Project Mgr - Project Mgr Staff

American Electric Power•Tulsa, OK

21h

About The Position

The Project Manager manages or assists in managing base, intermediate, and complex projects in a matrix team environment, progressively developing toward independent leadership of intermediate projects. The role provides leadership, direction, coordination, and communication through project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closeout, using a safe, efficient, economical, and risk-balanced approach to meet short- and long-range goals and customer expectations. It promotes project transparency and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and supports continuous improvement to increase quality and optimize delivery of value. The position coordinates project activities and administration, develops and maintains project plans, schedules, budgets, tools, and staffing, and supports or leads project meetings, status updates, and stakeholder communications. It applies project management approaches including Waterfall and Agile, supports AEP safety practices, helps ensure timely project execution, and develops team members’ project management skills. The role also supports procurement and management of outside resources and contracts, vendor performance and quality, and project closeout and benefits analysis, in accordance with AEP project management standards. This position is posted at multiple grade levels, with increased education, skills, experience, and certification requirements at higher levels. The employee may progressively be assigned the project manager lead role based on knowledge, experience, leadership competency, and certification. Travel is typically 25% or less, though more may be required for specific assignments. Work may be performed at home, in offices, power plants including nuclear facilities, and construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure. Nuclear-site work may involve hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within NRC limits. The role includes light physical duties and may involve walking on unstable surfaces, climbing ladders, and awareness of hazardous site conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or a related field of study dependent on business-unit requirements, and three years of qualified experience; or an associate degree in the same required disciplines and five years of qualified experience.
Valid state driver's license.
Develop and provide effective leadership, team-building, and meeting-management skills consistent with the certifying body's standards and AEP leadership competencies and values.
Demonstrate motivation and readiness to lead a team and project to successful completion.
Develop and provide clear, direct, concise, and professional communication, including effective listening, with team members, sponsors, management, senior management, and other stakeholders.
Develop understanding and begin applying economic analysis techniques, business acumen, and cost, schedule, and risk management.
Develop understanding of Engineering and Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, Construction, and Startup procedures and processes.
Develop the ability to optimize projects and ensure the team uses applicable current guidelines and requirements.
Develop working knowledge and application of project management tools and techniques from the certifying body.
Develop and apply strategic thinking, planning, risk assessment, and prioritization skills.
Consider safety, constructability, sequencing, changing conditions, contingencies, contractual matters, predictability, priorities, direction, and productivity when identifying and mitigating project risks.
Progressively demonstrate the ability to organize project activities, delegate assignments, set team requirements and expectations, manage deliverables, and hold team members accountable.
Demonstrate willingness to provide constructive feedback; develop conflict-management skills; take independent action and know when to escalate issues.
Develop understanding and skills in scope management, technical option evaluation, project risk factors, and mitigation methods.
Develop understanding of documents used to procure labor, services, materials, and engineered equipment, as well as contract components and development processes.
Develop understanding of critical drawing and document handoffs between project-team disciplines.
Assist with and then lead evaluation of team-member skills and capabilities and make recommendations to support project success.
Act with integrity and accountability, promote continuous improvement, maintain a questioning attitude, challenge assumptions, and seek input from subject matter experts.
Safely and effectively perform light physical duties.
Work at various AEP locations in varying conditions, including home, office, power plants, and construction sites; nuclear-site work may involve hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within NRC limits.

Nice To Haves

Three years of qualified experience as a Project Manager Associate (Grade 6), where applicable, or demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skills through results achieved in a shorter timeline.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification; required for advancement to Project Manager Principal level (grade 009).
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.

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, and act on their behalf when they are unavailable.
Develop and apply project management principles and techniques, including Waterfall and Agile approaches, in accordance with organizational standards.
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 assigned coordination and lead project manager roles to build awareness and proficiency across project plan knowledge areas.
Communicate project details and status updates; lead planning meetings and project or outage updates; support stakeholder presentations; and provide clear, concise 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 designs, systems, procedures, schedules, and costs, and challenge project assumptions at an appropriate level.
Ensure or assist in ensuring efficient and timely performance of project work, including leading intermediate projects when assigned.
Coach and develop team members in project management skills and techniques.
Develop and manage procurement plans for outside resources.
Manage or assist in managing outside-services contracts, including preparing requests for proposals, evaluating bids, selecting vendors, participating in negotiations, overseeing vendor performance and quality, and ensuring contractual compliance.
Conduct or assist with project closeout, including evaluating project success against objectives and realization of benefits.
Support project activities such as scope management, technical option evaluation, risk assessment and mitigation, cost and schedule management, procurement and contracting, and coordination of project documents and discipline handoffs.
Organize project activities, delegate tasks, set team expectations, manage deliverables, hold team members accountable, and provide constructive feedback.
Identify and elevate issues appropriately, manage conflict, and recommend team skill sets and capabilities needed for project success.
Promote continuous improvement, maintain a questioning attitude, seek subject matter expert input, and act with integrity and accountability for project assignments.
Perform light physical duties and work at various AEP locations and sites under varying conditions.
Travel as required, typically 25% or less, with greater travel possible for specific assignments.