Director Economic Forecasting

AEP Service Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) is seeking a Director of Economic & Large Load Forecasting to coordinate and advise on large-load opportunities across data centers, manufacturing, and other growth projects. You will influence stakeholders, own governance for tracking opportunities, and ensure leaders have timely information to decision-make and maintain speed-to-power.

The role provides leadership for forecasting activities, collaborates with planning, strategy, and regulatory affairs, and aims to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics or business administration.
• Minimum ten years of relevant forecasting or economic development experience in utilities or related sectors.

Responsibilities

• Own governance processes for tracking and communicating large-load growth across operating companies.
• Partner with leadership to address planning, risks, and regulatory implications of large loads.
• Develop executive communications and recurring enterprise-wide reporting.
• Present forecast insights to senior leadership, regulators, and investors.
• Lead and support scenario analysis and strategic planning for emerging demand.

Skills

Executive communication

Strategic partnership

Cross-functional leadership

Forecasting & analytics

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics or Business

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Power BI

Data visualization tools

Job description

Job Summary

The Director of Economic & Large Load Forecasting serves as the primary coordinator and strategic advisor for AEP's growing portfolio of large-load opportunities, including data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other economic development projects. To succeed in the role, the Director will need to be an exceptional communicator with the ability to influence and align stakeholders across all levels of the organization. They will own the governance processes used to track and communicate large-load opportunities while ensuring leaders have the information necessary to make timely decisions and maintain speed-to-power. They will also provide leadership for economic and large-load forecasting activities while partnering with other stakeholders to ensure a clear understanding of emerging demand trends, customer commitments, infrastructure requirements, and associated business risks.

Job Description

What You'll Do:

Large Load Governance

• Own the process of tracking and communicating large-load growth across AEP's various operating companies.
• Act as a strategic business partner with operating company leadership around large loads and the planning and risks associated with those loads.
• Partner with stakeholders throughout AEP to ensure consistent application of governance standards and decision frameworks.
• Identify emerging issues and escalation risks that could impact customer commitments, capital plans, resource requirements, or regulatory outcomes.

Executive Communications & Strategic Reporting

• Own enterprise-wide communications around the outlook for large loads at AEP. This means working closely with and communicating regularly to RTOs, regulatory audiences, investors, and internal stakeholders.
• Translate highly technical forecasting, engineering, commercial, and financial information into concise business recommendations.
• Lead development of recurring and ad hoc large-load reporting for executive leadership, business plan updates, board materials, and enterprise scorecards.
• Potentially serving as a witness in front of state regulatory bodies and supporting other witnesses as they do the same.
• Ensure messaging remains consistent across organizations and reflects AEP's mission of putting the customer first.

Economic & Large Load Forecasting Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for AEP's economic and large-load forecasting activities, including economic impact analyses, forecast methodologies, and data governance policies.
• Partner with load forecasting, planning, and strategy teams to ensure consistent integration of economic and large-load growth expectations.
• Communicate forecast implications to executive leadership and support key enterprise decision-making processes.
• Support scenario analysis and strategic planning activities associated with emerging large-load demand.

What We're Looking For:

Education Requirements: Bachelor's in economics or business administration.

Work Experience: A minimum of ten years' relevant experience in load or fundamental forecast experience at a utility or for a consultant or association that does the same for the electric or gas utility industry as a whole.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Business, Energy Management, Public Policy, or related field preferred.
• Significant experience in utility operations, strategic planning, forecasting, regulatory affairs, economic development, finance, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong executive presentation and communication skills.
• Experience preparing materials for senior leadership or board-level audiences.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Knowledge of electric utility planning, resource adequacy, transmission planning, load forecasting, and capital investment processes.
• Experience working with RTOs or utility regulators is especially preferred.
• Experience with economic development, or data center initiatives.
• Experience developing and communicating forecasts used for strategic, financial, operational, or regulatory decision-making.
• Background in enterprise governance, portfolio management, strategic planning, or business performance management.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Power BI, and data visualisation tools.
• Experience developing and communicating forecasts used for strategic, financial, operational, or regulatory decision-making.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is: A strong communicator capable of translating complexity into clear executive messages. Highly organized and able to coordinate work across multiple organizations. Comfortable interacting with vice presidents and senior executives. Able to connect forecasting, regulatory, operational, customer, and financial perspectives into a single enterprise story. Focused on execution, governance discipline, and decision quality. Capable of balancing analytical rigor with practical business judgment in a rapidly evolving growth environment.

Leadership Impact

The Director of Economic & Large Load Forecasting plays a critical role in helping AEP anticipate, evaluate, and respond to evolving economic conditions and unprecedented large-load growth opportunities. Success in this role will be measured by the effectiveness of enterprise governance, strength of executive decision support, and the organization's ability to proactively plan for and capture customer growth while maintaining reliability, affordability, and operational excellence.

Why This Role Matters

This position sits at the intersection of forecasting, growth strategy, executive decision-making, and enterprise execution. As AEP experiences increasing demand from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other large-load customers, the Director will help ensure the organization has a single source of truth regarding growth expectations while providing leaders with the governance, communications, and strategic insights necessary to make informed investment and operational decisions.

What You'll Get:

In addition to a competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees. Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do 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: SP20-011 Compensation Range: $160,434.00 - $208,565.50

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.

At American Electric Power, we provide more than electricity to our millions of customers - we energize possibilities. We're redefining the future of energy by reducing our carbon footprint, empowering the communities we serve and building an engaged, talented workforce. All while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. It’s an exciting time in the energy industry. Are you ready to be part of it? We’re looking for team members to help create the grid of the future. Learn more about our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive work culture that values different experiences.