Assistant Plant Manager

AEP; Oklahoma; On-site; USD 137,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Competitive pay

Educational opportunities

Job summary

At American Electric Power (AEP) we are seeking an Assistant Plant Manager to help direct plant operations, ensuring safety, compliance, reliability, and economical performance. The role spans operations, maintenance, engineering, construction, and administrative functions including accounting, procurement, materials management, HR, and regulatory compliance.

The incumbent will foster teamwork, continuous improvement, employee development, and recognition, while communicating with employees,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or business management; or an associate degree in a technical field with equivalent applied experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in plant operations, maintenance, engineering, or performance-related roles; exposure to business/financial processes and HR practices.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of process improvement methodologies and safety management practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling plant activities including operation, maintenance, engineering, and construction to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective performance.
• Support the System Safety Process and promote a strong safety culture throughout the plant.
• Help develop, maintain, and enforce safe work practices, ensuring availability and proper use of safety equipment, tools, and training.
• Reinforce safe work behaviors and contribute to achieving safety goals for an accident-free workplace.
• Communicate safety expectations and best practices regularly to employees.
• Participate in incident investigations, including root cause analysis, tracking corrective actions, and communicating findings.
• Assist in developing long-range plans for maintenance, operational excellence, capital improvements, equipment reliability, and organizational development.
• Support planning processes for maintenance management, materials management, QA/QC, HR, accounting, and preventive/predictive maintenance programs.
• Contribute to short-range (three-year) planning, budgeting, and forecasting; monitor performance and assist with variance reporting and cost control.
• Ensure plant operations comply with all applicable local, state, federal regulations and company policies.
• Support implementation and communication of company policies and operational procedures.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local officials, community stakeholders, and internal partners.
• Act on behalf of the Plant Manager as needed to support daily operations and business needs.

Skills

Safety management

Leadership

Communication

Process improvement

Team development

Financial processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering

Bachelor's degree in business management

Associate degree with related experience

Tools

Work Management System

Passport

Turbine Tool

Business Objects

Job description

Job Summary

The Assistant Plant Manager supports the Plant Manager in directing plant operations to ensure activities are conducted in a safe, compliant, reliable, and economical manner. This role assists with the oversight of electric power production, maintenance, engineering, construction, and administrative functions including accounting, procurement, materials management, human resources, and regulatory compliance.

The Assistant Plant Manager helps maintain effective two-way communication with employees, leadership, and external stakeholders, and contributes to fostering a culture of teamwork, continuous improvement, employee development, and recognition.

Job Description

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Assist in planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling plant activities including operation, maintenance, engineering, and construction to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective performance.




• Support the System Safety Process and promote a strong safety culture throughout the plant.




• Help develop, maintain, and enforce safe work practices, ensuring availability and proper use of safety equipment, tools, and training.




• Reinforce safe work behaviors and contribute to achieving safety goals for an accident-free workplace.




• Communicate safety expectations and best practices regularly to employees.




• Participate in incident investigations, including root cause analysis, tracking corrective actions, and communicating findings.




• Assist in developing long-range plans for maintenance, operational excellence, capital improvements, equipment reliability, and organizational development.




• Support planning processes for maintenance management, materials management, QA/QC, human resources, accounting, and preventative/predictive maintenance programs.




• Contribute to short-range (three-year) planning, budgeting, and forecasting; monitor performance and assist with variance reporting and cost control.




• Ensure plant operations comply with all applicable local, state, federal regulations and company policies.




• Support implementation and communication of company policies and operational procedures.




• Develop and maintain relationships with local officials, community stakeholders, and internal partners.




• Act on behalf of the Plant Manager as needed to support daily operations and business needs

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, business management; or associate degree in a technical field (e.g., engineering technology, chemistry, environmental services, accounting) with equivalent applied experience.

Experience: Minimum of 6 years of experience in plant operations, maintenance, engineering, or performance-related roles. Experience should include exposure to business/financial processes and human resource practices.

Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.

Training and experience in leadership, supervision, management, team development, problem solving, and decision making.

Knowledge of process improvement methodologies and safety management practices.

Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to lead teams, support change initiatives, and drive performance improvements.

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Compensation

$136,539.00 - $177,503.00

Physical Demands

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

“Knowing that I am part team that is making the power grid safer and more reliable gives me a real sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for coming to work every day.”

Exhibits a good fundamental understanding of turbine and generator sets. Will act as an associate coordinator reporting to a senior coordinator, principle coordinator, or superintendent. Could work alone if experience supports activities. Will network throughout the system east and west to increase exposure and experience. Must be able to understand and participate in the following, project development, resource allocations, and specific duration expectations. Must provide guidance for supervision and craft personnel. Can assist in the planning and development of work packages and outage plans with the project lead and planners. Must continually look for opportunities to increase knowledge and technical skills and increase level of proficiency in the inspection procedures, inspection documentation and use of visual examinations during required large steam turbine generator set overhauls. Become familiar with computer programs (Work Management System/ Passport/ Turbine Tool/ Business Objects). Must be able to work safely and follow directions.

The Environmental Coordinator Principal is responsible for coordinating the implementation of environmental compliance programs, permit requirements, and corporate environmental policies, standards, procedures and strategic environmental goals within their assigned region, plant and project scope. Responsibilities include ensuring direct reports meet performance and development goals, providing training, guidance and other necessary support to business unit leadership and staff on applicable environmental requirements, identifying applicable environmental requirements associated with Company assets and projects, and coordinating with the appropriate business unit staff, Environmental Services representatives, contractors, and external parties to ensure compliance with environmental requirements. The Environmental Coordinator Principal should have an advanced understanding of the following environmental programs: Above ground and underground storage tanks, Transportation of hazardous materials, Solid and hazardous waste management, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures, Wastewater, storm water, groundwater, and drinking water sampling, reporting and control, Oil and chemical spill response and management, Air emissions monitoring, control and reporting, Asbestos and PCB management, Pollution prevention, Environmental site assessments, and Emergency planning, and community right-to-know. Key competencies of this position are technical expertise, planning and organization ability, problem solving, written and oral communication skills and initiative. Must be able to work autonomously and with limited to no supervision and assume manager responsibilities in the absence of direct management.

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AEP offers generous time off, competitive pay, and educational opportunities to help employees advance their careers.

Our culture is purpose-driven and team-oriented: we combine innovation with a customer-first focus to deliver reliable energy and brighter futures.