VP External Affairs

American Electric Power • Richmond, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for attainment of governmental, customer, community relations and communications objectives in the operating company. In this capacity, the VP External Affairs will: lead the Company's activities in the operating company to shape public policies; ensure a highly effective and efficient operation of the external affairs team; manage the interfaces between the operating company and corporate external affairs functions of the Company; work with media and trade press to communicate AEP's position on public policy developments affecting public and community affairs; lead the customer services team focused on key and large customers; and develop, implement, and manage internal communications strategies for the operating company across a multi-state territory.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required, post-graduate work preferred.
• Minimum 10 years in utility industry or related fields.
• Knowledge of utility industry, including distribution, transmission and generating aspects of business; strong background in shaping public policy essential; demonstrated history of effective oral and written communication skills is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading a team of people-leaders and individual contributors is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain relationships with the governors, state department heads, legislative leaders, the chairman and members of the public utility commission, and the state consumer advocate in order to effectively serve as the liaison between the Company and these governmental and regulatory leaders.
• Serve as the spokesperson and advocate for corporate positions in the operating company on major public policy or Company issues with state regulators, legislators, executive branch officials, major customers, key community leaders, and economic development professionals.
• Serve as a Company witness before state legislative committees or before the state public utility commission, as appropriate.
• Coordinate and ensure effective AEP representation on state-level industry associations (e.g., utility associations, state chamber of commerce, state manufacturers association, etc.). This position may serve as the company's board representative on these statewide groups.
• Serve on state-level boards and commissions at the request of the operating company president.
• Encourage and assist in building broad stakeholder coalitions to advance public policy goals.
• Act as a resource for all external stakeholders and employees on industry and Company issues.
• Identify public policy needs, develop positions on public policies and strategies for influencing the policy debate, and inform affected business units of public policy decisions.
• Seek guidance from and provide information to senior management on issues within the operating company related to AEP business interests, help to ensure the success of new AEP business ventures, and assist with the attainment of corporate goals within the operating company.
• Manage corporate giving within the state in accordance with the AEP Corporate Giving Guidelines.
• Manage, coordinate and facilitate solutions to emerging strategic community and business development issues (e.g. franchises, quality of service, right-of-way, ordinances, taxes, siting, Commission complaints, other regulatory issues, billing concerns, deregulation).
• Maintain relationships with senior officials of major customers for public policy advocacy purposes and to assist in resolution of service complaints, consistent with customer services account management activities.

Benefits

• Base salary
• Annual bonus
• Long-term incentive
• 401K match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees