Project Manager to Project Manager Principal (Construction Utility Projects)

Job Posting End Date10-21-2026Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end dateJob Summary Manage, or assist in the management of, base, intermediate, and/or complex projects and progressively develop to managing intermediate projects in a matrix team environment. Provide 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.Job DescriptionWhat you’ll do:Conduct or assist in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating assigned project activities. Perform coordination and administrative tasks as delegated by the lead project manager or supervisor. Act on behalf of the lead project manager or supervisor during times the project manager or supervisor is unavailable. Develop an understanding of various project management principles and techniques (Waterfall, Agile) and successfully implement these techniques in project management for the organization.Support and hold employees and contractors accountable for the AEP System Safety Process, ensuring a safe working environment focused on Zero Harm.Develop, review and coordinate the project plan, schedule, budget, tools, and staff. Perform coordination role as assigned to increase awareness in all knowledge areas of project plans. Perform Lead Project Manager role as assigned to increase awareness and build proficiency in all knowledge areas of project plans.Effectively communicate project details and status updates. Lead planning meetings and project/outage updates with supportive role in stakeholder presentations. Provide clear and concise written and oral reports and other communication.Develop working relationships with the project team, plant and operating company staff, internal and external customers or partners, contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Foster teamwork and seek customer satisfaction.Provide guidance and feedback, to improve design, systems, procedures, schedules, and costs. Provide specific guidance in these areas and begins to challenge others at an apprentice level of informed understanding in all project work.Ensure, or assist the lead project manager in ensuring, efficient and timely performance of project work activities. Proficient and effective in assisting the lead project manager and/or delivers similarly when leading intermediate projects on their own.Coach and develop team members on project management skills and techniques.Develop and manage procurement plans for necessary outside resources. Manage, or assist in managing, contracts for outside services, including developing requests for proposals, evaluating competitive bids, selecting vendors, participating in contract negotiations, overseeing vendor performance/quality, ensuring work is performed in accordance with the contract, etc.Conduct or assist in closeout processes, including an analysis of the success of the project with respect to accomplishing the project objectives and realizing project benefits.Develop an understanding of the AEP project management organizational standards and assist in the management of projects to those standards.What we’re looking for:*Please note: This position can be filled with a Project Manager, PM Senior, or PM Principal, based on your qualifications and experience.Project Manager:(Starting base = ~$87K - $116K)Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with three (3) years qualified experience, two-year Associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with five (5) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with seven (7) years qualified experience (see below).Three (3) years of qualified experience as a PROJECT MANAGER ASSOCIATE (Grade 6) as applicable is preferred, OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge, and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.Qualified experience includes outage management activities, business/financial administration, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment. Knowledge in construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, and quality control would be beneficial.Project Manager Senior:(Starting base = ~$99K - $138K)Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with five (5) years qualified experience, two-year Associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with seven (7) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with nine (9) years qualified experience (see below).Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER (Grade 7) OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.Qualified experience includes work in project management, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment. Experience must exhibit progressively increasing project management and business acumen and responsibility for most of the certifying body knowledge areas.Project Manager Principal:(Starting base = ~$116K - $160K)Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field of study dependent upon business unit requirements with seven (7) years qualified experience, two-year Associate’s degree in the same required disciplines with nine (9) years of qualified experience, or High School Diploma/GED with eleven (11) years qualified experience (see below).Two (2) years of experience as a PROJECT MANAGER SENIOR (Grade 8) is preferred, OR demonstrated competencies, knowledge and skillset through achieved results in a shorter timeline.Qualified experience includes work in project management, major construction field experience, project estimating, project controls, project engineering, and/or comparable internal or external experience in a competitive production environment. Experience must include a demonstrated level of successful project management duties, business acumen, and prior responsibility for ALL of the certifying body knowledge areas.Other Must Haves:Develop and provide effective leadership, team building and meeting management skills as outlined by certifying body and the AEP leadership competencies and values. Develop confidence in ability, and demonstrate the motivation and attitude, to lead a team and a project to successful conclusion.Develop skill 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.Develop understanding of, and begin to apply, economic analysis techniques. Develop an acumen for the business and profession with an emphasis on overall cost, schedule and risk management.Develop understanding of the Engineering & Design, Procurement, Contracting, Estimating, Construction and Startup procedures and processes. Begin to influence optimization of a project and ensure project team utilizes the latest applicable guidelines and requirements.Develop a working knowledge of, and begin to demonstrate ability to apply, certifying body Project Management tools and techniques.Develop and apply learned skillsets in strategic thinking, planning, risk assessment and prioritization of project activities. Globally view the project from all angles such as safety, constructability, sequence, changing conditions, contingencies, contractual, predictability, level of priority, sense of direction and sense of productivity to quickly identify and to avoid or to mitigate project risks.Support and progressively demonstrate ability to provide the organization of project activities, delegate project task assignments, confidently set team requirements and expectations to manage deliverables and hold team members accountable. Demonstrate willingness to provide constructive feedback to project team members.Develop and hone conflict management skills to provide solutions to issues that maximize synergies with an overriding goal to do the "right thing" for the company. Learn to take independent action and know when to elevate an issue.Develop understanding and solid skills around the process of scope management, evaluation of technical options, and common project risk factors and mitigation methods.Develop understanding and apply knowledge, and provide input and oversight, of the various documents used to procure labor, service, material, and engineered equipment.Develop understanding and apply knowledge of contract components and development process.Develop understanding and apply knowledge of critical drawing and document hand-offs between disciplines on a project team.Assist with, then lead the evaluation and determination of the skill sets and capabilities of team members then make recommendations to ensure project success.Act with integrity by demonstrating accountability for project assignments.Promote continuous improvement and maintain a strong questioning attitude. Ask intrusive questions and challenge assumptions. Seek input from Subject Matter Experts by asking questions for understanding and compare with one’s own knowledge base.Safely and effectively Perform light physical duties. Duties can involve construction site walkdown on unstable surfaces, climbing ladders, and awareness of hazardous site conditionsPerform work at various AEP locations in varying conditions. Work sites will include home, office, power plants (including nuclear), and construction sites for Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Telecom infrastructure. Work performed at nuclear power sites may involve work in hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within the limits prescribed by the NRC.Travel typically 25% or less, however greater travel may be required in support of specific assignments.Understand and support the policies, values, principles, structure and behavior of AEP.Demonstrated preparedness for specialist level PM knowledge capability in areas of construction safety, negotiations, scope development and control, cost estimating, construction contracting, project controls and reporting, quality control, risk management, etc.PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:Experience in utilities, commercial nuclear power, and/or IT systems is favorable.PMP certification is preferred but not required.Valid state driver's license is required.Individuals in this position will be progressively assigned the PM lead role on a project for continued development depending on the level of project management knowledge, experience, and leadership competency including successful completion of certification.American Electric Power (On-Site)#LI-Onsite#AEPCareersAt 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!Compensation DataCompensation Grade:SP20-007Compensation Range:$87,633.00 - $151,132.50The Physical Demand Level for this job is: L – Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 to 12 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 5-6 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for sedentary work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) When it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time, but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg c ontrols; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligibleHear about it first! Get job alerts by email. Log in to your Candidate Home Account today! If you don't have an account, you can create one. 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.SummaryLocation: Rockport, IN; Shreveport, LA; Columbus, OH; Benton, LAType: Full time