Manager, Enterprise Communications

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: This position may not be performed remotely from California or New York City, NY, nor can SPP 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.

Manager, Enterprise Communications Salary range: $112,240 – $145,810

Overview
This role serves as a senior strategic communications partner and trusted advisor to assigned SPP business leaders and teams. This role operates at the intersection of business strategy, internal communications, stakeholder engagement and reputation. The Manager, Enterprise Communications provides counsel to leaders on how, when and why to communicate; translates complex technical, operational, market and industry issues into clear and compelling narratives; and ensures business unit communications are connected to SPP's broader story and strategic direction. This role listens to and understands business needs, challenges assumptions when appropriate, brings communications expertise to strategic discussions and develops solutions to create meaningful value for SPP and its audiences. The Manager, Enterprise Communications is also responsible for collaborating with cross-functional teams to connect dots and work as one across SPP to ensure messaging alignment while creating and managing content across various communication channels.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated communication strategies that advance assigned business unit priorities, support organizational objectives, and deliver clear, coordinated messaging across relevant internal, external, executive, digital, social, and stakeholder audiences.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to assigned business leaders, providing counsel that strengthens communication effectiveness, supports informed decision-making, and anticipates audience, stakeholder, and reputational considerations.
• Translate complex technical, operational, market, and industry information into clear, accurate, and compelling communications that enable diverse audiences to understand key issues, decisions, and organizational priorities.
• Regularly assess whether communications activities are achieving their intended business and audience outcomes and recommend improvements to communications processes, channels and practices.
• Ensure business unit communications are aligned with SPP’s enterprise strategy, messaging, and broader organizational narrative while appropriately addressing the distinct needs of individual audiences and business areas.
• Build effective cross-functional partnerships that produce coordinated, technically accurate, and audience-relevant communications and clarify communication roles, messaging, timing, and channels across interconnected initiatives.
• Deliver high-quality communications and content across appropriate channels, including executive communications, that achieve defined communication objectives and reinforce consistent organizational messaging.
• Evaluate communication effectiveness using appropriate measures, audience insights, and feedback to identify opportunities to strengthen communication strategies, channels, processes, and audience engagement.
• Anticipate and manage communications considerations associated with emerging, sensitive, or high-impact business issues, ensuring appropriate coordination, escalation, and response to protect organizational credibility and reputation.
• Partner with Media Relations and other communications functions to identify and advance proactive storytelling and engagement opportunities that strengthen understanding of SPP’s work, priorities, and value.
• Maintain current knowledge of SPP, the energy industry, electricity markets and issues affecting the organization as well as awareness of communications trends, emerging trends, emerging channels and evolving stakeholder expectations.
• Strengthen communication capability across assigned business areas by providing guidance, tools, and expertise that improve communication practices while effectively managing communications resources and project priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• 10 years Experience in corporate communications, public relations, journalism or a related communications discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the electric utility, energy, transmission, power markets or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience working for an RTO, ISO, utility or related energy organization.
• Knowledge of the U.S. electric grid, wholesale electricity markets and the evolving energy landscape.
• Experience communicating complex technical, operational, regulatory or market-related issues.
• Experience providing communications counsel to executives and senior leadership teams.
• Experience with issues management, crisis communications and reputation management.
• Experience supporting organizational transformation and change communications.
• Experience with stakeholder, media and executive communications.
• Experience using communications analytics and audience insights to inform strategy.
• Experience working in a matrixed organization or complex stakeholder environment.

Other Requirements:

• Strategic Communication
• Content Development
• Project Management
• Budget Management
• Executive Communications
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Performance Metrics Analysis
• Media Relations
• Crisis Communication
• Demonstrated ability to quickly understand complex business, technical or operational issues and translate them for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic communications adviser to senior leaders.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated success building trusted relationships and influencing stakeholders across organizational boundaries.
• Strong strategic thinking, business judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated discretion and judgment in handling sensitive, confidential and high-profile matters.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of the workweek are Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Working extended hours may be required.

Travel Requirement:

This position requires travel (approximately 20%)

SPP 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, SPP 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 HR@spp.org 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 - SPP.