NERC Standard Manager Lead

American Electric Power Co.; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 137,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) is seeking a senior professional to advance NERC Audit Readiness and regulatory compliance across business units in Columbus, OH. The role focuses on improving audit readiness, enabling trusted advisory support, and driving the NERC program vision.

The candidate will leverage extensive NERC standards knowledge to train teams, implement controls, and respond to regulator requests while partnering with BU leaders to strengthen compliance posture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, communications, computer science, business, or related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Eight+ years of progressively responsible positions in electric utility or similarly regulated industry.
• Experience in NERC compliance or similar regulatory compliance preferred.

Responsibilities

• SME capability for all NERC Audit Readiness Services.

Skills

NERC standards

Compliance management

Audit readiness

Regulatory liaison

Stakeholder communication

Risk assessment

Training others

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Posting End Date 09-25-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Support business units to be audit ready and improve compliance of NERC requirements across applicable functions and registrations. Support Business Unit compliance teams. Adapt to serve BU’s depending on their compliance organizational maturity. Perform Audit Readiness directly as needed. Be a trustworthy advisor by maintaining expertise in the NERC Standards. Act as the single point of contact, per NERC Standard, for ENRA compliance services. Contribute to strategic vision for NERC Program at AEP. Drive improvements in the AEP NERC program.

What You'll Do:

• Requires SME capability for all NERC Audit Readiness Services.
• Ability to train others on Audit Readiness Services shown below.
• Potential Compliance Incident Investigation
  • Identify root cause and establish facts of incident.
  • Identify impact and risk.
  • Draft language for regulator review.
  • Mitigation Plan Support.
  • Develop milestones, including preventive efforts.
  • Track progress of approved plan and review evidence of completion.
• Standard Implementation Work with impacted business unit leadership to create and execute an implementation plan for new and revised standards.
• RSAW Development and Review Support
  • Support business unit compliance teams to review and/or develop narrative of compliance.
• Gap Analysis and Controls
  • Assess and provide feedback to compliance SMEs on the ability of BU processes to fulfill compliance requirements.
  • Identify failure points relating to compliance requirements.
  • Identify process improvements and/or controls as needed to reduce the risk of failure points.
  • Execute the second level of controls as needed.
• Evidence Pull Sheet Support
  • Support BU compliance experts to define evidence of compliance.
  • Support instructions to pull and review evidence on demand.
• RFI Response
  • Collect SME responses to regulator RFIs.

What We're Looking For:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, communications, computer science, business, or other related field of study.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

• In addition to any experience required above, eight or more years of progressively responsible positions the in electric utility or similarly regulated industry.
• Experience in NERC compliance or a similar regulatory compliance is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to manage highest risk and/or most organizationally complex standards, including both CIP and O&P standards.
• Expertise on how NERC Standards relate to each other.
• Understand relationship between NERC Standards, Regional Entities, and RTO's.
• Ability to represent AEP's needs for NERC Standards with external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to drive consensus between business units.
• Hands on experience with Business Unit systems and processes required.
• Ability to communicate compliance opportunities to executive leadership.
• Master's Degree is desirable.
• Certification/Licensure is preferred (NERC, PMP, PE, etc.)
• Experience with NERC Standards Development preferred.

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade:

Compensation Range: $136,539.00 - $177,503.00

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.

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.

At American Electric Power, we provide more than electricity to our millions of customers - we energize possibilities. We're redefining the future of energy by reducing our carbon footprint, empowering the communities we serve and building an engaged, talented workforce. All while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. It's an exciting time in the energy industry. Are you ready to be part of it? We're looking for team members to help create the grid of the future. Learn more about our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive work culture that values different experiences.