Consulting Utility Forester | Albany, NY

ACRT Services•Albany, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Performs identification, inspection, and evaluation of trees and brush along utility lines and submits inspection results to clients with recommendations. Plans, directs, and coordinates the activities of assigned tree clearance crews. Discusses and negotiates line-clearance crew access issues, and serves as a liaison between clients, tree crews, and client customers. The role involves patrolling distribution and/or transmission circuits, prescribing work for tree trimming contractors, determining trim schedules, notifying property owners, managing work issuance and progress, mapping circuits, performing outage investigations, and obtaining permits. It also includes auditing completed tree trimming work for compliance with standards and maintaining relationships with local client personnel and governmental agencies. The position requires adherence to regulatory requirements and client standards, and may involve public presentations. Certification as an Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture is required within thirty (30) months. Emergency response duties may be required. The role emphasizes safety, adherence to attendance policies, and maintaining a professional appearance and work area.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree or experience in Forestry, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Environmental Studies, Conservation, Natural Resources or related fields.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office [Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook] or similar software suite.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Minimum age of 21.
Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of growth rates.
Ability to learn and use company- or job-specific software systems.
Ability to work in rugged terrain and inclement weather.
Ability to read and follow maps.
Ability to drive and operate a 4x4 vehicle.

Nice To Haves

ISA Certification
Utility vegetation management experience
Accountability: accepts personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work.
Accuracy and work quality: performs work completely, correctly, and in a professional manner.
Adaptability and flexibility: meets the changing conditions and situations in work responsibilities.
Communications: possesses strong verbal and written communication skills and is able to present ideas in formal and informal.
Creativity: possesses ability to develop and present new ideas and better ways of doing things.
Dependability: is reliable and has the ability to do required jobs.
Drive and achievement orientation: sets challenging goals for self and willingly puts in extra time and effort in crisis situations.
Independence: possesses the ability to work independently.
Interpersonal skills: builds constructive and effective relationships.
Job knowledge: possesses sufficient skill and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job.
Physical fitness: possesses the ability to work consistently and with only moderate fatigue.
Positive attitude: displays optimism about the work to be done and demonstrates a positive attitude towards customers, peers, and the company.
Quantity of work: generates adequate amounts of work based on the job requirements.
Work comparability: performs work that is comparable to other employees with the same length of service in the same position.

Responsibilities

Patrols distribution and/or transmission circuits and prescribes work to be performed by client tree trimming contractor.
Determines when the next trim is required.
Notifies property owners of tree trimming and tree and brush removal work to be performed relating to client specifications.
Manages the issuance of work and tracks work progress.
Maps circuits using client continuity lists.
Performs outage investigations.
Obtains permits from public agencies and documents work.
Enters tree trimming and tree and brush removal prescription into hand-held computer or other similar systems.
Uses computers and associated software to perform duties.
Audits tree trimming and tree removal work completed by the tree trimming contractor in the field to ensure compliance with work request forms and approved tree trimming standards.
Completes post audit forms indicating adequacy of the tree trimming and tree removal work, and forwards the completed forms to the vegetation management program manager or coordinator.
Maintains working relationships with local client personnel as well as all relevant federal, state and local governmental agencies.
Complies with all regulatory requirements and client vegetation management standards.
May be required to participate in public presentations and meetings.
Attains certification as an Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture within thirty (30) months upon being assigned as a CUF.
Performs all necessary duties for emergency response in accordance with all safety requirements, law and regulations, and applicable labor agreements.
Adheres to personal appearance standards and makes a positive personal impression on others.
Adheres to attendance policies and faithful in coming when scheduled and conforms to work hour requirements.
Conducts work in a safety-conscious manner as not to endanger themselves or others.
Keeps the work area [office and/or company vehicle] neat, orderly, and professional in appearance.
Ensures maintenance on company vehicles is done in a timely and efficient manner.
Knows and exemplifies ACRT’s Guiding Principles.
Other duties as required.