Grant Consultant Principal

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

1d•$116,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Grant Consultant Principal – Federal Purchasing Compliance Consultant serves as AEP’s subject matter expert for all purchasing related compliance requirements tied to federally funded grants and DOE Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) loans. This includes oversight of the Cargo Preference Act (CPA) for DOE loans, Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements for grants, and ensuring all federal flowdown provisions are incorporated into grant and loan related vendor contracts for a portfolio of grants and loans. The role works in close coordination with the AEP Procurement team to ensure all purchasing activities, contract language, vendor documentation, and compliance submissions meet federal standards. This position is essential to safeguarding AEP’s eligibility for federal funding and ensuring audit ready documentation across all federally supported projects.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Technology, Management, Business or Engineering or Associate’s degree in same disciplines.
With a Bachelor’s degree, nine (9) years of grant writing, project management, or business development experience; OR, With an Associate’s degree and eleven (11) years of related experience mentioned above
Working knowledge of federal purchasing requirements, including CPA, BABA, and federal flowdowns.
Strong ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations.
Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills across internal and external partners.
Experience with compliance‑tracking systems or procurement platforms.
Experience supporting DOE‑funded infrastructure projects or other federal grant/loan programs.
Familiarity with logistics, supply chain operations, or construction procurement.
Demonstrated success implementing new compliance systems or process improvements.

Responsibilities

For a portfolio of grants and loans, lead purchasing compliance for all federal purchasing requirements, including CPA, BABA, and federal flowdown clauses.
Monitor federal regulations and guidance; update internal processes and documentation as requirements evolve.
Serve as AEP’s primary point of contact for DOE and other federal agencies on purchasing‑compliance matters for assigned portfolio of projects.
Coordinate with AEP Procurement to ensure compliance requirements are embedded in all purchasing workflows.
Partner closely with the AEP Procurement team to ensure all vendor contracts include the correct federal flowdown language, BABA requirements, and CPA provisions.
Provide compliance guidance during contract drafting, negotiation, and purchase requisition development.
Review vendor documentation and certifications to validate compliance prior to contract execution.
Ensure Procurement has the information, templates, and guidance needed to execute compliance requirements accurately and consistently.
Oversee all CPA compliance activities for assigned DOE‑funded projects, including vessel‑availability verification, documentation review, and variance requests.
Coordinate with contractors and cargo‑management system administrators to ensure accurate and timely submission of shipping documentation.
Lead the implementation and ongoing management of AEP’s cargo‑compliance tracking system for assigned portfolio of project.
Work with Procurement to ensure shipping‑related purchasing aligns with CPA requirements.
Ensure all BABA documentation—including manufacturing location, domestic content certifications, and component‑level breakdowns—is collected, validated, and stored for assigned portfolio of projects supporting grants and loans.
Support Procurement and project teams in interpreting BABA requirements and assessing vendor eligibility.
Track and manage any BABA waivers or exceptions.
Collaborate with Procurement to ensure BABA requirements are reflected in sourcing decisions and contract language.
Maintain the full library of federal flowdown clauses applicable to assigned AEP’s grants and loans.
Ensure flowdowns are consistently applied across all vendor agreements and subcontracts.
Provide training and guidance to internal teams on flowdown requirements and implications.
Partner with Procurement to ensure flowdowns are executed correctly across all purchasing activities.
Maintain complete, audit‑ready documentation for CPA, BABA, and flowdown compliance across all federally funded projects.
Prepare periodic compliance summaries for internal leadership and federal stakeholders.
Support DOE and federal audits, inquiries, and reporting requirements.
Train internal teams and external contractors on federal purchasing‑compliance requirements.
Serve as the primary resource for resolving compliance questions, documentation issues, and system errors.
Coordinate cross‑functional workflows to ensure timely and accurate compliance submissions.