Project Outreach Specialist Senior

RiseMe; Kentucky; On-site; USD 72,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health Insurance

Pension

Paid vacation

Educational assistance

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) is seeking a Project Outreach Specialist to support field customer relations and communications for transmission projects. You will help identify and deliver outreach strategies, engage landowners, officials, and the public, and coordinate with siting teams to surface issues and improve project routing.

The role requires strong writing and public speaking skills, plus the ability to manage external consultants and multiple projects across site work and field

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, customer service, advertising, communications, public relations or public affairs, or related field.
• Minimum two years of experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Work with landowners to gather routing information and surface issues.
• Represent AEP Transmission to external affairs teams and educate the public about projects.
• Define outreach strategies and supervise external consultants for projects.
• Provide field support to siting, engineering, right of way, and project management teams.
• Coordinate two-way communications among stakeholders and project teams; deploy resources accordingly.

Skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Business knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Summary

This position supports the primary field customer relations and communications resource for public interaction and outreach on AEP Transmission projects. Responsible for assisting in identifying, developing, and coordinating delivery of overall outreach strategies to support the goals, philosophies, policies, initiatives, and day-to‑day activities of AEP Transmission and its affiliates, including joint ventures. Key member of project siting team who interfaces with or supports interaction with external audiences, including individual customers and local officials. Requirements include excellent written and public speaking skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and strong business knowledge. Able to meet with affected or potentially affected customers to surface issues, solve problems, and bring local knowledge and insight to the siting process.

Job Description

What You’ll Do:

• Works directly with affected or potentially affected landowners to gain beneficial project routing information and resolves issues before and during the transmission line routing process.

• Represents AEP Transmission and projects to external affairs teams and educates the public (landowners, thought leaders, elected officials) about proposed transmission projects.

• Determines and guides customer outreach strategies that improve two‑way communications and line routing success at the project level. Also will have the responsibility of directing outside consultants and resources in support of individual projects.

• Provides field support to transmission siting, line engineering, right‑of‑way, and project management team to ensure projects are executed on time.

• Works closely with Project Management, Line and Station Engineering, Right of Way, Corporate Communications, and External Affairs to foster two‑way communications between key stakeholders and the project team to improve success in siting transmission projects. Coordinates deployment of resources accordingly.

What we’re looking for

Note: This position is posted at multiple grade levels and offers a range of opportunities for advancement. The minimum qualifications outlined below apply to the Project Specialist with increased educational, skill, experience and certification requirements for the Project Outreach Specialist Sr. role.

Project Outreach Specialist (SG - 006)

Education requirements are listed below: Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, customer service, advertising, communications, public relations or public affairs, or related field.

Work Experience requirement listed below: Minimum two years of experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.

Project Outreach Specialist Sr (SG-007)

Education requirements are listed below: Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, customer service, advertising, communications, public relations, public affairs, or related field.

Work Experience requirement listed below: Four years' experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.

Other Requirements

1. Travel requirements are expected 25% of the time.
2. Physical demand level is Sedentary.
3. These are additional expectations for the job and could include specific work experience, license / certifications, preemployment testing, expectations about travel, shift work, etc.
4. The ability to handle multiple projects and assignments is critical.
5. May require extended hours to accomplish assigned tasks to meet requirements and schedules.
6. Some overnight travel to facilities and projects (field work) is required periodically.
7. Twenty to thirty percent travel time associated with this position.
8. Ability to hike one mile ten percent of the time.
9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: List physical demands required for this job, but not limited to: Ability to hike one mile – 10 % of the time.

What you’ll get:

In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive total rewards including: discretionary annual/long-term incentives, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.

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 Grade:

SP20-007

Compensation Range:

$72,380.00 - $106,354.00

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.