Project Manager - Project Manager Senior

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

19h•$87,633 - $128,688•Onsite

About The Position

Manage or assist with base, intermediate, and complex projects, progressively developing the capability to independently manage intermediate projects in a matrix team environment. Provide leadership, direction, coordination, and communication throughout project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closeout, using safe, efficient, economical, and risk-balanced approaches to achieve project goals and customer satisfaction. Provide project transparency and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Promote team-level continuous improvement to improve quality and optimize value delivery. The role coordinates project activities and supports or acts for the lead project manager or supervisor when needed. It develops and applies project management methods, including Waterfall and Agile, and works with project plans, schedules, budgets, tools, staff, procurement, contracts, vendors, and project closeout. The position also supports safety, communicates project status, builds teamwork, coaches team members, and helps ensure work is completed efficiently and in accordance with organizational standards. Work may take place at home, in an office, at power plants (including nuclear facilities), and at construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure. Nuclear site work may involve hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within NRC limits. Travel is typically 25% or less, though more may be required for specific assignments. Compensation range: $87,633–$128,688.

Requirements

For the Project Manager Senior level: bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or a related field, dependent on business-unit requirements, plus five years of qualified experience; or a two-year associate’s degree in the same required disciplines plus seven years of qualified experience; or a high school diploma/GED plus nine years of qualified experience.
For the Project Manager level: bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or a related field, dependent on business-unit requirements, plus three years of qualified experience; or a two-year associate’s degree in the same required disciplines plus five years of qualified experience; or a high school diploma/GED plus seven years of qualified experience.
For the Project Manager Senior level, two years of experience as a Project Manager, or demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skill through results achieved in a shorter timeline.
Qualified experience may include project management, outage management, business or financial administration, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment, as applicable to the level.
Senior-level experience must show progressively increasing project management and business acumen and responsibility for most certifying-body knowledge areas.
Demonstrated preparedness for journey-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.
Valid state driver’s license.
Develop effective leadership, team-building, meeting-management, communication, listening, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Develop business acumen and understanding of economic analysis, cost, schedule, and risk management.
Develop understanding of Engineering and Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, Construction, and Startup procedures and processes.
Develop knowledge and application of certifying-body project management tools and techniques, project scope management, technical-option evaluation, risk mitigation, procurement documents, contract components, and project document handoffs.
Demonstrate motivation and confidence to lead teams and projects, take independent action, know when to escalate issues, and provide constructive feedback.
Safely perform light physical duties; duties may involve walking on unstable surfaces, climbing ladders, and awareness of hazardous site conditions.
Understand and support AEP policies, values, principles, structure, and behavior.

Nice To Haves

For the Project Manager level, three years of qualified experience as a Project Manager Associate is preferred, or demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skill through results achieved in a shorter timeline.
Knowledge of construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, and quality control.
Experience in utilities, commercial nuclear power, and/or IT systems.
PMP certification is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Conduct or assist with planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating assigned project activities; perform delegated coordination and administrative tasks and act for the lead project manager or supervisor when unavailable.
Develop understanding of and apply 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.
Develop, review, and coordinate project plans, schedules, budgets, tools, and staffing; perform coordination and lead project manager roles as assigned.
Communicate project details and status, lead planning meetings and project or outage updates, support stakeholder presentations, and provide clear written and oral reports.
Build working relationships with project teams, plant and operating company staff, customers, partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers; foster teamwork and customer satisfaction.
Provide guidance and feedback to improve project design, systems, procedures, schedules, and costs, and challenge others as appropriate.
Ensure or assist in ensuring efficient and timely project work; support the lead project manager or independently lead intermediate projects as assigned.
Coach and develop team members in project management skills and techniques.
Develop and manage procurement plans for outside resources and manage or assist with contracts, including requests for proposals, bid evaluation, vendor selection, negotiations, vendor performance and quality, and contract compliance.
Conduct or assist with project closeout, including assessing whether objectives were achieved and benefits realized.
Learn and apply AEP project management organizational standards.
Apply leadership, team-building, meeting-management, communication, economic analysis, strategic thinking, planning, risk assessment, prioritization, scope management, and conflict-management skills to project work.
Organize project activities, delegate assignments, set team expectations, manage deliverables, hold team members accountable, and provide constructive feedback.
Identify, avoid, or mitigate project risks by considering safety, constructability, sequencing, changing conditions, contingencies, contracts, predictability, priorities, direction, and productivity.
Evaluate team members’ skills and capabilities and make recommendations to support project success.
Promote continuous improvement, maintain a questioning attitude, challenge assumptions, seek input from subject matter experts, and act with integrity and accountability.
Perform light physical duties and work at various AEP locations and site conditions; travel as required for assignments.