Project Outreach Specialist-Staff

AEP Service Corporation; New Albany (IN); On-site; USD 116,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

The Project Outreach Specialist Staff supports public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and outreach for AEP's transmission projects. You’ll help develop outreach strategies, engage landowners, officials, and community leaders, and coordinate with project teams to integrate outreach into project delivery.

You’ll work with Siting, Project Management, Engineering, Right of Way, Corporate Communications, Legal, and External Affairs to align milestones and messaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, communications, public relations or public affairs, or related field.
• Minimum five years’ experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.
• Experience engaging with community stakeholders, elected officials, or public agencies.
• Experience coordinating consultants, contractors, or external resources.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and assignments simultaneously.
• Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and public presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute public, governmental, and community outreach plans for electric transmission infrastructure projects.
• Build relationships with landowners, community leaders, elected officials, and stakeholders affected by transmission projects.
• Support routing, permitting, and project development with stakeholder insights.
• Coordinate outreach activities with cross-functional teams and consultants.

Skills

Public relations

Communications

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, communications, public relations or public affairs or related field

Job description

Job Posting End Date

10-16-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

The Project Outreach Specialist - Staff is an experienced individual contributor responsible for supporting and executing public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and outreach activities for AEP's electric transmission projects across the enterprise. This role develops and implements project-specific outreach strategies that help advance successful project siting, permitting, and delivery. The position serves as an external-facing representative for AEP, its operating companies, Transource, and joint ventures by engaging with landowners, community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders affected by transmission infrastructure projects. Working closely with project teams, this role supports stakeholder engagement efforts, identifies and addresses emerging issues, and helps foster productive relationships that support project success. The position partners with Siting, Project Management, Engineering, Right of Way, Corporate Communications, Legal, and External Affairs to ensure outreach activities are effectively integrated into overall project execution.

What you’ll do:

• Strategic Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement Develop and execute public, governmental, and community outreach plans for electric transmission infrastructure projects. Build relationships with landowners, community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders affected by transmission projects. Support identification of stakeholder concerns, local issues, and potential project risks, communicating insights to project teams. Assist in the development of project messaging and outreach materials tailored to local community interests and concerns.
• Public & Community Relations Represent AEP and its affiliates in meetings, open houses, stakeholder briefings, and other public engagement activities. Educate stakeholders about proposed transmission projects, project needs, routing considerations, and development timelines. Facilitate two-way communication between project teams and external stakeholders to support informed decision-making. Respond to stakeholder questions and concerns with professionalism, responsiveness, and sound judgment.
• Cross-Functional Project Support Partner with Siting, Project Management, Engineering, Right of Way, Corporate Communications, Legal, and External Affairs to support project objectives. Provide field support and stakeholder insights to help inform routing, permitting, and project development activities. Coordinate outreach activities to align project milestones, schedules, and regulatory requirements. Maintain project records, stakeholder databases, and outreach documentation.
• Consultant & Resource Coordination Coordinate activities of outreach consultants and contractors supporting project engagement efforts. Develop and review outreach materials and deliverables to ensure consistency with project objectives and company messaging. Support implementation of system-wide outreach tools and communication platforms, including AEPTransmission.com. Share best practices and lessons learned with peers and project teams.

What we’re looking for:

• Project Outreach Specialist Staff SG9
• Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in journalism, business, marketing, customer service, advertising, communications, public relations or public affairs, or related field.
• Experience: Minimum five years’ experience in Utilities, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Marketing, Media Relations, Journalism, or related field.
• Preferred Experience: Experience working with infrastructure, utility, energy, or transmission projects. Experience engaging with community stakeholders, elected officials, or public agencies. Experience supporting public meetings, open houses, or community engagement initiatives. Familiarity with utility siting, regulatory processes, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Experience coordinating consultants, contractors, or external resources.
• Other Requirements: Ability to manage multiple projects and assignments simultaneously. Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and public presentation skills. Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and discretion. Comfortable interacting with stakeholders in potentially sensitive situations. May require extended or non-standard work hours to support project needs and schedules. Overnight travel required; typical travel 25-50%. Ability to walk or hike up to one mile on uneven terrain approximately 10% of the time.

Where you’ll work

This role sits on site in New Albany, Ohio.

What you’ll get:

• Project Outreach Specialist Staff SG9($116,255-$151,132)
• In addition to competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well‑wellness of our employees.

Compensation Data

American Electric Power (On-Site) $116K- $151K / Year #LI-Onsite #AEPCareers #projectoutreach Compensation Data Compensation Grade: SP20-009 Compensation Range: $116,255.00 - $151,132.50

Physical Demand Level

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.

Company Culture and Values

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!

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.