Sr. Project Manager

Overview

Senior Project Manager | Pay Range: $97,580.00 - $

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is about more than power. We’re about the power of relationships. Our employees work together to ensure electricity is delivered reliably and affordably to the millions in our service territory. We have been voted one of Arkansas’ Best Places to work by Arkansas Business, and we are looking for a team member passionate about our mission to keep the lights on.

We have a core ideology:
Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way. SPP offers a competitive benefits package and relocation assistance, with flexible work options for eligible roles.

Note: SPP is not able to sponsor employment visas or STEM OPT for this position. Ensure you are eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship prior to applying.

• Lead the delivery of large-scale, complex initiatives critical to SPP’s operations, regulatory requirements, and strategic objectives.
• Manage the full project management lifecycle for enterprise system implementations, technology upgrades, and business process improvements that support reliable operation of the bulk electric grid.
• Coordinate high-priority projects requiring cross-functional collaboration, advanced leadership, and strong integration across departments, vendors, and consultants.
• Support program management, product group coordination, PMO quality assurance, and alignment with SOC 1 control objectives and Internal Audit.
• Provide leadership to project teams, develop subject matter expertise, mentor junior PMO staff, and represent SPP in committees and working groups as needed.
• Adhere to PMO processes and procedures when managing projects as program manager or product group manager, including planning, control, scheduling, risk and issue management, change control, and governance.
• Develop project schedules, monitor performance, manage scope, and communicate status to stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration, maintain comprehensive project documentation, and manage RAID logs.
• Proactively identify risks and issues and implement mitigation strategies; conduct regular status meetings with stakeholders and vendors.
• Ensure deliverables are fit for purpose and aligned with budget and timeline constraints.
• Manage resource plans, including vendor resources, and ensure alignment with the project SOW and PMO policies.
• Oversee financial forecasting, budget adherence, and monthly reviews of invoices and POs.
• Coordinate changes to major product groups and oversee PMO process improvements and templates.
• Follow SPP ePMO project management methodology and policies.

• Create and maintain project resource plans and allocations.
• Monitor actual work against planned effort and resolve over allocations.
• Engage with vendors to manage deliverables per the SOW.

• Maintain accurate project financial forecasts and ensure adherence to approved budgets.
• Perform monthly reviews of project invoices and purchase orders with stakeholders and vendors.

• Understand and manage SOWs (Time & Materials, fixed price, milestone-based).
• Ensure SOW deliverables are reflected in schedules/RAID logs and comply with requirements.
• Mitigate risk and manage cost overruns; apply sound decision-making under ambiguity.
• Promote SOC1 control objectives and compliance across vendors; coach PMO staff as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Project Management, or related field; or PMI Certification plus two years of PM experience in lieu of degree.

• Six (6) years of project management experience or closely related discipline.

• Excellent written and verbal communication; professional demeanor.
• Experience managing large, complex, high-priority projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (SharePoint, MS Project, Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint) or equivalent tools.
• Strong organizational skills and compliance with SPP policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of SPP technology and business processes.
• PMI-PMP certification; experience with SPP PMO methodologies, tools, and systems.
• Track record as Agile…