Sr. Media Relations Specialist (Remote Eligible)

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 and transparent 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 bonus (if applicable) Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (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. Sr Media Relations Specialist Salary range: $87,950 – $112,190 Help shape how SPP tells its story. Are you a media relations strategist who knows how to turn complex topics into stories that matter? Do you enjoy building relationships with reporters, advising leaders, and finding opportunities to put an organization’s expertise in the spotlight? As our Senior Media Relations Specialist , you’ll have the opportunity to help build and shape SPP’s media relations strategy at an exciting time for our organization and the energy industry. You’ll work closely with leaders and subject matter experts to tell SPP’s story locally, nationally, and across the electric energy industry. We’re looking for someone who can think beyond simply responding to media inquiries. You’ll help determine when SPP should engage, how we should engage, and how our media strategy can support broader business priorities and protect our reputation. The ideal candidate brings strong media judgment, strategic thinking, established media relations experience, and the ability to confidently navigate fast-moving and high-profile issues. The hiring manager specifically emphasized the need for someone who can distinguish when responding to a media inquiry is in SPP’s best interest and when it is not. If you’re a builder who wants to help develop something, tell meaningful stories, and work in an industry that impacts millions of people every day, this could be the opportunity for you. What You'll Do Shape SPP’s media strategy. Develop and execute proactive media relations strategies that strengthen SPP’s reputation, increase awareness of key priorities, and position our leaders and subject matter experts as trusted industry resources. Manage media inquiries from start to finish. Coordinate accurate, timely, and consistent responses with leaders, subject matter experts, Legal, Communications, and other internal partners. Build meaningful media relationships. Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, national, trade, and industry media to expand awareness of SPP and its role in the energy industry. Stay ahead of emerging issues. Monitor industry developments, media trends, and emerging topics that could impact SPP, and provide strategic communications recommendations to leadership. Turn complex information into compelling content. Develop press releases, media statements, talking points, briefing materials, Q&As, key messages, and other external communications that make technical and business information clear and accessible. Prepare leaders to tell SPP’s story. Coach executives, leaders, and subject matter experts for media interviews and external engagements so they can represent SPP clearly, confidently, and consistently. Lead communications when the stakes are high. Provide media relations support during significant operational events, organizational announcements, crisis situations, and other high-profile matters to protect SPP’s reputation and ensure a coordinated response. Create opportunities to elevate SPP. Proactively identify and develop media opportunities that showcase SPP’s expertise, accomplishments, strategic priorities, and contributions to the reliability and evolution of the bulk electric power system. Partner across the organization. Work closely with Communications colleagues and internal stakeholders to ensure media strategies and messaging align with SPP’s broader communications, stakeholder engagement, and business objectives. Measure what matters. Monitor and evaluate media coverage, sentiment, reach, and emerging narratives to identify reputational risks, opportunities, and insights that strengthen future communications strategies. Build strong media relations practices. Maintain media contacts, resources, processes, and response protocols that support consistent and efficient external media engagement. Serve as a trusted communications advisor. Independently manage complex assignments, advise stakeholders on media considerations, and bring senior-level judgment and expertise to communications strategies and continuous improvement efforts. To be successful as a Sr. Media Relations Specialist , we're looking for: Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business, or a related field. Experience Requirement: Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, public relations, corporate communications, journalism, or a closely related communications field. Other Requirements: Demonstrated experience developing media strategies and managing relationships with reporters, editors, or other external media representatives. Demonstrated experience developing external communications and translating complex or technical information into clear, concise messaging for diverse audiences. Experience preparing leaders or subject matter experts for media interviews, public statements, or other external communications. Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive, time-critical, or high-profile communications with sound judgment and discretion. Advanced knowledge of media relations, public relations, strategic communications, and reputation management principles. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate complex information clearly and accurately. Strong news judgment and ability to anticipate how organizational decisions, events, and industry developments may be perceived externally. Ability to develop trusted relationships with media representatives, executives, subject matter experts, and internal stakeholders. Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain composure when managing sensitive, confidential, rapidly evolving, or high-profile matters. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines. Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across functions and organizational levels. Ability to understand technical, regulatory, and business concepts and translate them into accessible messages for external audiences. Strong attention to accuracy, consistency, and organizational reputation in all external communications. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working in the electric utility, energy, regulatory, technology, infrastructure, or another complex and highly regulated industry. Experience supporting crisis communications, issues management, or other high-visibility organizational matters. Experience working directly with executives and senior leaders on external communications and media strategy. Familiarity with the electric utility industry, Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), Independent System Operators (ISOs), or energy regulatory matters. Position Type, Location, and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time, hybrid onsite position based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional extended hours as needed. Fully remote work is available only for senior-level positions and above, and only for candidates residing outside a 50-mile radius of Little Rock (Central Arkansas). Travel Requirement: This position requires minimal travel (approximately 20%). 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 .