Director, Physical Security | NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT

AEP; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 189,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational opportunities

Competitive pay

On-site in Columbus, OH

Job summary

AEP's Nuclear Development unit seeks a Director of Physical Security to lead security, access, safeguards, and insider threat programs for a portfolio of advanced reactor projects in Columbus, OH. You will shape regulatory strategy, guide licensing, and ensure robust physical protection across multiple reactor technologies.

You will engage NRC and industry partners, build scalable security programs, and direct teams to deliver risk-informed, compliant solutions that support deployment,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Security Management, Nuclear Engineering, Engineering, Emergency Management, National Security, Public Administration, or related field.
• Master's degree in a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the company's senior SME on nuclear security, physical protection, access authorization, fitness for duty, insider threat, and safeguards requirements for advanced reactors.
• Monitor NRC rulemaking, regulatory guidance, policy initiatives, and industry standards for advanced reactor security and safeguards.
• Develop technology-inclusive, scalable, risk-informed, performance-based security requirements for advanced nuclear facilities.
• Lead participation in NRC meetings, NEI task forces, standards committees, and security-focused regulatory forums.
• Develop security plans, safeguards information controls, and regulatory submittal inputs for licensing activities.

Skills

Nuclear security

Physical protection

Regulatory affairs

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice / Security

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Director, Physical Security | NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT

Location: Columbus, OH

Category : Security_familyGroup

Job Summary

Responsible for establishing and leading the company's nuclear security, physical protection, access authorization, fitness for duty, insider threat and safeguards strategy for a fleet of advanced nuclear technologies, including Generation III+, Generation IV, small modular reactors, microreactors, and other emerging reactor designs. The position serves as the company's senior subject matter expert for nuclear security and safeguards programs applicable to new reactor deployments, with responsibility for developing scalable, technology-informed, risk-informed, and regulation-ready approaches that support licensing, construction, commissioning and long-term operation. The Director will engage with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, industry organizations, reactor developers, law enforcement partners, and other stakeholders to shape security and safeguards requirements for advanced nuclear facilities. The Director is also responsible for developing security and access authorization solutions that support the company's reactor deployment strategy while creating value-added advisory and program development services for advanced reactor vendors, utilities, federal agencies, military installations, and other nuclear industry partners.

Job Description

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Security and Safeguards Regulatory Strategy

• Serve as the company's senior subject matter expert on nuclear security, physical protection, access authorization, fitness for duty, insider threat, and safeguards requirements applicable to advanced reactors.
• Monitor, evaluate, and influence NRC rulemaking, regulatory guidance, policy initiatives, and industry standards related to advanced reactor security and safeguards.
• Develop company positions on technology-inclusive, scalable, risk-informed, and performance-based security requirements for advanced nuclear facilities.
• Lead company participation in NRC public meetings, industry working groups, NEI task forces, standards committees, and security-focused regulatory forums.
• Establish strategic relationships with NRC staff, DOE, FEMA as applicable, state and local law enforcement, reactor developers, national laboratories, utility partners, and other security stakeholders

Licensing and Project Development Support

• Support licensing activities associated with new reactor deployments, including Construction Permit Applications, Combined License Applications, Operating License Applications, Early Site permits, and Part 53 licensing activities.
• Develop physical security, access authorization, fitness for duty, insider threat, and safeguards strategies for multiple reactor technologies and deployment models.
• Lead development of security plan content, safeguards information controls, security program descriptions, physical protection analyses, target set considerations, and regulatory submittal inputs.
• Support site selection, site layout, facility design, security-by-design reviews, construction planning, commissioning planning, and operational readiness activities.
• Coordinate with licensing, engineering, operations, emergency preparedness, cyber security, legal, compliance, and project development teams to integrate security requirements into project execution

Physical Security Program Development

• Develop and maintain corporate nuclear security standards, governance frameworks, program documents, procedures, and implementation guides for advanced reactor projects.
• Establish scalable physical protection models appropriate for advanced reactor technologies, deployment sizes, staffing models, and site configurations.
• Develop security force strategies, training and qualification programs, drills and exercises, response planning, contingency response expectations, and program performance monitoring methods.
• Evaluate security-by-design opportunities, including facility layout, delay and detection features, access controls, protected area concepts, central alarm station concepts, security communications, and response coordination.
• Ensure security programs are capable of supporting licensing, construction, fuel receipt, startup testing, commercial operation, and long-term fleet operations.

Access Authorization, Fitness for Duty and Insider Threat

• Design and oversee access authorization program requirements for advanced reactor facilities, including suitability, trustworthiness, reliability, behavioral observation, drug and alcohol testing interfaces, contractor access, vendor access, and unescorted access authorization.
• Develop strategic program expectations for fitness for duty, behavioral observation, drug and alcohol testing interfaces, contractor access, vendor access, and unescorted access authorization.
• Establish processes for investigations, adverse information review, access denial or revocation support, and coordination with legal, human resources, labor relations, and compliance functions.
• Develop insider threat program expectations and interface requirements with security, cyber security, human performance, personnel reliability, safeguards information, and site leadership.
• Support development of common access authorization approaches that can be applied across multiple sites and technologies while accommodating project-specific regulatory commitments.

Safeguards and Sensitive Information Protection

• Develop safeguards strategy and governance for protected, sensitive, and security-related information associated with advanced reactor projects.
• Establish programmatic expectations for safeguards information handling, security-related document controls, need-to-know access controls, and interface with licensing and engineering document management processes.
• Support development of physical protection and safeguards inputs for licensing documents, security plans, procurement specifications, facility design reviews, vendor evaluations, and operational readiness reviews.
• Coordinate with cyber security, information governance, legal, export control, supply chain, and project teams to protect sensitive security-related information throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate domestic and international safeguards practices to identify lessons applicable to advanced nuclear deployment.

Technology Evaluation and Deployment

• Provide nuclear security and safeguards expertise to support evaluation and deployment of AP1000 and other Generation III+ reactors, SMRs, microreactors, high-temperature gas reactors, sodium fast reactors, and advanced non-light-water reactor technologies.
• Evaluate security and safeguards implications associated with different reactor technologies, source terms, fuel forms, site configurations, staffing models, deployment scales, and operational concepts.
• Develop standardized security and access authorization approaches capable of supporting fleet-wide deployment while preserving technology-specific licensing flexibility.
• Advise project teams on security-by-design considerations that can reduce lifecycle costs, improve licensing clarity, and support efficient operations without compromising regulatory compliance or nuclear security.

Commercial Services and Business Development

• Develop and lead external nuclear security, access authorization, and safeguards advisory services offerings.
• Support generation of new revenue streams by providing security program development expertise to reactor vendors, utilities, developers, government agencies, military installations, and other nuclear industry partners.
• Lead development of security plans, access authorization program frameworks, safeguards strategies, physical protection evaluations, regulatory submittal inputs, and readiness assessment services for external clients.
• Support business development efforts by identifying market opportunities and developing security and safeguards service offerings for advanced reactor developers and original equipment manufacturers.
• Represent the company as a credible industry partner capable of helping advanced reactor vendors close security, access authorization, and safeguards capability gaps.

Assessment, Investigations, and Program Excellence

• Direct security program assessments, audits, benchmarking activities, independent reviews, and readiness evaluations.
• Establish performance indicators and monitoring programs to evaluate security, access authorization, and safeguards effectiveness.
• Oversee investigation protocols related to security events, access authorization concerns, safeguards information issues, property protection, deviations from approved plans, and fitness for duty matters.
• Evaluate domestic and international operating experience, security event reports, inspection results, and industry lessons learned for applicability to company programs.
• Ensure corrective actions, preventive actions, and continuous improvement initiatives are implemented and tracked through appropriate governance processes.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Security Management, Nuclear Engineering, Engineering, Emergency Management, National Security, Public Administration, or a related technical or security discipline.
• Master's degree in a related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in nuclear security, physical protection, access authorization, fitness for duty, safeguards, military security, law enforcement, regulatory affairs, or a closely related field.
• At least five (5) years of leadership experience in nuclear security, access authorization, safeguards, regulatory affairs, or related security disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience interacting directly with the NRC, law enforcement agencies, or other regulatory and security authorities.
• Experience supporting advanced reactor, SMR, microreactor, Generation III+, or Generation IV reactor development activities strongly preferred.
• Experience developing, implementing, assessing, or maintaining NRC-regulated security, access authorization, fitness for duty, or safeguards programs preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Recognized industry expert in nuclear physical security, access authorization, safeguards, or related regulatory programs.
• Experience developing or maintaining nuclear security plans, access authorization programs, safeguards information programs, fitness for duty programs, insider threat programs, or physical protection strategies.
• Participation in NRC rulemaking initiatives, NEI working groups, industry security forums, standards development activities, or advanced reactor licensing initiatives.
• Experience supporting COLA, ESP, Part 50, Part 52, or Part 53 licensing efforts.
• Demonstrated business development, consulting, or client-facing technical services experience.
• Strong understanding of advanced reactor technologies and associated security, safeguards, staffing, and deployment challenges.
• Existing relationships within NRC, DOE, NEI, national laboratories, reactor vendors, utility security organizations, law enforcement, or federal security organizations.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

Base Salary: $189K - $245K

In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including: discretionary short-/long-term incentives, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.

WHO WE ARE

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!

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER (on-site)

$189K - $245K / Year

#AEPCareers

#LI-ONSITE

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.

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Details

AEP offers an outstanding group of people to be a part of. The AEP culture values your integrity and awards your hard work.

Responsible for medium- to long-term assignments of significant complexity and/or budgetary, strategic, or operational impact. Responsibilities include decision making, risk assessment, task prioritization, assignment and tracking of work, project oversight, employee development, performance coaching, team engagement, communication, planning, resource allocation, cost management, issue resolution, conflict management, customer service, and stakeholder relations. Responsibilities include decision making, risk assessment, task prioritization, assignment and tracking of work, project oversight, employee development, performance coaching, team engagement, communication, planning, resource allocation, cost management, issue resolution, conflict management, customer service, and stakeholder relations. Responsibilities include decision making, risk assessment, task prioritization, assignment and tracking of work, project oversight, employee development, performance coaching, team engagement, communication, planning, resource allocation, cost management, issue resolution, conflict management, customer service, and stakeholder relations. The Security Manager is responsible for directly leading and developing Security team members, building and maintaining collaborative relationships with Operating Company, Business Unit, and Information Technology (IT) leadership, as well as external partners, suppliers, and vendors. The Security Manager is also responsible for managing annual O&M and capital budgets. The Manager is expected to establish credibility and gain acceptance as a trusted partner when working directly with Operating Company, Business Unit, and IT leadership. The Security Manager will promote and apply Security solutions that align with the strategies and operational needs of Operating Companies and Business Unit customers. He or she will lead the team in delivering projects, initiatives, and daily operational activities through efficient processes, effective resource utilization, and risk reduction practices. The Security Manager will establish and maintain an open, collaborative environment that promotes safety, accountability, employee engagement, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the Security organization. The primary differentiators between Security Manager roles are the size and complexity of projects led, the scope of responsibility, the level of risk involved, the breadth of organizational impact, the number of employees supervised, and the grade levels and experience of direct reports.

Responsible for moderate-scale security assignments with limited direction from senior team members. Develops and maintains necessary documentation of security systems, projects, and/or processes to ensure unified understanding of system details. Performs and analyzes security controls assessments (internal and third party) through application security testing, penetration testing or other means to ensure controls effectiveness. Identifies and documents potential mitigations/remediations and creates reports of findings with identified risk response. Participates in the review, evaluation, and recommendation of emerging security technologies. More involved in advanced level implementation, support, and/or usage of technical solutions. Assists with problem solving, decision-making, and functional area knowledge.

Responsible for moderate-scale security assignments with limited direction from senior team members. Develops and maintains necessary documentation of security systems, projects, and/or processes to ensure unified understanding of system details. Performs and analyzes security controls assessments (internal and third party) through application security testing, penetration testing or other means to ensure controls effectiveness. Identifies and documents potential mitigations/remediations and creates reports of findings with identified risk response. Participates in the review, evaluation, and recommendation of emerging security technologies. More involved in advanced level implementation, support, and/or usage of technical solutions. Assists with problem solving, decision-making, and functional area knowledge.

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.