Siting Project Manager - Nuclear Dev - Columbus, OH

AEP; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 98,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER (AEP) is seeking a Nuclear Development Siting Project Manager to lead site selection, feasibility, and permitting for advanced nuclear projects. You will coordinate multidisciplinary analyses, engage stakeholders, and drive schedules and budgets from concept to early approvals.

You will oversee GIS-based assessments, regulatory filings, interconnection studies, and cross-functional teams, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements while advancing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Environmental Science, Project Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of energy project development experience with siting and permitting.
• Familiarity with nuclear regulatory frameworks and advanced reactor technologies.
• Proficiency in GIS tools and data analysis.
• Strong project management, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Responsibilities

• Site Identification & Evaluation: Develop siting criteria and oversee GIS-based analyses.
• Regulatory & Permitting: Ensure compliance and support permit applications and documentation.
• Project Coordination: Lead cross-functional teams and manage schedules, budgets, and risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Prepare presentations and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Interconnection & Infrastructure: Collaborate on interconnection studies and grid proximity assessments.

Skills

Project Management

GIS Tools

Regulatory Knowledge

Stakeholder Engagement

Communications

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's preferred

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Location: Columbus, OH

Category : Project Management/Controls

Job Summary

The Nuclear Development Siting Project Manager leads site selection and feasibility efforts for advanced nuclear projects. This role is responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary evaluations—including environmental, regulatory, technical, and community considerations to identify and secure optimal locations for nuclear generation facilities. The position manages stakeholder engagement, permitting strategies, and interconnection studies, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements. Key responsibilities include developing siting criteria, overseeing GIS and engineering analyses, managing timelines and budgets, and collaborating with internal teams and external partners to advance project development from concept through early‑stage approvals.

Job Description

What You'll Do:

Site Identification & Evaluation

• Develop and apply siting criteria for nuclear generation projects.
• Oversee GIS‑based analysis, environmental screening, and infrastructure assessments.
• Coordinate technical studies including geotechnical, hydrological, and seismic evaluations.

Regulatory & Permitting

• Manage compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support preparation of permit applications and environmental documentation.

Project Coordination

• Lead cross‑functional teams including engineering, environmental, and legal experts.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and risk assessments.
• Ensure timely completion of feasibility studies and deliverables.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare presentations and reports for internal leadership and external stakeholders.

Interconnection & Infrastructure

• Collaborate with transmission planning and engineering on interconnection studies.
• Assess proximity to grid infrastructure, water supply, and transportation access.

What We are Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Environmental Science, Project Management, or related field (master's preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in energy project development, with emphasis on siting and permitting.
• Familiarity with nuclear regulatory frameworks and advanced reactor technologies.
• Proficiency in GIS tools and data analysis.
• Strong project management skills, including scheduling, budgeting, and risk management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with PJM or other regional transmission organization processes.
• Knowledge of NRC licensing requirements and NEPA environmental review.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced development environment.

What You'll Have:

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!

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER (on-site)

$99k - $138k/ Year

#AEPCareers

#LI-ONSITE

Compensation

$98,993.00 - $128,688.00

Physical Demands

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.

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Details

“Knowing that I am part of team that is making the power grid safer and more reliable gives me a real sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for coming to work every day.”

Manage, or assist in the management of, base, intermediate, and/or complex projects providing leadership, direction, coordination, and effective communication to initiate , plan, execute, monitor and control, and close projects in a safe, efficient, economical, risk-balanced approach to achieve short- and long-range goals and to obtain maximum customer satisfaction. Provide project transparency and develop relationships and effectively communicate with all stakeholders including internal customers, external customers, team members, suppliers, contractors, vendors, and industry peers, enabling them to make sound business decisions. Enable and promote team level continuous improvement activities that increase quality and optimize delivery of value.

This role will be responsible for coordinating project cost analysis and controls for team activities supporting the Project Managers (PMs), or other staff, including overseeing the cost reporting for multiple projects and monitoring project budgets to assure accurate depiction of project cost on large and complex projects under minimal supervision. Responsibilities include input of budgets within the AEP corporate systems, providing ongoing forecast updates and variance analysis at the program and project levels, input and tracking of key performance indicators, and working collaboratively with project teams to implement project management best practices throughout the project lifecycle. Provides communication and develops partnerships with internal and external customers. As a senior member of the team, expectations include developing/conducting training, leading continuous process improvement efforts and developing tools and processes utilized within the work group. Depending on the assigned business unit, this position might also be responsible for creation of work orders and having direct interface in coordinating with external contractors and vendors to integrate these parties into the overall project budget and schedule.

This role will be responsible for coordinating team activities and supporting the Project Managers (PMs). With minimal supervision, perform role as scheduler and/or commodity tracker for major projects. Support the development and analysis of a wide range of scope of work types, especially complex schedules using the assigned system. Must be self‑motivated, an excellent communicator, and team focused individual able to demonstrate competency in scheduling techniques and analyses on all scope of work aspects. Additional duties include schedule maintenance, collecting progress data, developing and implementing scope of work schedule/status reports, and providing consistent, accurate information to the senior management team. The candidate must be able to interface with site execution teams, contractors, and AEP senior management.

AEP offers generous time off, competitive pay, and educational opportunities to help employees advance their careers.

Our culture is purpose‑driven and team‑oriented: we combine innovation with a customer‑first focus to deliver reliable energy and brighter futures.