Ground Specialist

SCI REMC•Martinsville, IN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ground Specialist supports tree clearance operations by safely loading and unloading trucks by hand or using booms, winches, skids, and dollies. The role carries and lays out materials, tools, and equipment at worksites and supplies these items to climbers manually or mechanically using lines, blocks, winches, knots, and hitches to raise and lower items in trees. The Ground Specialist gives and relays hand signals to direct traffic; drives a truck with an attached trailer or trailer/chipper to transport a tree clearance crew and its equipment; and operates winches, booms, and spray equipment. The position uses hand, voice, or other signals, or direct observation, to position vehicles and operate associated equipment. This is an outdoor, physically demanding position performed year-round in changing weather, including storms and emergencies. The core schedule is eight hours per day, five days per week, subject to change. Increased workload, including storm response and outage restoration, may require extended hours and work at any time of day or night. Employees work near power equipment, traffic, high-voltage lines, falling limbs, and uneven terrain, and have regular contact with customers, the public, and animals. The role is classified as Very Heavy Work. It involves occasional exertion of more than 100 pounds of force, frequent exertion of more than 50 pounds, and constant exertion of more than 20 pounds to move objects. The employee must lift and carry 50 pounds across uneven terrain and may frequently move logs or branches weighing 50–80 pounds. Daily activities include reaching, forward bending, balancing, and mobility. The position may require crawling beneath equipment with little ground clearance to maintain it, using chainsaws, handsaws, and other hand tools, driving company vehicles to worksites, and driving a personal vehicle to various show-up sites within the service area as needed. Applicants must have a current motor vehicle operator’s license and be capable of operating large motorized vehicles used in tree clearance operations. A high school diploma or equivalent and demonstrated ability to work safely and follow job-related instructions are required. Ability to obtain a CDL is required; applicants who already have a CDL or vegetation management certifications are preferred. Applicants should apply confidentially only through the SCI REMC careers website and be prepared to provide a resume and wage expectations.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to work safely and follow job-related instructions.
Current motor vehicle operator’s license.
Ability to operate large motorized vehicles used in tree clearance operations.
Ability to obtain a CDL and drive company vehicles to worksites.
Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds across uneven terrain and frequently lift or move logs or branches weighing 50–80 pounds.
Ability to exert force consistent with the Very Heavy Work classification: occasionally over 100 pounds, frequently over 50 pounds, and constantly over 20 pounds.
Ability to perform daily reaching, forward bending, balancing, and mobile work.
Ability to crawl beneath large equipment with little ground clearance to maintain it.
Ability to use chainsaws, handsaws, and other hand tools safely.
Ability to coordinate hands, eyes, and feet when driving vehicles, operating equipment, climbing around vehicles or trailers, using tools, and raising or lowering objects with hand lines and knots.
Ability to work outdoors year-round in changing weather and near power equipment, traffic, high-voltage lines, falling limbs, uneven terrain, and animals.
Ability to work extended hours and at any time of day or night when workload, storm response, or outage restoration requires it.
Ability to drive a personal vehicle to various show-up sites within the service area as needed.
Regular and predictable promptness and attendance.

Nice To Haves

Existing CDL.
Vegetation management certifications.

Responsibilities

Safely load and unload trucks by hand or with booms, winches, skids, and dollies.
Carry and lay out materials, tools, and equipment at worksites and furnish them to climbers manually or mechanically.
Use lines, blocks, winches, knots, and hitches to raise and lower items in trees.
Give and relay hand signals to direct traffic.
Drive a truck with an attached trailer or trailer/chipper to transport tree clearance crews, tools, materials, and equipment.
Operate winches, booms, and spray equipment, and position vehicles using hand, voice, or other signals or direct observation.
Use chainsaws, handsaws, and other hand tools as needed to complete tasks.
Perform basic service and stock-keeping for trucks, trailers, and equipment, including use of common hand tools and rope splicing.
Maintain regular and predictable promptness and attendance.
Drive a personal vehicle to various show-up sites within the service area as needed.