Manager or Senior Manager, IT Security and Access Management

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

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.

Senior Manager, IT Security and Access Management| Pay Range: $144,700.00 -$188,100.00

Manager, IT Security and Access Management| Pay Range: $125,800.00 - $163,550.00

Join Our IT Security and Access Management Team!

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is looking for a visionary, results-driven Senior Manager of IT Security and Access Management to lead a high-performing team dedicated to protecting the systems that keep our electric grid running—and millions of people connected.

This is more than a leadership position—it’s your opportunity to help shape the future of cybersecurity at the heart of North America’s power infrastructure. If you're a proven cybersecurity professional with deep experience in regulatory compliance (like NERC CIP and SOC1), IT governance, and people leadership, we want to hear from you.

In this role, you’ll do more than manage—you’ll lead. You’ll align enterprise security efforts with big-picture goals, guide your team through complex challenges, respond to real-world threats, and work alongside top-tier experts who care deeply about their mission. You’ll also play a key role in cross-functional initiatives that drive innovation and resiliency across our organization.

If you're ready to bring your expertise, your leadership, and your passion for cybersecurity to a place where it truly matters—apply today and help us secure the future of energy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to IT Security and Access Management staff, fostering a high-performance and mission-driven culture.
• Collaborate with company executives and stakeholders to align departmental efforts with organizational goals and cybersecurity requirements.
• Develop and execute strategic and tactical plans that support compliance (SOC1, NERC standards) and enterprise IT architecture.
• Direct the monitoring and defense of SPP’s IT security perimeter, including oversight of threat detection, incident response, and cyber forensics.
• Serve as the lead of SPP’s Cyber Incident Response Team and a key member of the Incident Command Structure.
• Coordinate internal and external penetration testing, ensuring secure deployment of new systems and applications.
• Oversee creation, implementation, and maintenance of IT security policies and standards that support compliance and reduce risk.
• Represent the Information Security team in enterprise-level initiatives and cross-functional planning.
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with internal departments, regulatory bodies, and external partners.
• Provide real-time coaching and development support to direct reports, including regular performance touchpoints and annual reviews.
• Promote SPP’s Core Values and lead by example in fostering a culture of innovation, service, and integrity.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent technical experience in computer science, cybersecurity, system administration, information security business administration or equivalent job-related field
• Senior Manager: Ten (10) years of combined experience related to Information Technology and Electric Utility Industry Operations, plus eight (8) years of management experience
• Manager: Ten (10) years of combined experience related to Information Technology and Electric Utility Industry Operations, plus three (3) years of management experience
• Communication skills and directive ability to deal on a regular basis with all levels of Management within and outside the organization, as well as with internal and external auditors and regulators
• The exercise of independent judgment without fear of reprisal
• Demonstrated experience in supervising and managing personnel; project management; and strong interpersonal skills
• Flexibility and the ability to function with constantly changing and multiple priorities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Consistently shown the ability to exceed performance expectations
• Understanding of, compliance with, and enforcement of SPP Policies and Procedures

Preferred: 

• Technical certifications with specific focus on Information Security required; CISSP preferred
• Experience with Anti-Virus, Intrusion Detection/Protection Systems, Firewalls, Active Directory, Vulnerability Assessment tools and other security tools found in large network environments.
• Experience with Azure, AWS, or other cloud application services
• Experience initiating, planning, and conducting 3rd party risk assessments to evaluate security posture  

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to make decisions, interpret data, and problem solve.
• The employee frequently is required to stand or sit for extended periods; use hands to operate a computer keyboard and standard office equipment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 10 pounds.
• Requires the ability to work and collaborate with managers and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, and opinions to facilitate the task.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type, Location and Hours:

This is a full-time, onsite hybrid position based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The standard workweek is Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours may be required.

Travel Requirement:

This position requires minimal (10%) travel

SPP is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment 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. We will accommodate the needs of any qualified candidate who requests a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

At SPP we believe in a culture of belonging. Learn more here: Culture of Belonging - Southwest Power Pool .

Full job descriptions will be made available to those selected for an interview.