Project Manager (Staff - Staff Sr.) | New Generation (Construction Utility Projects) - Charleston, WV

American Electric Power•Charleston, WV

7d•$136,539 - $208,565•Onsite

About The Position

Manage multiple projects or programs at the highest level of complexity within a matrix team environment. Provide leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication throughout project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closeout. Deliver projects safely, efficiently, economically, and with a balanced approach to risk, achieving short- and long-range goals and maximum customer satisfaction. Maintain project transparency and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders so they can make informed business decisions. This position is posted at multiple grade levels, with the stated minimum qualifications applying to the Project Manager Staff level and higher levels requiring increased education, skills, or experience. The position concerns construction utility projects and may involve EPC and Combined Cycle Gas Turbine projects. Work may take place at home, in offices, power plants (including nuclear facilities), and construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure. Travel is typically 25% or less, but may reach 50% of the work schedule for short durations. The role is designated onsite and involves light physical work, including potential construction-site walkdowns on unstable surfaces, ladder climbing, and awareness of hazardous conditions. Work at nuclear sites may involve hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within NRC limits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Computer Science, or a related field appropriate to the business unit, plus 10 years of qualified experience; or an associate’s degree in the same disciplines plus 12 years; or a high school diploma/GED plus 14 years.
Qualified experience includes project management, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment.
Demonstrated subject matter expert-level success in project management duties, business acumen, and proficiency in all certifying-body knowledge areas.
Mastery-level project management knowledge in construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, quality control, and risk management.
PMP certification, unless the requirement is waived by the organization’s SVP or OPCO President.
Valid state driver’s license.
Effective leadership, team-building, meeting-management, communication, and listening skills with stakeholders at all levels.
Ability to apply economic analysis and business acumen to project decisions and financial goals.
Ability to plan strategically, assess and prioritize risks and activities, make sound decisions, manage scope and technical solutions, and resolve conflicts.
Ability to develop and manage contracts, including allocating risk between owner and contractor.
Ability to organize project activities, delegate assignments, manage deliverables, hold team members accountable, and provide constructive feedback.
Ability to work at varied AEP locations and perform light physical duties, including walking on unstable surfaces and climbing ladders.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience as a Project Manager Principal (Grade 9), or demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skills through results achieved in a shorter timeframe.
Experience in utilities, commercial nuclear power, and/or IT systems.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and manage assigned project activities using project management principles and techniques, including Waterfall and Agile.
Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process and a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm.
Manage, develop, review, and coordinate project plans, schedules, budgets, tools, and staff; manage costs and reallocate funding as needed.
Communicate project and outage details and status; lead planning meetings, project updates, and complex stakeholder presentations; and prepare clear written and oral reports.
Develop and manage working relationships with project teams, plant and operating-company staff, customers, partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers; foster teamwork and customer satisfaction.
Provide guidance, instruction, and training to improve designs, systems, processes, procedures, schedules, and costs; challenge project work based on informed expertise.
Act as a subject matter expert on assigned projects, ensuring customer satisfaction and providing clarity, support, and accountability to enable others’ success.
Represent AEP with industrial customers, vendors, and regulators when required by assigned projects.
Align project work with AEP project management organizational standards and manage projects according to those standards.
Provide leadership, team building, and meeting management; set team requirements and expectations, delegate tasks, manage deliverables, and hold team members accountable.
Apply economic analysis and business acumen to project decisions and align project and company financial goals.
Influence Engineering & Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, Construction, and Startup procedures and processes to optimize projects and ensure teams use current business-unit guidelines.
Identify and implement business-process improvements across projects or programs.
Apply project management tools and techniques in internal procedures and processes; provide strategic planning, risk assessment, and prioritization of project activities.
Assess project conditions and risks, including safety, constructability, sequence, contingencies, contractual issues, and productivity; make sound decisions to avoid or mitigate risks.
Prioritize and resolve conflicts, take timely independent action, make recommendations, and assist executive management with elevated issues.
Manage scope, technical solution evaluation, project risk, and contracts, including allocation of risk between owner and contractor.
Assess team members’ skills and capabilities and provide recommendations or constructive feedback to support project success.
Seek input from subject matter experts, validate information, and clarify how expert input affects budget, scope, schedule, and risk.
Promote continuous improvement, maintain a questioning attitude, and challenge assumptions.
Perform light physical duties, including construction-site walkdowns on unstable surfaces and climbing ladders, while remaining aware of hazardous site conditions.
Understand and support AEP’s policies, values, principles, structure, and behavior.