electric utility operations, ISO/RTO operations, reliability compliance, regulatory compliance, transmission operations, or a related reliability-focused environment.
• Five (5) plus years of leadership experience managing compliance, regulatory, operational, reliability, or risk-based programs and teams.
• Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards and the regulatory framework supporting Bulk Electric System (BES) reliability.
• Experience leading or supporting regulatory audits, compliance assessments, investigations, corrective action activities, or governance programs.
• Experience collaborating across operational, engineering, cybersecurity, legal, or regulatory stakeholder groups to support organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex regulatory or operational issues, assess risk, and communicate recommendations to leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience within an RTO/ISO environment.
• Experience participating in NERC standards development, industry working groups, or regulatory committees.
• Experience with the NERC Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP).
• Experience supporting or leading enterprise compliance transformation, audit remediation, or governance improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) requirements and BES cybersecurity practices.
• NERC Certification or industry certifications such as CISA, CRISC, CISSP, or CCEP.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, boards, or regulatory oversight committees.

Travel Requirement:

• This position requires minimal (0-20%) travel.

Position Type, Location, and Hours:

This is a full-time, hybrid onsite position located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; however, work hours may vary based on organizational and operational needs, with occasional extended or nonstandard hours required as determined by management.