Manager, External Communications

American Electric Power • Columbus, OH

1d • $116,255 - $151,133 • Onsite

About The Position

Join us in helping shape how AEP is understood by customers, communities, media, policymakers, regulators and other external stakeholders. As External Communications Manager, you will develop clear, credible messaging that strengthens trust, supports business priorities and advances AEP’s reputation across the communities we serve. This role partners across operations, investor relations, regulatory, government affairs, legal, customer, and leadership teams to communicate complex utility issues in a way that is timely, accessible and aligned with company strategy. The External Communications Manager is responsible for planning and executing communications strategies that support AEP’s business objectives, reputation and stakeholder relationships. This position manages external messaging, media engagement, community-facing communications and cross-functional coordination on issues that affect customers, local communities, public officials and other key audiences. The role serves as a trusted advisor to business leaders, helping ensure communications are proactive, consistent and responsive in a dynamic, highly regulated environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Business, Public Policy, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 8+ years of relevant experience in external communications, corporate affairs, media relations, public affairs, community relations, or a related field; utility or other regulated industry experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement, reputation management and the communications demands of a complex, customer-facing organization.
• Experience supporting crisis or issue communications, with the ability to respond calmly, exercise sound judgment and coordinate effectively across multiple teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and relationship-management skills, with the ability to translate complex business or regulatory topics for diverse external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic communications counsel to business leaders on external messaging, stakeholder positioning and reputation-related issues.
• Develop and execute communications plans that support operational priorities, public policy objectives, community engagement and customer-facing initiatives.
• Support issue and crisis communications, including message development, response coordination and stakeholder updates.
• Develop and review external communications materials, including news releases, media statements, talking points, presentations, FAQs, newsletters and community-facing content.
• Ensure message consistency across external channels by partnering with operating companies, business unit leaders, joint venture and other external partners.
• Help shape and protect AEP’s corporate narrative by identifying opportunities to highlight company priorities, community impact and industry leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media contacts and other external stakeholders in support of AEP’s business objectives.
• Partner with regulatory, investor relations, government affairs, customer and operations teams to align communications with legislative, regulatory and community priorities.
• Serve as a key liaison across the AEP system to ensure external messaging is coordinated, accurate and tailored to audience needs.
• Support community outreach and stakeholder education efforts that build understanding of company projects, policies and initiatives.
• Serve as AEP’s primary company spokesperson.
• Manage media relations activities, including responding to inquiries, coordinating interviews, training and preparing spokespersons, and supporting proactive story development.
• Support communications channel strategy across media, web, social, internal and other platforms to reach key audiences effectively.
• Manage projects, timelines, partners and communications resources to deliver high-quality work efficiently and measure effectiveness where appropriate.
• Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team culture by mentoring colleagues, sharing best practices and driving continuous improvement in communications processes.

Benefits

• Base Compensation: Salary Grade 9 [$116,255.00 - $151,132.50]
• The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager