Nuclear Development - Director Commercial Development & Strategy

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

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

401K match

AEP Pension

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) seeks a highly commercial leader to drive strategic growth, transaction origination, and financial success of its advanced nuclear projects at the Columbus HQ. You will shape opportunities, structure deals, and oversee end-to-end development to expand AEP's nuclear footprint.

The role requires a decade of experience in arranging and negotiating investments, a strong network, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through due diligence and financial close.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, finance, business, or related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years' experience, arranging, developing, and negotiating investment opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Strategic input: Identify high-value market opportunities through market research and competitive dynamics; build business cases for new investments.
• Transaction leadership: Lead origination, negotiation, and closing of complex transactions (project acquisitions, JV, PPAs, tolling, fuel supply).
• Project development management: Oversee end-to-end development; maintain deal pipelines and provide due diligence feedback.
• Cross-functional coordination: Direct activities from concept to financial close with permitting, interconnection, engineering, real estate, and environmental diligence.
• Convene due diligence meetings and coordinate preparation of approval materials (risk oversight, executive briefings).
• Team leadership: Direct and mentor business development staff and align with corporate objectives.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Deal origination

Negotiation

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, finance, business, or related field

Job description

Job Summary

Accountable for leading the strategic growth, commercial development, and financial success of AEP advanced nuclear projects. This role combines vision, deal making, and deep sector expertise to originate, structure, and execute transactions that expand the company's advanced nuclear footprint. The ideal candidate is a highly commercial leader with a strong network, proven transactional capability, and a track record of delivering profitable, scalable energy projects.

What You'll Do:

• Strategic input: Identify high-value market opportunities through the monitoring of customer needs, market research, and competitive dynamics. Build business cases for new investments, balancing financial returns, risk, and strategic value.
• Transaction leadership: Lead the origination, negotiation, and closing of complex commercial transactions, including project acquisitions, greenfield development rights, joint ventures, PPAs, tolling agreements, fuel supply, and equipment procurements.
• Project development management: Oversee the end-to-end project development process; prioritize opportunities; maintain transparent deal pipelines and status reporting so support departments have timely access to materials and can provide constructive due diligence feedback.
• Cross-functional coordination: Direct cross-functional development activities from concept through financial close, including permitting, interconnection, engineering, real estate, and environmental diligence.
• Convene due diligence meetings, work with subject matter experts to resolve issues, and coordinate preparation and circulation of approval materials (including risk oversight and executive briefings).
• Team leadership: Direct and mentor business development staff, set priorities, and ensure alignment with corporate objectives and support functions.

What We're Looking For:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, finance, business, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

• 10 years' experience, arranging, developing, and negotiating investment opportunities.

Where You'll Work:

• On-Site in the AEP Headquarters in Columbus, OH

What You'll Get:

• Base salary
• Annual bonus
• Long-term incentive
• 401K match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do!

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: 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.