Director Project Controls (New Generation)

American Electric Power; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 160,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power in Columbus, OH seeks a Senior Project Controls Manager to oversee project controls, cost management, and performance metrics across the department. You will lead and develop the project controls team, align processes with governance, and deliver timely reports and forecasts to leadership, ensuring safety, efficiency, and value for stakeholders.

Responsibilities include steering cost control, schedule integration, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, Information Technology, Accounting, Finance, or related field with ten (10) years of qualified experience.
• Master's in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Project Management, Information Technology, Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, or related field preferred.
• Supervisory experience is preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Valid state driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to employees and manage project controls personnel.
• Develop and maintain a performance measurement system and define performance expectations.
• Implement training and improve the competencies of the project controls staff.
• Prepare periodic project cost and schedule control reports and forecast projections.
• Lead development, review, and coordination of project plan, schedule, and budget.
• Communicate project details and status updates to stakeholders.
• Supervise project controls functions to ensure data integrity.
• Ensure project assessments and audits of project cost and schedule control performance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project controls

Budgeting

Performance metrics

Communication

Training

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, IT, Accounting, Finance or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Job Posting End Date

09-28-2026

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

Job Summary

Responsible for overseeing project controls, project cost management, and the development of performance metrics for all projects in the assigned department. Provides leadership in the assessment and audit of project management and project controls performance. In addition, this position will also support capital work, associated O&M activities, and provide metrics and reporting to departmental leadership that will be used in the ongoing management. Provide leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication to support all project phases with a safe, efficient, economical, risk-balanced approach to achieve short- and long-range goals and to obtain maximum customer satisfaction.

Develop relationships and effectively communicate with all stakeholders including internal customers, external customers, team members, suppliers, contractors, vendors, and industry peers. This position is responsible for aligning projects with approved quality control and quality assurance review, including adherence to project processes and controls.

Job Description

What you’ll do:

• Provide leadership to employees and manage project controls personnel. Actively promote AEP's safety, culture, and business initiatives.

• Develop and maintain a performance measurement system and clearly define performance expectations and review and reward job performance within the organization to align individual performance with business goals.

• Implement training and improve the competencies of the project controls staff assigned to a project teams.

• Manage in the preparation of periodic project cost and schedule control reports including validating and reconciling actual and incurred costs and hours, analyzing progress to date, making recommendations as to forecasted cost and schedule projections while meeting critical deadlines, project change management, project risk management, and the development of metrics and reporting on program/project performance.

• Lead the development, review, and coordination of the project plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff.

• Communicate project details and status updates, lead planning meetings and project updates including detailed and complex stakeholder presentations.

• Supervise project controls functions to ensure data integrity and controls systems functionality.

• Ensure project assessments and audits of project cost and schedule control performance as directed and/or scheduled.

• Work collaboratively with project management teams and other departmental groups and leadership to develop project management processes, provide ongoing training support to personnel, and facilitate best practice sharing opportunities across the organization.

• Facilitate the development of contractual project controls requirements to ensure all contract documents are aligned with project execution. Ensure the department is represented in kick-off meetings with contractors to ensure all requirements are reviewed and understood.

• Direct, guide, and champion the administration of the AEP project management organizational standards, best practices, and tools and assist in the management of projects to those standards. Adhere to the guidance and standards put forth by the AEP Project Management Governance Committee.

What we’re looking for:

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, Information Technology, Accounting, Finance, or related field of study dependent on business unit requirements with ten (10) years of qualified experience (see below).

Master's in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Project Management, Information Technology, Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, or related field of study dependent on business unit requirements preferred.

Supervisory experience is preferred.

PMP certification preferred.

Valid state driver's license.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven strength in strategic thinking and planning.

• Proven strength in project risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

• Highly developed conflict management, effective listening, delegation, and decision-making skillsets. Ability to challenge differing opinions in a very effective manner.

• Demonstrated strength in developing individuals in their current role as well as the next one.

• High-energy and tenacity in facing difficulty and challenges.

• Work hours and travel as required to successfully accomplish assignments. Travel typically 25% or less, however greater travel may be required in support of specific assignments.

• 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 home, office, 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 Leads framework: Lead by example, Engage employees, Act with accountability, Develop employees, and Strive for excellence.

American Electric Power (On-Site)

#LI-Onsite

#AEPCareers

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

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: L – Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 to 12 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 5-6 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for sedentary work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) When it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time, but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg c ontrols; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the amount of force exerted is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible

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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.