Transmission Right of Way Agent-Staff

American Electric Power Co.; New Albany (OH); On-site; USD 116,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Competitive pay

Educational opportunities

Job summary

American Electric Power is hiring a Transmission Right of Way Agent to manage a portfolio of ROW projects for electric transmission and distribution facilities. You will coordinate plans, estimates, and team resources, working with internal customers, legal, and suppliers to ensure safe, efficient execution.

Roles include leading staff, interfacing with legal and asset management, and ensuring compliance with cost practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or associate degree and eight (8) years of related experience or high school equivalent and ten (10) years of related experience.
• Leadership experience in business, management, real estate, electric transmission and/or distribution ROW activities is preferred.
• Professional licenses and memberships encouraged

Responsibilities

• Manage, develop, review and coordinate right-of-way project plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff related to portfolio of right-of-way projects.
• Assist regional right-of-way team in ensuring efficient and timely performance of right-of-way project work activities.
• Ensure corporate auditing requirements around estimating practices, escrow adherence and other cost expenditures are being followed.
• Act as an expert witness, assist and confer with legal counsel, asset management and project managers in the selection of witnesses for condemnation or court actions.
• Approve vouchers for payments of expenses incurred in the acquisition of land and land rights.
• Review periodic status and cost of managed right-of-way projects; track quality, timeliness and performance against plans.
• Monitor the closeout process and review lessons learned for right-of-way projects and recommend improvements.
• Demonstrate leadership by developing relationships with project team, suppliers, and fostering teamwork and customer satisfaction.
• Provide general guidance to improve systems, procedures, schedules, and costs.
• Travel within the AEP Transmission service territory; occasional longer trips may be required.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s or associate degree plus 8 years experience

High School + 10 years experience

Tools

PMP

Professional licenses encouraged

Job description

Job Summary

The role is responsible for managing a portfolio of projects within a matrix team environment related to the acquisition of land, land rights, licenses, leases, permits and other documents necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution lines; provide leadership, direction, training, 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. Develop relationships and effectively communicate with all stakeholders including internal customers, external customers, team members, legal, suppliers, and industry peers.

Job Description

What you’ll do:

• Manage, develop, review and coordinate right-of-way project plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff related to portfolio of right-of-way projects.
• Assist the regional right-of-way team in ensuring efficient and timely performance of right-of-way project work activities.
• Ensure corporate auditing requirements around estimating practices, escrow adherence and other cost expenditures are being followed.
• Act as an expert witness, assist and confer with legal counsel, asset management and project managers in the selection of witnesses and commissioners in connection with condemnation and/or other court actions involving electric transmission and/or distribution facilities, together with lawsuits which may result from the construction, operation, maintenance or removal of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.
• Approve vouchers for payments of expenses incurred in the acquisition of land and land rights involving electric transmission and/or distribution facilities such as, but not limited to contractual obligations for the purchase of options, easements damage claims settlement, attorney fees, outside appraisal services and supplier invoices.
• Review periodic status and cost of managed right-of-way projects. Also, track the project quality, timeliness and performance against annual work plans.
• Monitor the closeout process and review lessons learned for right-of-way projects and recommend process improvements as appropriate.
• Demonstrate the ability in leadership by developing working relationships with the project team, suppliers, and foster teamwork and seek customer satisfaction team building, time management, building collaborative environments, accountability, and problem solving.
• Provide general guidance and feedback, to improve systems, procedures, schedules, and costs.
• Provides specific guidance in these areas and begins to challenge others at a level of informed understanding in all right-of-way project work. Represent Transmission right-of-way in internal process improvement teams and initiatives as well as external industry forums, where required.
• Support and hold employees and suppliers accountable for the AEP System Safety Process, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm

What we are 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 Staff level, with increased educational, skill or experience requirements for higher level roles.

Transmission Right of Way Agent Staff SG9

Education:

• Bachelor’s or associate degree and eight (8) years of related experience;
• Or High School equivalent and ten (10) years of related experience

Experience:

• Depending on education and years of related experience in business, management, real estate, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way or real estate activities and/or possess a professional certificate (i.e., IR/WA, SR/WA, PMP, etc).
• Prior experience in a leadership position and/or project management a plus.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Professional licenses and memberships encouraged

Transmission Right of Way Agent Staff Senior SG10

Education:

• Associate degree in an applicable field is required plus nine (9) years of related experience;
• OR, bachelor's degree in an applicable field is preferred with seven (7) years of related experience.

Experience:

• Depending on education and a minimum of seven (7) years of related experience in business, management, real estate, electric transmission and/or distribution right-of-way or real estate activities and/or possess a professional certificate (i.e., IR/WA, SR/WA, PMP, etc).

License/Certification:

• Professional licenses and memberships is desired.

In addition:

• Develop skills in and provide effective communication that is clear, direct, concise, and professional, including effective listening, with all stakeholders including team members, sponsors, management and senior management.
• Excellent written, organizational, presentation, oral communication, and time management skills. The ability and comfortability to present senior leadership on complex right-of-way issues and lead a team to a successful solution. The ability to handle a portfolio of projects and assignments is critical. Extensive knowledge in right-of-way of electric lines and substations required. Possess leadership skills and experience mentoring and supervising staff.
• Support and demonstrate ability to provide the organization of project activities, delegate project task assignments, confidently set staff requirements and expectations to manage deliverables and hold staff accountable. Demonstrate willingness to provide constructive feedback to staff.
• The individual filling this position will be required to travel within the AEP Transmission service territory; however, on rare occasions may be assigned to special projects and travel outside the transmission service territory.
• Travel requirements are expected to be less than 25% of the time.
• Must have a valid driver's license, the ability to rent a vehicle, and the ability to drive 3 - 6 hours at time to attend site visits, meet with landowners, or participate in open houses and stakeholder meetings.
• On rare occasions,
• May require extended hours to accomplish assigned tasks to meet requirements and schedules.
• Overnight travel to facilities and projects (field work) is required.
• Position requires travel and exposure to situations which require knowledge, understanding, and adherence to applicable safety procedures, and ability to hike or walk one to three miles on occasion.

In addition to competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

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!

American Electric Power (On-Site)

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#AEPCareers

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Compensation

$116,255.00 - $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

“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.”

The Transmission Right of Way (TROW) Agent is responsible for the acquisition of land rights necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution facilities.

Responsible, with minimal supervision and the ability to supervise contract agents, for the acquisition of land, land rights, licenses, leases, permits, and other documents necessary for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric transmission and/or distribution lines.

Describe the overall purpose of this job. Include dimensions/scope (e.g., number of customers, amount of revenue, budgets or payroll information) and areas of responsibility. The Distribution Right of Way (ROW) Supervisor reports to OPCo Management and advises the OPCo Management on policies and practices governing the acquisition of land rights consistent with AEP Distribution Easement Acquisition policy guidelines. Supervise and oversee the development, execution, and completion of distribution right of way projects. Supervise the activities of Right of Way Agents and Associates. Oversee the preparation and retention of the permanent files in regard to easements, right of way project activities, easement releases, right of way drawings, right of way exhibits, section personnel records, together with all section correspondence and documents. Responsible for furnishing guidance in land rights matters to other AEP Distribution business units when requested. Responsible for acquisition of all land and land rights required by AEP for distribution projects within the established AEP policy in an OPCo territory, protecting AEP's existing rights and functional guidance to Districts and other AEP distribution departments as needed.

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.