Right-of-Way, Transportation Internship - Summer 2027

About the role

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. This role sits on site in New Albany, Ohio.

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 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.

Requirements

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 (e.g., IR/WA, SR/WA, PMP, etc). Prior experience in a leadership position and/or project management a plus.

Qualifications

Professional licenses and memberships are encouraged.

Skills

• 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.