Assistant Plant Manager

American Electric Power; Oologah (OK); On-site; USD 137,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power seeks an Assistant Plant Manager to assist the Plant Manager in directing plant operations—safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. You will oversee engineering, maintenance, and administrative functions, driving continuous improvement and strong stakeholder communications.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree or technical associate, 6+ years in plant operations and leadership experience, and a track record in process improvement and safety management.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, business management; or associate degree in a technical field with equivalent applied experience.
• 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.
• Training in leadership, supervision, management, team development, problem solving, and decision making.
• 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

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Decision making

Team leadership

Change initiatives

Performance improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business

Associate degree in technical field

Job description

Job Posting End Date

09-11-2026

Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

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 Data

Compensation Grade:

SP20-010

Compensation Range:

$136,539.00 - $177,503.00

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.

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.