Telecom Manager – Telecom Systems Management (SG 10)

AEP; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

AEP is seeking a senior leader to establish and grow Telecom Systems Management as the standards, automation, and governance authority for our telecom and network infrastructure.

You will lead a cross‑functional team focused on auditable standards, automated compliance, and data governance to reduce risk and enable reliable grid delivery. This role requires strategic vision and execution across engineering and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or a related field with 8 years Telecommunications experience; or
• Associate degree with 12+ years Telecommunications experience; or
• HS diploma/GED with 16+ years Telecommunications experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Telecom Systems Management team from formation into a high‑performing organization with clear roles and accountability.
• Establish auditable network standards and drive automation and self‑service tools for scalable compliance.
• Ensure accuracy and governance of telecom and network systems of record to reduce risk and improve audit confidence.
• Lead continuous compliance monitoring and audit‑readiness for NERC CIP obligations.
• Bridge between Network Engineering, Telecom Engineering, and Network Operations to achieve security and reliability outcomes.
• Define the roadmap for monitoring and management tools to deliver real‑time visibility and rapid incident response.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Standards & governance

Automation tooling

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Telecommunications

Associate degree + 12+ years Telecommunications

HS diploma + 16 years Telecommunications

Tools

IP/MPLS

EMS/NMS tools

Automation frameworks

Network monitoring ecosystem

Data governance tooling

Job description

Location: 3 Locations

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Job Summary

Telecom Systems Management (TSM) is responsible for establishing, leading, and maturing a newly formed team that serves as the standards, automation, compliance, and governance authority for AEP’s critical telecom and network infrastructure.
This role provides leadership across network tool administration and automation, data integrity, configuration governance, system auditing, and regulatory compliance, including a focus on NERC CIP–related controls. The manager will build the team from early formation into a sustainable, trusted, enterprise capability that bridges gaps between network engineering and network operations, enabling consistency, risk reduction, and operational excellence.
Telecom Systems Management is explicitly positioned as a partner organization—augmenting, not replacing, Engineering and Operations—by delivering practical standards, automated compliance tooling, and clear governance processes that protect the electric grid while supporting delivery velocity.

Job Description

What you’ll do:

Essential Job Functions & Tasks

• Organizational & People Leadership-Build and lead the Telecom Systems Management team from initial formation into a mature, high‑performing organization with clear roles, strong accountability, and a culture of partnership, continuous improvement, and practical security.
• Standards, Automation, and Governance-Establish and govern auditable network and telecom standards while driving automation and self‑service tools that enable consistent, scalable compliance across engineering and operations.
• Data Integrity & System of Record Management-Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and governance of telecom and network systems of record by defining authoritative data practices that reduce operational risk and improve audit confidence.
• Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management-Lead continuous compliance monitoring and audit‑ready practices to identify, assess, and remediate engineering and regulatory risk, including NERC CIP obligations.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership-Serve as the primary bridge between Network Engineering, Telecom Engineering, and Network Operations, aligning teams through influence, consultation, and enablement to achieve shared outcomes in security, reliability, and compliance.
• Strategic ownership and governance of AEP’s network monitoring and management ecosystem, establishing the roadmap for best‑in‑class tools, and operational practices that deliver real‑time visibility, proactive performance management, and rapid incident response across telecom and network infrastructure supporting the reliable operation of the electric grid.

What we’re looking for:

Education /Work experience requirements are listed below:

• Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or a related field and 8 years of Telecommunications experience or
• Associate degree in these fields combined with a minimum of 12 years of applicable Telecommunications experience, or
• HS diploma/GED combined with a minimum of 16 years of applicable Telecommunications experience.

Other preferences:

• Applicable technical certifications preferred.
• Proven ability to build organizations, operating models, and governance frameworks from early‑stage concepts.
• Experiencewith network and telecom platforms such as IP/MPLS, transport systems, EMS/NMS tools, and related automationand analyticsframeworks.

What you’ll get:

Base Salary from $136,539-$177,503/year. In addition to a competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well‑being of our employees.

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Compensation

$136,539.00 - $177,503.00

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

“AEP offers an outstanding group of people to be a part of. The AEP culture values your integrity and awards your hard work.”

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.