VP Legal

American Electric Power; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 221,000 - 288,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base Salary

Annual Bonus

Long Term Incentive

401K

Pension

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Job summary

American Electric Power in Tulsa, OK seeks a senior legal leader to steer the Operating Company’s regulatory strategy and provide business-focused legal counsel across regulatory, contracts, and compliance matters.

You will coordinate with Corporate Legal and advocate before state commissions and the Legislature, managing regulatory risk and engaging with outside counsel as needed. Onsite in Tulsa/OKC with strong leadership expectations.

Qualifications

• Education: LLB or JD degree.
• Admitted to practice law in the appropriate jurisdiction.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience including leadership of a broad legal portfolio and experience in utility regulation, commercial transactions, contracts, real estate, litigation management and outside counsel coordination.
• Preferred leadership in state government related to energy policy; extensive experience with regulators/policymakers; deep understanding of regulatory positions and finances.
• Expert understanding of state regulatory laws, tariffs and policy.
• Experience drafting legislation regarding electric utility regulation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with AEP Corporate Legal to lead the Operating Company’s legal strategy across regulatory and legal matters.
• Develop and coordinate plans to implement legal strategy at the State Commission and Legislature.
• Anticipate regulatory issues and identify legal solutions to limit risk and leverage opportunities.
• Engage in advocacy before the State Utility Commission and the Legislature on legal matters.
• Maintain knowledge across legal matters to guide when specialized resources should be engaged.
• Work with Corporate Legal on commercial agreements, real estate, litigation, compliance, coordinating with outside counsel.
• Establish division of responsibilities between Vice President and Regulatory attorney with coverage across jurisdictions.

Education

LLB or Juris Doctorate (JD) degree

Job description

Job Posting End Date 09-10-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

Leads the Operating Company’s legal and regulatory strategy, providing business-focused legal counsel, managing regulatory risk, advocating before state commissions and legislatures, and coordinating with Corporate Legal and outside counsel on contracts, compliance, litigation, and other legal matters. Partners with regulatory leadership to support company objectives and ensure effective legal coverage across jurisdictions.

Job Description

What you’ll do:

• Coordinate with AEP Corporate Legal to establish and lead the Operating Company’s overall legal strategy providing practical, business-oriented counsel to leadership across the full range of legal matters affecting operations, strategic priorities, regulatory obligations and risk.
• Develop, implement and coordinate tactical plans to implement legal strategy in support of regulatory and policy objectives at the State Commission and the Legislature.
• Anticipate regulatory issues and proactively identify legal solutions and opportunities that limit regulatory risk and leverage regulatory opportunities.
• Engage directly and personally in advocacy before the State Utility Commission and the Legislature body on legal matters in support of company strategy.
• Maintain sufficient knowledge across the legal matters affecting the Operating Company to identify risks and, provide initial guidance so that specialized AEP Corporate Legal resources and/or outside counsel can be engaged.
• Work directly with AEP Corporate Legal resources to provide guidance on commercial agreements, real estate matters, litigation, compliance and other legal matters, coordinating with the AEP Corporate Legal and outside counsel as appropriate.
• Establish an effective division of responsibilities between the Vice President and the Operating Company’s Regulatory attorney, including shared responsibility for regulatory proceedings across the Operating Company’s jurisdictions and appropriate coverage of contracts and other general legal matters.

What we’re looking for:

• Education LLB or Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• Admitted to practice law in the appropriate jurisdiction.
• Experience At least 15 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including leadership of a broad legal portfolio and meaningful experience in utility regulation, commercial transactions, contracts, real estate, litigation management and the effective use of outside counsel.
• Preferred qualifications include prior leadership experience in state government related to energy policy; extensive experience working with regulators and policymakers; and an in-depth understanding of the company’s regulatory positions and regulatory finances.
• Expert understanding of state regulatory laws, tariffs and policy.
• Experience drafting legislation regarding electric utility regulation is preferred.

Where’ll Work:

Onsite at the PSO Office in Tulsa, OK or Oklahoma City, OK

What you’ll get:

• Base Salary Annual Bonus Long Term Incentive 401K AEP Pension Comprehensive Benefits Package

Compensation Data

• Compensation Grade: SP20-013
• Compensation Range: $221,489.00 - $287,934.50

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 Vision

At American Electric Power, we provide more than electricity to our millions of customers - we energize possibilities. We're redefining the future of energy by reducing our carbon footprint, empowering the communities we serve and building an engaged, talented workforce. All while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. 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.

Company Culture

If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Commitment to Inclusion

Learn more about our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive work culture that values different experiences.