External Affairs Manager

American Electric Power•Fort Wayne, IN

3d•$116,255 - $151,133•Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for oversight and implementation of local & county governmental affairs, media communications liaison, community relations and local/regional economic development operations. Also serves as AEP's primary community field contact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Public Policy, Finance, Communications or other related degree.
Minimum of seven years' related experience in Customer Services, Community Relations, Economic & Business Development, Government Relations, Generation, Transmission or Distribution Utility Operations.
Must have a valid Driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Demonstrated communications and presentation skills.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
Must be able to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.
Must possess demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic internal and external relationships, possess political acumen, and display strong initiative to manage resources, projects and issues across business units, committees and task forces (both internal and external to the Company).
Demonstrated successful leadership.
Must be able to see information on computer screen and use computer keyboard.
Must be able to hear spoken words via telephone, cell phone or during individual or group meetings.
Experience in working with and managing diverse public engagement scenarios.
Experience in community investment, philanthropic, and community partnership activities.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree desirable.
Utility industry related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strong, enabling leadership, serving as team lead in the development of company strategies and policies necessary to build effective community relations and economic development programs.
Serve as local legislative contact and liaison working with respective business units to advocate corporate positions and influence public policy.
Strategically build, maintain and manage key environmental, economic development and community contacts and relationships.
Manage, coordinate and facilitate solutions to emerging strategic community and business development issues, e.g. franchises, quality of service, ROW, permits, ordinances/resolutions, taxes, siting, commission complaints, environmental and other regulatory issues.
Manage, coordinate and support regional/local economic development activities including community preparedness, strategic recruitment and business retention.
Provide support to Distribution and Transmission in outage situations, serving as the primary community and public emergency management contact as per the OPCO's ICS Plan.
Serve as AEP's local grassroots facilitator; support legislative and regulatory initiatives of key importance to operating company and AEP's business and public policy needs and effectively advocate company positions.
Maintain strong relationships with local executive management team, local distribution and transmission managers, corporate communications representatives, and regulatory and governmental affairs representatives.
Manage local level contributions and memberships.
Assist in the developing, organizing and implementing corporate policy and strategy for overall effective state representation by educating the state legislators, their staff and the state government as to the goals, objectives and needs of the Corporation.
Must demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behavior and support the Company's Corporate Compliance Policies.