Cyber Security Compliance Specialist I/II

Location - Doniphan, NE Doniphan Control Center, Columbus General Office, Kearney Operations Center, York Operations Center

Employment Type: Full-Time

Posting Date: April 8, 2025

Closing Date: April 22, 2025

Are you hard-working and eager to make a meaningful impact in the ever-emerging energy industry? Come join us!

By joining the Nebraska Public Power District team, you’re becoming part of a close-knit community that embodies the values and traditions of the state. More than generating and delivering power, we empower our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. With safety at the helm, we have created a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters innovation and growth. Here, you’re not just an employee; you're a valued member of a family that respects and supports each other.

Our power grid has been consistently ranked one of the most reliable and resilient, but our reputation for excellence extends beyond our customer service to our employee satisfaction. Many of our team members have built lifelong careers here, advancing through the ranks thanks to our robust training programs and opportunities for professional development. With us, you’ll find a place where your efforts are recognized and rewarded, where you’re making a deep impact on the communities around you, and where you can truly power a career that you can be proud of.

Get to know us more here

Position Summary

The incumbent is responsible for the implementation and documentation of NPPD’s Board approved Electric Reliability Compliance Program. The incumbent will develop and maintain the necessary processes, procedures, and controls to ensure that NPPD is compliant with NERC reliability standards and other reliability reporting requirements. Use the District’s compliance software (SigmaFlow) to track, monitor, and automate compliance tasks. Provide expertise in interpreting and guidance in implementing reliability standards specific to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) cyber security standards for District Subject Matter Experts.

Implement the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program, to include maintaining compliance to reliability standards and monitoring revisions, coordinating required information submittals to the Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), NERC, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) using the District’s software (SigmaFlow), maintaining a document repository system, retention of evidentiary documentation pertaining to any investigations, and development of required training for NPPD personnel involved with electric reliability compliance. Provide expert guidance to NPPD personnel across the State of Nebraska on NERC compliance requirements for Bulk Electric System (BES) assets. BES assets are located at applicable control centers, power plants, and substations.

Education, Training and Experience

Specialist I:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), cyber security, or related field and a minimum of four (4) years technical IT experience including specific experience as described below (OR) an Associate’s degree and a minimum of six (6) years technical IT experience including specific experience as described below (OR) a high school diploma/GED and a minimum of eight (8) years technical IT experience including specific experience as described below.

Specialist II:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), cyber security, or related field and a minimum of eight (8) years technical IT/security experience including specific experience as described below (OR) an Associate’s degree and a minimum of ten (10) years technical IT/security experience including specific experience as described below (OR) a high school diploma/GED and a minimum of twelve (12) years technical IT experience including specific experience as described below.

Hands-on experience in the maintenance, support, and configuration of cyber systems and technologies is required. Experience in an electric utility with knowledge of the business processes and procedures (advanced knowledge of power plants, system operations, engineering, and substations) is preferred. Incumbent should have an understanding of reliability compliance processes and procedures of NERC. Experience in electric reliability compliance, NERC CIP requirements, compliance reporting, cause analysis, and technical review is preferred. Experience with SAP is preferred.

Prior experience meeting compliance standards such as PCI, NERC, NIST, SOX, etc.

Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others on multiple activities with flexibility to manage competing demands and changing priorities.

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills.

Excellent analytical problem-solving skills.

Must be customer-service oriented and adaptable to ongoing change.

Licenses and/or Certifications

Establish and maintain an acceptable NERC security background check.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Work with appropriate departments to implement and monitor the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program with a specific emphasis on CIP standards. Ensure compliance to reliability standards through working closely with District Subject Matter Experts and others assigned reliability compliance responsibilities. Assist subject matter experts with interpreting and writing compliance documents. Ensure effective compliance controls are implemented and managed to prevent noncompliance.

Work independently with minimum oversight to coordinate with the appropriate NPPD departments the submittal of data to the MRO, NERC, and FERC including self-reporting any violations of standards, self-certifications, and participate in FERC audits, NERC audits, MRO audits, NPPD self-audits, cause analysis, and mitigation plan development.

Use the District’s compliance tracking and monitoring software (SigmaFlow) for managing controls, data requests, reminders, and other compliance processes.

Work with appropriate departments to develop, implement, and monitor completion of training that meets the requirements of the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program. Provide training to NPPD personnel involved with electric reliability compliance. Assist with planning and scheduling an annual NPPD NERC Compliance Workshop, to include presenting information at the workshop.

Monitor technical guidance from the industry, specific to CIP requirements, to develop and issue periodic compliance updates independently with minimum oversight to appropriate District colleagues.

Monitor proposed revisions in NERC reliability standards, both at the NERC and FERC levels, and coordinate submittal of comments and ballots with the responsible managers and persons assigned to those standards.

Work with the appropriate departments to maintain a document repository program, which is compatible with existing NPPD software programs that will serve to maintain all necessary records concerning reliability standards compliance. Comply and preserve evidence for litigation holds.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (Continued)

Serve as an expert resource to other areas in understanding and compliance with reliability standards, including a specific focus area of cyber security. Work to improve team members understanding of NERC compliance requirements and MRO processes and procedures.

Actively monitor and participate as requested in NERC, MRO, Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Mid-Continent Compliance Forum (MCCF), and North American Transmission Forum committees/groups to stay abreast of the latest developments concerning reliability standards compliance.

Be a NPPD subject matter expert on the NERC and MRO Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program, specifically in cyber security, as well as other NERC and MRO procedures.

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Customer Focus

Employees & Teamwork/Diversity & Inclusion

Integrity/Excellence

Public Service/Environmental Stewardship

SafetySalary Information - Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary range listed below, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range. Successful applicants will be provided more information regarding the incentive program at the time of an interview.

Pay Grade:

Cyber Security Compliance Specialist I: Pay Grade 14

Cyber Security Compliance Specialist II: Pay Grade 15

Typical Pay Grade Starting Salary Range:

Exempt Pay Grade 14: $7,979 - $12,367 per month

Exempt Pay Grade 15: $9,155 - $14,190 per month

Travel Required: Up to 25% (With no or minimal overnight stays, less than 3 per month, typically within state of Nebraska) Travel required may fluctuate by business need. This is an estimate and will be discussed further with candidates that receive an interview.

Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary and an excellent benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid medical, training opportunities and more.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact Human Resources at Nebraska Public Power District.

Nebraska Public Power District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who values the contributions of its diverse work force. We are only legally able to hire persons who are 1) a United States citizen or national, 2) a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or 3) an alien legally authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

Customers around the state know what to expect from NPPD — quality, reliability and performance excellence. Our values also extend to the way we take care of our employees and their families. We remain on the leading edge by providing competitive benefits that respond to the diverse lifestyles of our people in an ever-changing world.

Salary

Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary listed in posting, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range.

Retirement Savings

NPPD employees may participate in two retirement plan options – a 401(k) plan and a 457(b) plan. Both plans allow for pre-tax or Roth contributions. After the first six months of employment, the 401(k) plan includes a generous matching contribution from NPPD. The five-year vesting period begins on an employee’s hire date. Our retired employees are eligible for retiree healthcare benefits as well as a life benefit paid out to designated beneficiaries upon their passing.

Health & Wellness

At NPPD, we care about the health and wellness of our employees. We offer new teammates two competitive hospital / medical plan options to fit their lifestyle and family needs. We also make an annual contribution to employee Health Savings Accounts, which can be used to offset out-of-pocket expenses. Employees and their spouse are invited to participate in a variety of wellness initiatives offered throughout the year as a way to enhance their wellness, reduce health risks and promote healthy lifestyles.

Other Benefits

Employees earn vacation on a schedule commensurate with their years of service. We also offer paid holidays as well as personal and family medical leave, including birth mother recovery leave and parental child bonding leave. All full-time employees receive a life insurance policy equivalent to two times the participant's annual salary at no cost to the employee. NPPD also offers dental and vision insurance as well as personal accident, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, hospital indemnity, long-term care, pre-paid legal/identity theft, and short-and long-term disability insurance plans. Additional benefits include college tuition reimbursement, relocation assistance and complimentary access to an Employee Assistance Program.

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