Managing Director - AI Security

AEP; Columbus, Austin (OH, TX); On-site; USD 226,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power seeks a Director/Managing Director, Cyber AI to lead the cybersecurity organization’s AI strategy and program, setting direction for protecting enterprise AI and applying AI to improve cybersecurity outcomes. The role operates on-site in Columbus, OH or Austin, TX, with compensation components beyond the base starting salary.

This senior leader will develop a coherent Cyber AI portfolio, build accountable teams, sponsor scalable security services, and ensure governance,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of leadership experience in cybersecurity or technology, including responsibility for strategy, teams, investment, and cross-functional outcomes.
• Experience in critical infrastructure, energy, utilities, regulated industries, or other complex enterprise environments is preferred.
• Relevant advanced education, professional certifications, or demonstrated expertise in cybersecurity, technology leadership, risk, or AI is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set and communicate the Cyber AI vision, strategy, priorities, and multi-year direction.
• Provide executive leadership across AI Security Operations and AI-enabled cybersecurity products and engineering.
• Align the portfolio to cybersecurity strategy, business priorities, operational reliability, regulatory expectations, and responsible AI principles.
• Establish clear accountability, decision boundaries, escalation paths, and operating expectations across the Cyber AI program.
• Sponsor scalable security services that improve visibility, controls, monitoring, operational readiness, and resilience for enterprise AI environments.
• Sponsor responsible AI-enabled cybersecurity capabilities that improve security effectiveness, analyst experience, operational efficiency, and risk reduction.
• Guide investment, capacity, organizational design, and talent strategy based on demand, risk, service health, delivery performance, and measurable value.
• Ensure the program produces credible leadership reporting, operational evidence, risk transparency, and outcome measures.
• Build strong partnerships across cybersecurity, technology, business, governance, risk, privacy, legal, compliance, data, and operational stakeholders.
• Develop leaders and high-performing multidisciplinary teams with a culture of accountability, innovation, engineering discipline, and responsible AI use.
• Represent cybersecurity in enterprise AI forums and serve as a senior advisor on AI security opportunities, constraints, and emerging risk.

Skills

Executive leadership

Cybersecurity strategy

AI security

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

The Director / Managing Director, Cyber AI provides senior leadership for the cybersecurity organization’s artificial intelligence strategy and program. The role sets direction for protecting enterprise AI and for responsibly applying AI to improve cybersecurity outcomes, while aligning priorities, investment, governance, and operating models with enterprise objectives. This leader establishes a coherent Cyber AI portfolio, develops accountable leaders and teams, and represents cybersecurity in enterprise AI decisions. The role operates through established enterprise authorities for architecture, risk, governance, privacy, legal, compliance, technology operations, and incident response rather than duplicating those functions. This position is 100% onsite in either Columbus, OH or Austin, TX There are several compensation components on top of the listed (base) starting salary range, such as annual bonus, long-term incentive, pension, etc.

Job Description

Leadership Accountabilities

• Set and communicate the Cyber AI vision, strategy, priorities, and multi-year direction.
• Provide executive leadership across AI Security Operations and AI-enabled cybersecurity products and engineering.
• Align the portfolio to cybersecurity strategy, business priorities, operational reliability, regulatory expectations, and responsible AI principles.
• Establish clear accountability, decision boundaries, escalation paths, and operating expectations across the Cyber AI program.
• Sponsor scalable security services that improve visibility, controls, monitoring, operational readiness, and resilience for enterprise AI environments.
• Sponsor responsible AI-enabled cybersecurity capabilities that improve security effectiveness, analyst experience, operational efficiency, and risk reduction.
• Guide investment, capacity, organizational design, and talent strategy based on demand, risk, service health, delivery performance, and measurable value.
• Ensure the program produces credible leadership reporting, operational evidence, risk transparency, and outcome measures.
• Build strong partnerships across cybersecurity, technology, business, governance, risk, privacy, legal, compliance, data, and operational stakeholders.
• Develop leaders and high-performing multidisciplinary teams with a culture of accountability, innovation, engineering discipline, and responsible AI use.
• Represent cybersecurity in enterprise AI forums and serve as a senior advisor on AI security opportunities, constraints, and emerging risk.

Expected Results

• A clear, enterprise-aligned Cyber AI strategy and portfolio.
• Secure and responsible adoption of AI supported by scalable security services and transparent operating boundaries.
• Improved visibility into AI assets, activity, control coverage, telemetry, and operational readiness.
• Predictable prioritization, investment decisions, and execution across Cyber AI teams.
• Effective escalation of unresolved risk, readiness gaps, and cross-functional dependencies through established enterprise processes.
• Trusted partnerships with cybersecurity, technology, governance, business, and operational leaders.
• A durable leadership structure and talent pipeline capable of adapting as AI technology and risk evolve.

Experience and Leadership Capabilities

• Progressive leadership experience across cybersecurity, technology, engineering, operations, risk, product delivery, or related disciplines.
• Experience setting strategy and leading complex programs or portfolios in a large, regulated, or critical-infrastructure environment.
• Ability to lead through influence across organizational boundaries and established decision authorities.
• Understanding of AI, machine learning, generative AI, agents, cloud, data, software delivery, and cybersecurity sufficient to guide strategy and investment.
• Experience translating emerging technology risk and opportunity into clear executive direction, priorities, and accountable outcomes.
• Demonstrated judgment in balancing innovation, security, reliability, compliance, and business value.
• Executive communication skills and the ability to advise senior leaders, governance bodies, technical teams, and business stakeholders.
• Experience building leaders, developing multidisciplinary teams, and creating sustainable operating models.

Role Boundaries

The role provides strategic direction, portfolio leadership, organizational accountability, and executive escalation for the Cyber AI program. It does not replace established enterprise authority for architecture approval, cloud or infrastructure operations, enterprise incident command, data governance, privacy, legal interpretation, compliance ownership, model development, business product ownership, or enterprise risk acceptance. Those responsibilities remain with the designated enterprise functions and accountable owners.

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of leadership experience in cybersecurity or technology, including responsibility for strategy, teams, investment, and cross-functional outcomes.
• Experience in critical infrastructure, energy, utilities, regulated industries, or other complex enterprise environments is preferred.
• Relevant advanced education, professional certifications, or demonstrated expertise in cybersecurity, technology leadership, risk, or AI is preferred.

Why This Role Matters

Artificial intelligence is changing both the enterprise technology environment and the way cybersecurity work is performed. This role ensures the cybersecurity organization has clear leadership for managing AI-related risk, enabling responsible adoption, and turning AI opportunity into sustainable security outcomes while supporting the safety, reliability, and resilience of the enterprise.

Compensation

$226,000.00 - $280,000.00

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.

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

American Electric Power (On-Site)

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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!

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