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

AEP; Rockport (IN); On-site; USD 189,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) in Rockport, IN is seeking a Director of Major Projects to oversee a multi-billion-dollar generation project. You will lead safety, schedule, cost, and stakeholder alignment, directing EPC or third-party resources as needed to ensure on-time delivery.

Expect robust leadership, risk management, and regulatory interaction to secure approvals and ensure project success across all phases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field; progress to leadership roles expected.
• PMP certification is required.
• A valid state driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead project execution for a multi-billion-dollar generation project.
• Oversee safety programs and Zero Harm objectives.
• Report project strategy and needs to senior leadership with viable solutions.
• Establish contracting strategy and manage EPC and engineering agreements.
• Drive integrated schedules, budget oversight, and risk management.
• Mentor project leadership and manage stakeholder relationships.

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Accounting, Finance, or related field of study dependent on business unit requirements

PMP certification

Valid state driver's license

Job description

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

Location: Rockport, IN

Category : Project Management/Controls

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 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 negotiating 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.
• Develop solutions to mitigate and minimize exposure to project risks.
• Leads project change management. Resolves disputes before need of escalation.
• Build 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 participation as needed as a subject matter expert on regulatory filings, providing project justification and analysis.
• Culture: Foster a strong, positive team culture. Mentor and provision ???
• Team Performance: Support and hold project team members accountable in their responsibilities. Administer the company's performance management review program ensuring alignment with organization's goals and values.
• Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders to achieve project goals while obtaining complete customer satisfaction.
• Contracts: Guide the development of contracts aligned with project execution strategy. Direct and provide guidance in the management of contracts and contractors. Resolve all issues both technical and commercial in a timely manner or escalator, as necessary.
• Compliance: Monitor project compliance with the established project policies and standards. If applicable, support the development and governance of applicable Operating Agreements, Service Agreements, Administrative Agreements, or other applicable joint venture agreements necessary to operate the business. Maintain documentation.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR :

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Accounting, Finance, or related field of study dependent on business unit requirements with.
• 10 years of qualified experience, including work in two or more of the following areas: Major construction projects, project management, portfolio management, commissioning, project controls, commercial nuclear power plant, fossil generation, and contract negotiations. Experience must exhibit progressive levels of responsibility and accomplishment, highly proficient level of business acumen, and demonstrated effective leadership skills.
• PMP certification required.
• Valid state driver's license.

Other Considerations:

• Internal candidate consideration: Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER STAFF, PROJECT MANAGER STAFF SR, OR DIRECTOR PROJECTS is preferred, or demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.

Preferred experiences include:

• Masters in business, Engineering, Project Management, Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, or related field of study dependent on business unit requirements preferred.
• Generation projects including project management, engineering, or construction oversight
• Utility generation projects
• Heavy industrial construction projects
• EPC contract execution models to build new generation
• Generation Interconnection Agreements
• Air Permits through Federal and State
• Coordination with Federal, State, and Local Agencies to obtain environmental and non-environmental permits to construct new power plants
• Direct Supervision overseeing performance plans, expense reports, etc.
• Executive communication and report outs
• Contracting/ Commercial Strategy
• Coordination/ Experience with Regional Generation Organizations– such as PJM, MISO, SPP, or ERCOT, including competitive projects
• Coordination with State Utility Commissions including major State applications
• Significant Environmental applications such as USACE, USFWS, NEPA

OTHER CAPABILITIES:

• Proven strength in strategic thinking and planning.
• Proven strength in project risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrated strength in developing individuals in their current role as well as the next one.
• Highly developed conflict management, effective listening, delegation, and decision-making skillsets.
• Ability to challenge differing opinions in a very effective manner.
• High-energy and tenacity in facing difficulty and challenges.
• Work hours and travel as required to successfully accomplish assignments. Greater travel may be required in support of specific assignments.
• During phases of project execution, the Major Projects Director will be required to be on location of the project being overseen for the duration.
• Safely and effectively Perform light physical duties. Duties can involve construction site walkdown on unstable surfaces, climbing ladders, and awareness of hazardous site conditions.
• Promote continuous improvement and maintain a strong questioning attitude. Ask intrusive questions and challenge assumptions. Own, develop and/or improve guidelines, procedures, and processes to achieve organizational goals and objectives for continuous improvement.
• Perform work at various AEP locations in varying conditions. Work sites will include offices, power plants (including nuclear), and construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure. Work performed at nuclear power sites may involve work in hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within the limits prescribed by the NRC.
• Special skills directly related to the area of the assigned project may be required, as necessary.
• Ability to write clear, concise reports and ability to make presentations to senior management.
• Understand and support the policies, values, principles, structure, and behavior of AEP, especially the AEP Ways of Working.

WHAT YOU'LL GET:

• Base Salary: approximately $189K - $245K
• In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including: discretionary annual/long-term incentives, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.

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

$188,524.00 - $245,080.00

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 of 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.

This role will be responsible for coordinating team activities and supporting the Project Managers (PMs). With minimal supervision, perform role as scheduler and/or commodity tracker for major projects. Support the development and analysis of a wide range of scope of work types, especially complex schedules using the assigned system. Must be self-motivated, an excellent communicator, and team focused individual able to demonstrate competency in scheduling techniques and analyses on all scope of work aspects. Additional duties include schedule maintenance, collecting progress data, developing and implementing scope of work schedule/status reports, and providing consistent, accurate information to the senior management team. The candidate must be able to interface with site execution teams, contractors, and AEP senior management.

Manage one or more intermediate or complex projects, within a matrix team environment. Provide leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication to initiate , plan, execute, monitor and control, and close projects in a safe, efficient, economical, risk-balanced approach to achieve short and long range goals and to obtain maximum customer satisfaction. Provide project transparency and develop relationships and effectively communicate with all stakeholders including internal customers, external customers, team members, suppliers, contractors, vendors, and industry peers, enabling them to make sound business decisions. Enable and promote team level continuous improvement activities that increase quality and optimize delivery of value.

Manage one or more intermediate or complex projects, within a matrix team environment. Provide leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication to initiate , plan, execute, monitor and control, and close projects in a safe, efficient, economical, risk-balanced approach to achieve short and long