Project Manager-Project Manager Prin

American Electric Power•Gahanna, OH

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is posted from a Project Manager to a Project Manager Principal. The role involves managing one or more intermediate and/or complex projects, up to the highest-level project complexity or a program area of projects, within a matrix team environment. The Project Manager will provide leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control, and close projects in a safe, efficient, economical, risk-balanced approach to achieve short and long range goals and to obtain maximum customer satisfaction. They will also provide project transparency and develop relationships and effectively communicate with all stakeholders, enabling them to make sound business decisions. The role also involves enabling and promoting team-level continuous improvement activities that increase quality and optimize the delivery of value. The Project Manager Principal will plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and supervise assigned project and outage work activities for customers with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects, skillfully and successfully using project management principles and techniques (Waterfall, Agile). They will support and hold employees and contractors accountable to AEP safety policies and standards, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Commitment to "Zero Harm". This role includes supervising, developing, reviewing, and coordinating the project/outage plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects, effectively managing cost and timely reallocating funding. The Project Manager Principal will effectively communicate project/outage details and status updates, lead planning meetings and project/outage updates including detailed and complex stakeholder presentations, and provide clear and concise written reports. They will develop and actively manage effective working relationships with the project team, operating company staff, internal and external customers or partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers, fostering teamwork and actively monitoring customer satisfaction. This role provides a wide range of detailed guidance, instruction, and training to improve design, systems, procedures, processes, schedules, and costs, confidently challenging others at a high level of informed understanding in all project work. The Project Manager Principal ensures maximum customer satisfaction and demonstrates effective and efficient performance of project/outage work activities on complex project levels. They will perform supervision duties and responsibilities for assigned direct reports, provide support to direct reports in their development activities, and mentor other project and assistant project managers. The role also involves representing AEP, as required, with industrial customers, vendors, and regulators as assigned projects dictate. They will develop and manage procurement plans for necessary outside resources and manage contracts for outside services, including developing requests for proposals, evaluating competitive bids, selecting vendors, participating in contract negotiations, overseeing vendor performance/quality, and ensuring work is performed in accordance with the contract. The Project Manager Principal manages closeout processes, including an analysis of the project's success, uses and helps align the organization with AEP project management organizational standards, and manages projects to those standards. They adhere to the guidance and standards put forth by the AEP Project Management Governance Committee and manage programs as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with three (3) years qualified experience, two-year associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with five (5) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with seven (7) years qualified experience.
Three (3) years of qualified experience as a PROJECT MANAGER ASSOCIATE (Grade 6) as applicable is preferred, OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.
Qualified experience includes outage management activities, business/financial administration, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment.
Knowledge in construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, and quality control would be beneficial.
Experience in utilities, commercial nuclear power, and/or IT systems is favorable.
PMP certification is preferred but not required.
Valid state driver's license is required.
Individuals in this position will be progressively assigned the PM lead role on a project for continued development depending on the level of project management knowledge, experience, and leadership competency including successful completion of certification.
Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with five (5) years qualified experience, two-year associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with seven (7) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with nine (9) years qualified experience.
Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER (Grade 7) OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.
Qualified experience includes work in project management, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment.
Experience must exhibit progressively increasing project management and business acumen and responsibility for most of the certifying body knowledge areas.
Demonstrated preparedness for journey level PM knowledge capability in areas of construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, quality control, risk management, etc.
Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with seven (7) years qualified experience, two-year associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with nine (9) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with eleven (11) years qualified experience.
Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER SENIOR (Grade 8) is preferred, OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset achieved results in a shorter timeline.
Qualified experience includes work in project management, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment.
Experience must include a demonstrated level of successful project management duties, business acumen, and prior responsibility for ALL the certifying body knowledge areas.
Demonstrated preparedness for specialist level PM knowledge capability in areas of construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, quality control, risk management, etc.
Develop and provide effective leadership, team building and meeting management skills as outlined by certifying body and the AEP leadership competencies and values.
Develop confidence in ability, and demonstrate the motivation and attitude, to lead a team and project to successful conclusion.
Develop skills in and provide effective communication that is clear, direct, concise, and professional, including effective listening, with all stakeholders including team members, sponsors, management and senior management.
Develop understanding of, and begin to apply, economic analysis techniques.
Develop an acumen for business and profession with an emphasis on overall cost, schedule and risk management.
Develop understanding of Engineering & Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, Construction and Startup procedures and processes.
Begin to influence optimization of a project and ensure project team utilizes the latest applicable guidelines and requirements.
Develop a working knowledge of, and begin to demonstrate ability to apply, certifying body Project Management tools and techniques.
Develop and apply learned skillsets in strategic thinking, planning, risk assessment and prioritization of project activities.
Globally view the project from all angles such as safety, constructability, sequence, changing conditions, contingencies, contractual, predictability, level of priority, sense of direction and sense of productivity to quickly identify and to avoid or to mitigate project risks.
Support and progressively demonstrate ability to provide the organization of project activities, delegate project task assignments, confidently set team requirements and expectations to manage deliverables and hold team members accountable.
Demonstrate willingness to provide constructive feedback to project team members.
Develop and hone conflict management skills to provide solutions to issues that maximize synergies with an overriding goal to do the "right thing" for the company.
Learn to take independent action and know when to elevate an issue.
Develop understanding and solid skills around the process of scope management, evaluation of technical options, and common project risk factors and mitigation methods.
Develop understanding and apply knowledge, and provide input and oversight, of the various documents used to procure labor, service, material, and engineered equipment.
Develop understanding and apply knowledge of contract components and development process.
Develop understanding and apply knowledge of critical drawing and document hand-offs between disciplines on a project team.
Assist with, then lead the evaluation and determination of the skill sets and capabilities of team members then make recommendations to ensure project success.
Act with integrity by demonstrating accountability for project assignments.
Promote continuous improvement and maintain a strong questioning attitude.
Ask intrusive questions and challenge assumptions.
Seek input from Subject Matter Experts by asking questions for understanding and comparing them with one’s own knowledge base.
Safely and effectively Perform light physical duties.
Perform work at various AEP locations in varying conditions.
Understand and support the policies, values, principles, structure and behavior of AEP.

Nice To Haves

Three (3) years of qualified experience as a PROJECT MANAGER ASSOCIATE (Grade 6) as applicable is preferred
Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER (Grade 7) OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.
Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER SENIOR (Grade 8) is preferred
PMP certification is preferred but not required.
Experience in utilities, commercial nuclear power, and/or IT systems is favorable.

Responsibilities

Conduct or assist in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating assigned project activities.
Perform coordination and administrative tasks as delegated by the lead project manager or supervisor.
Act on behalf of the lead project manager or supervisor during times the project manager or supervisor is unavailable.
Develop an understanding of various project management principles and techniques (Waterfall, Agile) and successfully implement these techniques in project management for the organization.
Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm.
Develop, review and coordinate the project plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff.
Perform coordination role as assigned to increase awareness in all knowledge areas of project plans.
Perform Lead Project Manager role as assigned to increase awareness and build proficiency in all knowledge areas of project plans.
Effectively communicate project details and status updates.
Lead planning meetings and project/outage updates with supportive role in stakeholder presentations.
Provide clear and concise written and oral reports and other communication.
Develop working relationships with the project team, plant and operating company staff, internal and external customers or partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers.
Foster teamwork and seek customer satisfaction.
Provide guidance and feedback, to improve design, systems, procedures, schedules, and costs.
Provide specific guidance in these areas and begins to challenge others at an apprentice level of informed understanding in all project work.
Ensure, or assist the lead project manager in ensuring, efficient and timely performance of project work activities.
Proficient and effective in assisting the lead project manager and/or delivers similarly when leading intermediate projects on their own.
Coach and develop team members on project management skills and techniques.
Develop and manage procurement plans for necessary outside resources.
Manage, or assist in managing, contracts for outside services, including developing requests for proposals, evaluating competitive bids, selecting vendors, participating in contract negotiations, overseeing vendor performance/quality, ensuring work is performed in accordance with the contract, etc.
Conduct or assist in closeout processes, including an analysis of the success of the project with respect to accomplishing the project objectives and realizing project benefits.
Develop an understanding of the AEP project management organizational standards and assist in the management of projects to those standards.
Plan, organize, direct, coordinate and supervise assigned project and outage work activities for customers with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects.
Skillfully and successfully use project management principles and techniques (Waterfall, Agile) for project management for the organization.
Support and hold employees and contractors accountable to AEP safety policies and standards, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Commitment to "Zero Harm".
Supervise, develop, review and coordinate the project/outage plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects.
Effectively manage cost and timely reallocate funding.
Effectively communicate project/outage details and status updates.
Lead planning meetings and project/outage updates including detailed and complex stakeholder presentations.
Provide clear and concise written reports.
Develop and actively manage effective working relationships with the project team, operating company staff, internal and external customers or partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers.
Foster teamwork and actively monitor customer satisfaction.
Provide wide range of detailed guidance, instruction, and training to improve design, systems, procedures, processes, schedules, and costs.
Confidently challenge others at a high level of informed understanding in all project work.
Ensure maximum customer satisfaction and demonstrate effective and efficient performance of project/outage work activities on complex project levels.
Perform supervision duties and responsibilities for assigned direct reports.
Provide support to direct reports in their development activities and mentor other project and assistant project managers.
Represent AEP, as required, with industrial customers, vendors, and regulators as assigned projects dictate.
Manage contracts for outside services, including developing requests for proposals, evaluating competitive bids, selecting vendors, participating in contract negotiations, overseeing vendor performance/quality, ensuring work is performed in accordance with the contract, etc.
Manage closeout processes, including an analysis of the success of the project with respect to accomplishing the project objectives and realizing project benefits.
Use and help align the organization with the AEP project management organizational standards.
Manage projects to those standards.
Adhere to the guidance and standards put forth by the AEP Project Management Governance Committee.
Manage programs as assigned.
Provide effective leadership, team building and meeting management as outlined by the certifying body and the AEP leadership competencies and values.
Demonstrate a very high level of ability, motivation, and attitude in leading a team and a project to successful conclusion.
Effective and compelling communication, including the use of effective listening, with all stakeholders including team members, sponsors, management and senior management.
Apply economic analysis techniques.
Develop an acumen for business and profession in project decision making and ensure alignment of project and company financial goals.
Influence the Engineering & Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, and Construction procedures and processes to optimize a project.
Ensure project teams utilize the latest department and/or business unit guidelines and requirements.
Identify opportunities for business process improvement across projects and drive implementation.
Apply working knowledge of certifying body Project Management tools and techniques.
Provide strategic thinking, planning, risk assessment and prioritization of project activities.
Globally view the project from all angles such as safety, constructability, sequence, changing conditions, contingencies, contractual, predictability, level of priority, sense of direction and sense of productivity to quickly identify and to avoid or to mitigate project risks.
Demonstrates very sound decision-making practices.
Provide organization of project activities, delegate project task assignments, confidently set team requirements and expectations, manage deliverables, and hold team members accountable.
Provide constructive feedback to project team members.
Effectively prioritize and manage conflict to provide solutions to issues that maximize synergies with an overriding goal to do the "right thing" for the company.
Take timely independent action and offer recommendations to management for resolution of elevated issues.
Proficient in scope management, evaluation of technical solutions, and project risk management.
Proficient and highly effective in contract development and management, especially skilled in allocating risk between owner and contractor within terms of the contract.
Leverage and build relationships with contractors in developing program level procurement.
Act with integrity by demonstrating accountability for project assignments.
Seek input from Subject Matter Experts by asking the right questions, understanding the nuance, clarifying and validating information, and not relying on one’s own knowledge base or assumptions.
Sensitize experts to influences they have on the project key parameters of project budget, scope, schedule and risk.
Evaluate and determine the skill sets and capabilities of team members then make recommendations and/or provide constructive feedback to ensure project success.
Promote continuous improvement and maintain a strong questioning attitude.
Ask intrusive questions and challenge assumptions.
Safely and effectively Perform light physical duties. Duties can involve construction site walkdown on unstable surfaces, climbing ladders, and awareness of hazardous site conditions.
Perform work at various AEP locations in varying conditions. Work sites will include home, office, power plants (including nuclear), and construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure.
Work performed at nuclear power sites may involve work in hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within the limits prescribed by the NRC.
Travel typically 25% or less, however greater travel may be required in support of specific assignments.
Understand and support the policies, values, principles, structure and behavior of AEP.