Forester

Portland General Electric • Portland, OR

1d

About The Position

PGE is hiring a Forester to join its Wildfire team. Based on business needs, the role may transition to support other areas of the Forestry team. The position plans, coordinates, and oversees vegetation clearance work, including scoping, work layout, customer and stakeholder notifications, risk analysis, crew scheduling, and vendor performance. It also provides forestry expertise to engineering and other stakeholders, coordinates work with line operations and public agencies, and reviews work processes for compliance with changing standards and regulations.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience, typically five or more years of related experience, a valid driver's license, and ISA Arborist Certification. The position involves regular field travel within the service territory, occasional overnight travel, work in both office and field environments, and availability for on-call duty. The incumbent must be able to work long hours, on a shift schedule, and during severe inclement weather. Assisting during storms or other company emergencies is part of the position.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in earth science, horticulture, geology, forestry, natural resources, or a similar field, or equivalent experience.
• Typically five or more years of experience in utility tree trimming, private tree trimming, arborist work, nursery work, or a related field, including vendor management and project management.
• Valid driver's license and ISA Arborist Certification.
• Expert knowledge of utility forestry processes and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of forestry best practices, proper arboricultural pruning practices, herbicide and pesticide applications, regulations affecting vegetation management, and vendor management principles.
• Intermediate knowledge of Pacific Northwest vegetation species, growth rates, insect and disease problems, and failure-risk potential.
• Working skills using database and documentation tools.
• Intermediate critical-thinking, analysis, problem-solving, prioritization, decision-making, interpersonal, communication, presentation, and organizational-awareness skills.
• Ability to meet response times, deadlines, and time-sensitive tasks; follow accuracy standards; and complete decision-making tasks.
• Ability to collaborate effectively, communicate and solve problems under stress, respond and adapt to frequent change, and apply feedback to improve future work.
• Ability to work long hours and a shift schedule, report to work and perform duties during severe inclement weather, meet regular and reliable full-time attendance standards, and serve on call at all times.
• Valid driver's license and a history of safe driving practices.
• Ability to drive and travel daily within the service territory and occasionally stay overnight inside or outside the service territory.
• Ability to use a computer regularly throughout the work shift.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds; walk on unstable surfaces and over long distances on rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; access elevated areas; and climb stairs with more than 10 steps.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at hire and maintain work authorization throughout employment without employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• ISA Utility Specialist credential.
• Valid Oregon State Pesticide Consultant license; the posting states this is preferred and required within six months of obtaining the position.
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).

Responsibilities

• Conduct safety and contractor performance audits, vegetation work scoping, and work layouts.
• Notify customers and stakeholders of upcoming work and help manage and review work processes.
• Analyze risks and prioritize jobs based on urgency and location.
• Plan and coordinate vegetation clearance activities and prioritize work according to company and department strategy.
• Schedule vegetation crews and work assignments based on manager and supervisor priorities.
• Organize and maintain tasks and track progress across multiple projects.
• Ensure contract crew performance meets PGE standards and specifications.
• Monitor crew productivity and assess the value of vegetation clearance expenditures relative to the statement of work.
• Review and correct tree-pruning practices to ensure compliance with PGE's vegetation clearance policy, adapting practices as needed to optimize resources.
• Advise regional engineering on vegetation clearance needs and problems for capital projects.
• Represent PGE Forestry to contractors whose work affects or is affected by company operations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on projects and collaborate with stakeholders to analyze issues and resolve complex problems.
• Coordinate herbicide applications in the assigned area with the PGE transmission forester.
• Coordinate vegetation clearance with line restoration crews during emergencies.
• Collaborate with regional line operations to determine and schedule vegetation clearance for maintenance and construction.
• Coordinate vegetation clearance and selective herbicide applications with city, county, and state agencies.
• Review standards, regulations, and agreements; analyze work processes for compliance and adapt work direction to changing standards.
• Assist with storms and other company emergencies.

Benefits

• Total rewards package intended to reward contributions and support employee well-being and professional development.
• Performance-based incentive bonus, with actual total compensation commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity.

What This Job Offers

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