DER Consumer Programs Mgr

American Electric Power•Corpus Christi, TX

23h

About The Position

Lead and manage operating company distributed energy resource (DER) consumer activities, including planning, acquisition, implementation, evaluation, and contract administration. Provide overall direction to implement cost-beneficial programs, manage operations and maintenance (O&M) budgets, and maintain regulatory compliance, including timely cost recovery and coordination with corporate functions. Implementation may involve procuring and managing vendors and employees working on DER or distributed generation behind-the-meter renewable resources and new technologies, as well as marketing and branding activities such as advertising, market research, segmentation, and customer engagement. The role oversees program design, promotion, implementation, training, measurement and verification, cost tracking, data collection, administration, and metric reporting. It works with AEP central organizations, sister utilities, public policy teams, regulators, special interest groups, corporate communications, distribution teams, and other operating company personnel to evaluate existing programs, develop DER strategies, coordinate implementation, and keep stakeholders informed. The position is ultimately accountable for program goals, budgets, and customer engagement and satisfaction. The position supervises and coaches professional staff across multiple remote work locations, ensuring compliance with company policies and goals while developing staff and promoting a healthy, productive, safety-focused team culture. It also monitors industry, regulatory, legislative, and external developments; supports regulatory updates; and ensures DER data, affected business processes, and system changes are identified, planned, and appropriately implemented.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, or a related field.
At least 8 years of experience, or at least 3 years of direct experience in DER-related activities (as stated in the posting).
In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements for utility demand-side resource planning, acquisition, and implementation.
Mastery of highly complex utility resource planning processes, including mathematical and statistical knowledge.
Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, verbal communication, written communication, time management, and project management skills.
Demonstrated leadership traits.

Nice To Haves

Previous supervisory and/or management experience is strongly preferred.
Relevant project management experience is desired.

Responsibilities

Lead DER resource planning, acquisition, and evaluation activities.
Approve final program designs to meet stated goals and objectives.
Manage contractor selection through competitive bidding where applicable and oversee associated contracts.
Oversee program promotion and implementation, employee and contractor training, measurement and verification, cost tracking, data collection, program administration, and metric reporting.
Work with AEP central organization and sister utilities’ DER staff to evaluate programs, suggest new or modified programs and deliverables, and provide program support.
Take ultimate responsibility for meeting program goals and objectives, DER budget targets, and improved operating customer engagement and satisfaction.
Maintain productive working relationships with state-level regulators and regulatory agency staff.
Collaborate with AEP central DER staff and public policy teams to develop comprehensive DER strategies.
Monitor industry, regulatory, legislative, and external developments that may affect DER activities, and analyze pending or enacted DER-related legislation.
Work with external special interest groups, including state- or operating company-appointed task forces.
Manage and coach professional staff at multiple remote work locations; oversee direct reports’ work for compliance with company policies and objectives; and train and mentor staff for future advancement.
Coordinate DER activities and functions with appropriate AEP and operating company personnel.
Maintain working knowledge of DER activities across functional areas and their interrelationships.
Communicate with AEP and operating company units about deliverables, schedules, results, process improvements, and roles and responsibilities; distribute feedback to appropriate personnel.
Keep operating company management, AEP DER support staff, and regulatory interface personnel informed of DER activities, achievements, and progress through reports or other agreed means.
Work with AEP DER support staff to ensure the DER tracking system captures program costs, participation, installed measures, projected impacts, and other required data and metrics.
Identify business processes and systems affected by DER implementation, notify responsible AEP units, and monitor timely planning and implementation of necessary modifications or developments.
Coordinate customer marketing and engagement with Corporate Communication across TV, radio, digital, web, and social media while aligning with corporate messaging and branding standards.
Coordinate with Distribution on customer DER program implementation.
Instill a safety and health environment and develop and maintain a healthy, productive team culture.