Project Outreach Specialist

American Electric Power•Tulsa, OK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the primary field customer relations and communications resource for public interaction and outreach on AEP Transmission projects. The role is responsible for assisting in the identification, development, and coordination of overall outreach strategies to support the goals, philosophies, policies, initiatives, and day-to-day activities of AEP Transmission and its affiliates, including joint ventures. The Project Outreach Specialist is a key member of the project siting team, interfacing with or supporting interaction with external audiences, including individual customers and local officials. This role requires excellent written and public speaking skills, strong interpersonal skills, and solid business knowledge. The ability to meet with affected or potentially affected customers to surface issues, solve problems, and bring local knowledge and insight to the siting process is essential.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, customer service, advertising, communications, public relations, public affairs, or related field.
One year experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.
Travel requirements are expected 25-50% of the time.
The ability to handle multiple projects and assignments is critical.
May require extended hours to accomplish assigned tasks to meet requirements and schedules.
Some overnight travel to facilities and projects (field work) is required periodically.
Twenty to thirty percent of travel time is associated with this position.
Ability to hike one mile ten percent of the time.

Responsibilities

Work directly with affected or potentially affected landowners to gain beneficial project routing information and resolve issues before and during the transmission line routing process.
Support efforts to work with external affairs teams and educate the public (landowners, thought leaders, elected officials) about proposed transmission projects.
Assist and support customer outreach strategies that improve two-way communications and line routing success.
Provide field support to transmission siting, line engineering, right of way, and project management teams to ensure projects are executed on time.
Provide support to Outreach Specialist and work closely with Project Management, Line and Station Engineering, Right of Way, Corporate Communications, and External Affairs to foster two-way communication between key stakeholders and the project team to improve success in siting transmission projects.
Coordinate deployment of resources accordingly.