Project Manager

aep; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AEP is seeking a Project Manager to lead and coordinate customer-facing projects across a matrix organization, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to budget and quality standards.

The role emphasizes strong relationship management with customers and internal stakeholders, with responsibility for planning, execution, and continuous improvement of project delivery processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field with 3 years qualified experience, or 2-year Associate's degree with 5 years qualified experience, or HS Diploma/GED with 7 years qualified experience.
• Three (3) years of qualified experience as a PROJECT MANAGER ASSOCIATE (Grade 6) is preferred, or demonstrated competencies with results in shorter timeline.
• Project Manager (Grade 8): Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering (Eng) and related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of customer-facing capital, construction, infrastructure, and energy-related projects.
• Serve as a primary customer interface, ensuring proactive communication and an exceptional customer experience throughout project execution.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, project teams, contractors, suppliers, vendors, and business partners.
• Ensure customer requirements and business objectives are understood and incorporated into project plans and execution strategies.
• Conduct project planning activities including scope development, scheduling, budgeting, resource planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate project activities across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, supply chain, and commercial functions.
• Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process and Zero Harm culture.
• Communicate project status, risks, opportunities, schedule and budget performance to stakeholders.
• Lead customer meetings, project reviews, planning sessions, and progress updates.
• Provide clear written and verbal communications to customers, management, teams, and leadership.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities for project delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Support growth initiatives by strengthening customer relationships and expanding services.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Business

Bachelor's degree in Project Management

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Associate's degree (2-year) in related field

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Job Posting End Date

08-24-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date

Job Summary

Manage and lead base, intermediate, and complex customer-facing projects in a matrix team environment. Provide leadership, direction, coordination, and effective communication to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control, and close projects safely, efficiently, economically, and with a strong focus on customer outcomes.

The Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring an exceptional customer experience while delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.

This role requires strong relationship management skills and the ability to work directly with commercial, industrial, utility, data center, and infrastructure customers in a competitive market environment.

The successful candidate will build trusted relationships with customers, contractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders while continuously improving project delivery processes, enhancing customer satisfaction, and supporting the growth of AEP's infrastructure and energy services business.

What You'll Do:

• Lead or support the planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of customer-facing capital, construction, infrastructure, and energy-related projects.
• Serve as a primary customer interface, ensuring proactive communication, issue resolution, and an exceptional customer experience throughout project execution.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, project teams, contractors, suppliers, vendors, and business partners.
• Ensure customer requirements, expectations, and business objectives are understood and incorporated into project plans and execution strategies.
• Conduct project planning activities including scope development, scheduling, budgeting, resource planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate project activities across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, supply chain, and commercial functions.
• Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process and a culture focused on Zero Harm.
• Effectively communicate project status, risks, opportunities, schedule performance, budget performance, and customer concerns to stakeholders.
• Lead customer meetings, project reviews, planning sessions, and project progress updates.
• Provide clear and concise written and verbal communications to customers, management, project teams, and executive leadership.
• Act on behalf of senior project leadership when required.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities that enhance project delivery performance and customer satisfaction.
• Support business growth initiatives by identifying opportunities to strengthen customer relationships and expand services.
• Develop and manage procurement plans for external resources, equipment, materials, and specialized services.
• Assist with or lead RFP development, bid evaluations, contract negotiations, contractor management, and vendor performance reviews.
• Ensure project objectives are achieved safely, efficiently, and in alignment with customer commitments.
• Conduct project closeout activities, including lessons learned, customer feedback reviews, benefit realization assessments, and project performance evaluations.
• Support the implementation of AEP project management standards, procedures, and best practices.

Customer Experience Focus

• Serve as a customer advocate while balancing project scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk.
• Deliver a best-in-class customer experience from project award through project completion.
• Build long-term customer relationships that promote repeat business and customer loyalty.
• Anticipate customer needs and proactively address concerns before they impact project outcomes.
• Maintain a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and accountability in all customer interactions.
• Develop a thorough understanding of customer operations, business drivers, and project objectives.
• Contribute to the growth of AEP's competitive services business through superior project execution and customer satisfaction.

What We're Looking For:

• Project Manager (Grade7):

  Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with three (3) years qualified experience, two-year Associate's degree in the same required disciplines with five (5) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with seven (7) years qualified experience (see below).

• Three (3) years of qualified experience as a PROJECT MANAGER ASSOCIATE (Grade 6) as applicable is preferred, OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.

• Project Manager (Grade 8):

  Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Eng