Federal Purchasing Compliance Consultant (Senior or Principal)

Job Summary

The Federal Purchasing Compliance Consultant serves as AEP's enterprise subject matter expert for procurement and supply chain compliance across a portfolio of federally funded infrastructure investments supported by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grants and Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) loans.

This highly visible role sits at the intersection of federal funding, procurement, supply chain, contract management, and project execution. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and oversight for critical federal purchasing requirements, including Build America, Buy America (BABA), the Cargo Preference Act (CPA), and federal contract flowdown provisions that support AEP's eligibility for billions of dollars in federal funding.

We are hiring two professionals to support distinct portfolios

• Federal Grants Portfolio: Oversight of approximately $440 million in federal grant funding supporting transmission, generation, and grid modernization initiatives.
• DOE EDF Loan Portfolio: Oversight of purchasing compliance requirements for approximately $24 billion in transmission and generation investments supported by DOE financing.

Partnering with leaders across Procurement, Legal, Supply Chain, Engineering, Construction, and Project Development, this individual will play a pivotal role in enabling some of AEP's most significant transmission and generation investments by ensuring compliance with federal procurement requirements tied to billions of dollars in grants and DOE financing.

The successful candidate will ensure federal purchasing requirements are seamlessly integrated into sourcing strategies, vendor contracts, supplier documentation, and project execution activities while maintaining audit-ready records and supporting complex federal reporting requirements. This role plays a critical part in safeguarding access to federal funding and enabling projects that strengthen grid reliability, support economic development, and advance America's energy future.

For the right candidate, this position may be filled at the Grant Consultant, Grant Consultant Senior, or Grant Consultant Principal level.

Why This Role Matters

This is not a traditional procurement compliance position.

The individual selected for this role will help oversee federal purchasing compliance for a portfolio ranging from hundreds of millions to tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Success in this role directly supports AEP's ability to secure, maintain, and maximize federal funding opportunities while enabling transformational transmission, generation, and grid modernization projects across the company's operating footprint.

This is a unique opportunity for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys navigating complex requirements, influencing enterprise-wide processes, partnering with diverse stakeholders, and delivering outcomes that have a meaningful impact on the future of energy infrastructure in the United States.

Job Description

What You'll Do

Shape and Lead Procurement Compliance for Federal Energy Investments

• Serve as AEP's enterprise subject matter expert for federal purchasing compliance across a portfolio of federally funded and financed energy infrastructure investments.
• Provide strategic oversight of Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements, the Cargo Preference Act (CPA) , and federal contract flowdown obligations supporting billions of dollars in grants and DOE financing.
• Protect AEP's eligibility for federal funding by ensuring procurement processes, supplier engagements, and contract execution activities meet all applicable federal requirements.
• Serve as AEP's primary interface with the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies on procurement compliance matters.

Drive Compliance Across Complex Infrastructure Programs

• Partner with Procurement, Legal, Supply Chain, Engineering, Construction, and Project Development teams to integrate federal compliance requirements into sourcing and contracting strategies.
• Provide expert guidance during contract development, negotiations, supplier selection, and procurement planning activities.
• Ensure procurement compliance requirements are embedded into enterprise processes, standard work, templates, and contracting practices.
• Monitor evolving federal requirements and lead implementation of policies, controls, and process improvements that support long-term compliance.

Oversee BABA and Cargo Preference Compliance

• Direct compliance activities associated with BABA, including domestic content requirements, supplier certifications, documentation reviews, and waiver management.
• Oversee CPA compliance activities for DOE-funded projects, including shipping documentation, carrier requirements, reporting obligations, and exception requests.
• Partner with suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely, and complete compliance submissions.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of compliance systems and tools that enhance visibility, reporting, and risk management.

Ensure Audit Readiness and Program Integrity

• Maintain complete and audit-ready procurement compliance documentation across assigned grants and loan portfolios.
• Develop executive-level reporting, compliance metrics, and program insights for leadership and federal stakeholders.
• Support federal reviews, audits, and inquiries while proactively identifying and mitigating compliance risks.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and resource for internal teams navigating complex federal procurement requirements.

Enable the Future of Energy

• Help support some of the nation's largest transmission, generation, and grid modernization investments by ensuring federal procurement requirements are executed successfully.
• Play a critical role in enabling AEP's continued access to federal grants and financing that advance reliability, economic development, and energy infrastructure modernization across the company's footprint.

What We're Looking For

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Technology, Management, Business or Engineering or Associate’s degree in same disciplines.

Experience

• With a Bachelor’s degree, five (5) years of grant writing, project management, or business development experience; OR, With an Associate’s degree and seven (7) years of related experience mentioned above (Grant Consultant)
• With a Bachelor’s degree, seven (7) years of grant writing, project management, or business development experience; OR, With an Associate’s degree and nine (9) years of related experience mentioned above (Grant Consultant Senior)
• With a Bachelor’s degree, nine (9) years of grant writing, project management, or business development experience; OR, With an Associate’s degree and eleven (11) years of related experience mentioned above (Grant Consultant Principal)
• Working knowledge of federal purchasing requirements, including CPA, BABA, and federal flowdowns.
• Strong ability to interpret and apply complex federal regulations.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills across internal and external partners.
• Experience with compliance‑tracking systems or procurement platforms.

Other Must Haves

• Experience supporting DOE‑funded infrastructure projects or other federal grant/loan programs.
• Familiarity with logistics, supply chain operations, or construction procurement.
• Demonstrated success implementing new compliance systems or process improvements.

Where You'll Work

• This is an On-Site role based out of Columbus, OH.

What You'll Get

• Salary Range between:

• -$87,000-$102,000 (Grant Consultant)
• -$100,000-$118,000 (Grant Consultant Senior)
• -$116,000-$140,000 (Grant Consultant Principal)

• Annual Bonus
• 401(k) Match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive Benefits Package

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!

#LI-Onsite

#AEPCareers

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade

SP20-009

Compensation Range

$87,633.00 - $151,132.50

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.

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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.