Director, Major Projects - NEW GENERATION (Construction Utility Projects)

aep; Lawton (OK); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

AEP seeks a Major Project Director to develop, direct, and execute all project management functions for a major generation project with a budget exceeding $1 billion. The role provides on-site leadership for safety, schedule, cost, commercial performance, stakeholder alignment, and project delivery, coordinating with EPC or contract resources as needed.

This position requires on-site presence for the duration of the project.

Qualifications

• Lead major project management functions for a generation project with $1B+ budget.
• Ensure safety, schedule, cost, and stakeholder alignment across project.
• Coordinate with EPC or third-party resources as needed.

Responsibilities

• Own overall project execution including directing and overseeing project management functions.
• Implement and oversee safety program to achieve Zero Harm.
• Report on project strategy, procurement, engineering, construction, and budget requirements to Generation leadership.
• Establish project contracting strategy and negotiate contractor and engineering agreements.
• Drive integrated schedule and resource alignment across workstreams.
• Maintain program budget and contingency; manage to budget targets.
• Identify and manage risks; develop mitigation solutions.
• Lead project change management and resolve disputes.
• Build and mentor a cohesive project leadership team.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with utilities, regulators, landowners, and contractors.
• Ensure readiness for regulatory filings and hearings.

Job description

Job Summary

The Major Project Director role will develop, direct, guide, and execute all project management functions for a major generation project that has a range of complexities resulting from multiple project components and generally has total budgets more than $1 billion.

The position will serve as the single accountable leader responsible for safety, schedule, cost, commercial performance, stakeholder alignment, execution and project delivery.

Depending on the project execution strategy and the project execution plan, the Major Project Director may provide oversight of EPC contractors or third-party contract resources providing services such as engineering or other project needs.

Role will provide effective leadership to a project team that is assembled and developed to ensure all projects components are initiated, planned, executed, monitored & controlled, and closed out. This role will build relationships and effectively communicate with all project stakeholders including internal and external customers, suppliers, contractors, vendors, and industry peers to achieve project goals and obtain customer satisfaction.

During project execution, the Major Projects Director will be required to be on location of the project being overseen for the duration.

Job Description

General scope of responsibilities:

• $1B-$10B capital budget
• Multiple concurrent generation project components; or projects with specialized technical generation scopes.
• Successful delivery of the project within all local, state or federal regulatory requirements
• Compliant to all measures of NERC, FERC, RTO or utility commissions
• Accountable for all aspects of project responsibilities including functional leaders reporting directly to the Major Project Director and all team members assigned to these projects.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Own overall project execution including directing, guiding, and overseeing project management functions to successfully complete assigned project.
• Implement and oversee project safety program, monitor performance and address issues as they arise in an effort to achieve Zero Harm.
• Responsible for reporting on project strategy and team needs to Generation Executive leadership. Report to include solutions for siting, regulatory, procurement, engineering, construction and budgetary requirements.
• Responsible for establishing project commercial contracting strategy and negotiate project contractor, EPC, and engineering agreements.
• Drives integrated schedule across all workstreams and directs alignment with resource management.
• Maintains oversite of program budget and contingency. Manages project execution to meet budgetary targets.
• Identifies and manages executive risk register. Develops solutions to mitigate and minimize exposure to project risks.
• Leads project change management. Resolves disputes before need of escalation.
• Builds and mentor a trusting and cohesive project leadership team resulting in an effective and highly productive team.
• Manages stakeholder relationships by interfacing with utilities, RTOs, regulators, landowners, and contractors.
• Ensures readiness for regulatory filings measured by successful project hearings resulting in approval and grant of Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
• Manage all staffing aspects including employees, staff augmentation, and consultants/vendor management.
• Manages construction and delivers project safely, on schedule, and within approved investment.
• Have an understanding and experience with technical solutions related to specifics of the project work to drive team to solutions.

ACCOUNTABLE FOR:

• Reporting: Oversee and report out on project metrics including safety, capital investment, schedule and all requested performance metrics to the sponsoring organization, business unit, Operating Company Leadership.
• Safety: Support, monitor, and reinforce contractor and employee safety performance through safety program implementation and recognition of any improved process, procedure and performance measurement that demonstrates a commitment to Zero Harm.
• Capital Investment: Development of a risk adjusted multi-year capital plan for major project. Oversee project's short- and long-range total budget and forecast to ensure accurate development of estimated cash flow. This may include supporting Treasury and Generation Finance functions for project financing with various banking firms. Implement effective change management while gaining stakeholder acceptance. Develop, evaluate, and execute scenarios to accommodate increased or reduced project targets.
• Regulatory Requirements: Achieve all regulatory approvals needed for the project. Actively participate as needed as a subject matter expert on regulatory filings, providing project justification and analysis.
• Culture: Foster a strong, positive team culture. Mentor and provide development opportunities of project staff t

Job Posting End Date

09-23-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.