Associate Forester

CenterPoint Energy • Bellaire, TX

89d • Onsite

About The Position

CenterPoint Energy is seeking an Associate Forester to join their Vegetation Management Team in Houston, Texas. This role involves coordinating, benchmarking, overseeing, and completing land and right-of-way, distribution, and transmission utility vegetation management (VM) projects for capital projects and ongoing proactive programs. The Associate Forester will inspect vegetation clearances to ensure quality and compliance with Company standards and agency regulations. They will also utilize their expertise as a certified arborist to promote the company VM program and interact with community and stakeholder organizations to enhance public relations and resolve local governmental issues related to tree trimming conflicts. The position reports to the Vegetation Management Supervisor.

Requirements

• Requires Bachelor of Science Degree in Arboriculture, Forestry or Urban Forestry or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Will consider industry experience in lieu of a degree.
• Requires a Texas Department of Agriculture Non - Commercial Pesticide applicators license. Can be obtained after employment.
• One year as a Vegetation Management (VM) arborist performing vegetation management activities directly for an electric utility company and/or a VM contractor providing vegetation management services for an electric utility preferred.

Nice To Haves

• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist certification – preferred
• Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) – preferred

Responsibilities

• Assign and field check vegetation work in connection with construction of the distribution system associated with all overhead capital transmission and distribution projects, ensuring compliance with Company standards and governmental regulations.
• Coordinate and schedule ongoing transmission and distribution VM line clearance activities in assigned areas to meet service reliability goals and other VM objectives for DPCM and various company internal clients.
• Assist various internal clients in analyzing vegetation-related problems, developing corrective work procedures, and administering unplanned maintenance projects.
• Critically monitor and audit all contractor work activities to ensure contract guidelines compliance, evaluate job performance, and assess cost effectiveness.
• Review contractor invoicing for accuracy and approve all invoicing for payment in assigned areas.
• Coordinate contractor response for service restoration following storms, including scheduled periodic Forester rotations of “on-call” after normal working hours.
• Meet routinely with customers to address VM program concerns, resolve complaints or work refusals, and enforce company policies and requirements.
• Prepare, maintain, and/or correct job orders in the company work management system to meet vendor invoicing and company work process administrative requirements.
• Ensure that all project documentation and close out requirements are handled in compliance with SAP process flow guidelines.
• Coordinate the review and response to incoming customer trim request service orders and/or complaints with multiple department stakeholders for confirmation and prioritization for accurate and prompt contractor response.
• Provide status reports to supervisor and internal clients for budget and work management.
• Develop and evaluate initiatives identified to improve operational efficiencies or process improvements.
• Field check proposed job sites to coordinate activities with city, county or state improvement projects, other utilities, and customers to avoid conflicts.
• Work with various governmental representatives to coordinate VM activities on public properties and ensure compliance with various governmental vegetation-related ordinances on company properties.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs
• On-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level