General Foreperson

Wright Tree Service•Fridley, MN

About The Position

The General Foreperson supports and coaches a line-clearance crew to achieve production goals. The role identifies safety hazards, ensures compliance, and allocates and prioritizes job-site work as directed by the Project Manager. The General Foreperson directly supervises crew members, including assigning work, applying union agreements, managing performance, and coaching employees in accordance with company policies, procedures, and customer requirements. The position trains and coaches employees in company policies, approved work methods, on-the-job safety practices, and OSHA requirements; conducts safety training and pre-job briefings; and coordinates additional training with the Safety Education Training team. It works with Human Resources on crew employment matters, including hiring, discipline, separation, leaves of absence, and policy enforcement. The General Foreperson interprets utility maps and work orders for tree trimming, removal, and chemical application, and maintains crew production records. The role controls costs through effective use of labor, work methods, trimming practices, and equipment. It also supports accident investigations, property damage and workers’ compensation claims, and vehicle or equipment issues; conducts inspections and routine maintenance; and requests major repairs or replacements as needed. The role maintains contact with customers, property owners, the public, contractors, utility representatives, and government agencies for approximately 20–30% of the time. It may require emergency duty and travel outside the regular work location during natural disasters, coordinating the crew’s response and determining appropriate steps to address hazards and trim or remove trees. The position works near hazardous equipment and energized power lines, operates assigned vehicles and equipment, and requires substantial travel (25–50%). Long hours, overtime, emergency call-outs, weekends, and holidays may be required. The position involves outdoor work on rugged terrain and exposure to varied weather, plants, insects, noise, vibration, moving vehicles and equipment, electrical current, heights, chemicals, and other hazards. Physical activities may include bending, reaching, standing, walking, climbing, lifting, carrying, grasping, speaking, hearing, repetitive motions, and repeatedly entering and exiting vehicles and equipment. It may require exerting up to 50 pounds occasionally, 30 pounds frequently, or 10 pounds constantly. The role also requires sufficient visual acuity for inspection, reading, and measurement tasks. The General Foreperson must support Wright’s safety and employee-ownership culture, comply with applicable laws and company policies, and maintain regular, punctual attendance. A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred but not required. Candidates must have at least 4–5 years of tree-trimming or clearing crew experience or have successfully completed applicable skills assessments, valid First Aid and CPR cards, and the ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license and DOT medical card as applicable. Preferred qualifications include driving a vehicle with an attached chipper or other trailing unit and maintaining herbicide-application certification or equivalent.

Requirements

At least 4–5 years of experience working on tree-trimming or clearing crews, or successful completion of applicable skills assessments.
Valid First Aid and CPR cards.
Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license or commercial driver’s license, depending on division and utility or contract requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DOT medical card in accordance with FMCSA regulations.
Excellent leadership skills; ability to handle stressful situations and multitask.
Knowledge of trees, including identification, growth habits, and arboricultural techniques for trimming, pruning, repairing, maintaining, and removing trees near energized conductors.
Excellent customer-service and communication skills, including rapport-building, listening, questioning, and patience; ability to communicate professionally and effectively with the public, customers, and employees at all levels.
Knowledge and understanding of ANSI Z133.1 (current version) and ANSI A300.
Ability to follow, teach, and enforce company and industry safety requirements.
Knowledge of electrical circuits and ability to read and understand circuit maps.
Knowledge of OSHA electric power generation, transmission, and distribution standards, including 29 CFR 1910.269; ability to determine nominal voltage, properly use insulated tools near energized parts, and distinguish exposed live parts from other equipment parts.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
Ability to represent Wright Tree Service professionally and communicate with others.
Ability to read, write, and comprehend written and verbal job instructions and information.
Ability to recognize poisonous plants and take appropriate safeguards.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
Ability to work long hours and overtime during emergencies, including holidays, weekends, and storm work, and to respond to call-outs.
Knowledge of and training in tree and bucket rescue.
Ability to operate and service required tools and equipment.
Ability to work independently and as part of a group.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including bending, reaching, standing, walking, climbing, lifting, carrying, grasping, talking, hearing, repetitive motions, and entering and exiting vehicles and equipment multiple times per day.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Visual acuity sufficient for work inspection and general observations, reading computer screens and printed materials, inspecting small defects, and using measurement devices.
Ability to work in routine indoor and outdoor conditions, on rugged terrain, and around weather, plants, insects, dust, noise, vibration, moving parts, mechanical equipment, vehicles, gasoline-powered equipment, electrical current, heights, heat, chemicals, confined areas, communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, cleaning chemicals, odors, and pests.
Ability to travel substantially, stated as 25–50%.
Ability to remain on duty and travel outside the regular work location during emergencies or natural disasters.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent (preferred but not required).
Ability to drive a vehicle with an attached chipper or other trailing unit to, from, or within the work area.
Herbicide-application certification or equivalent, as required by Wright Tree Service and applicable law.

Responsibilities

Directly oversee and supervise line-clearance crew members, including assigning work, interpreting and applying union agreements, managing performance, and coaching employees.
Follow, teach, and coach employees on company policies, procedures, approved work methods, job-site safety practices, and OSHA regulations.
Conduct required safety training, stand-downs, and pre-job briefings; coordinate additional training initiatives with the Safety Education Training team.
Collaborate with Human Resources on hiring, discipline, separation of employment, leaves of absence, employee relations, and policy enforcement.
Understand the Form I-9 process and proper interviewing techniques, and use fair and reasonable judgment in employee relations matters.
Obtain and interpret utility maps and work orders for tree trimming, removals, and chemical applications; understand drawings and symbols for power lines, voltages, and line equipment; assign daily work orders.
Maintain crew production records and reports, including timesheets, work orders, work units, man-hours, crew assignments, and locations.
Control costs through effective manpower use, work methods, appropriate trimming, and equipment operation.
Support internal departments with accident investigations, property damage claims, truck breakdowns, and workers’ compensation claims; serve as a designated representative for minor claim settlements when applicable.
Inspect vehicles and equipment, conduct routine maintenance on company vehicles, equipment, and tools, and request major repairs or replacements when necessary.
Maintain knowledge of new equipment specifications, standard practices, and operating procedures.
Communicate with customers, property owners, the public, contractors, utility representatives, and government agencies, promoting good customer and public relations.
During emergencies or natural disasters, coordinate crew response, travel as required, and determine appropriate steps to eliminate hazards and trim or remove trees.
Support and participate in Wright’s safety and employee-ownership culture and comply with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance at work and meetings.
Drive and operate vehicles and equipment as assigned.
Work near hazardous equipment and energized power lines.
Perform tree and bucket rescue when trained.
Operate and service required tools and equipment.