Senior Vegetation Management Inspector (SVMI) | Chico, CA

ACRT Services • Chico, CA

1d

About The Position

ACRT Pacific, LLC is hiring a Senior Vegetation Management Inspector (SVMI) to inspect, audit, and monitor vegetation-management contractor performance and coordinate tree-clearance work. Depending on contractor approval, the SVMI may also support Vegetation Management Inspectors (VMIs). The role serves as a liaison among clients, tree crews, customers, and public agencies, and is designated safety-sensitive. Applicants must reside within 50 miles of Chico, California.

The SVMI patrols distribution and transmission circuits, assesses trees that could strike electric facilities, and prescribes pruning or removal work to maintain required clearances and meet regulatory and PG&E vegetation-management standards. The role may coordinate day-to-day field activities, address obstacles to safe and efficient completion, approve field scheduling or scope changes with PG&E representative approval, audit VMI work, assist with training, and support investigations and emergency response. Work must follow PG&E standards and procedures, project specifications, permits, safety requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.

The position requires field work in varied and rugged terrain and inclement weather, as well as use of computers and PG&E’s VMDSRs and other software. The role is contingent on the contractual agreement between ACRT Pacific and its customer and may not be permanent; it could conclude in response to an RFP or RFQ. The listed base rate is $52.87 per hour, plus an in-lieu-of-benefits payment of $13.22 per eligible hour and, for union members, a $50 daily subsistence payment for each workday exceeding four hours. Other compensation factors and region-specific benefits may apply.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Maintain a Class C driver’s license.
• Meet one of the following experience pathways: five years as a tree-crew climber or foreman, including at least two years of line-clearance certification; five years as a Vegetation Management Inspector and Certified Arborist; five years as a Registered Professional Forester; five years as a Utility Inspector or higher classification, including at least one year of vegetation-management experience; or four years of military service with honorable discharge plus at least one additional year of vegetation-management inspection experience and PG&E representative approval.
• All hires are subject to approval by a PG&E representative.
• Identify local trees and understand their growth rates.
• Demonstrate strong communication, organization, and customer-service skills.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office and able to learn and use company- or job-specific software.
• Work independently and demonstrate accountability, accuracy, adaptability, dependability, interpersonal skills, job knowledge, and a positive attitude.
• Work in varied or rugged terrain and inclement weather, with flexible schedules and availability for nights and weekends as needed.
• Read and follow maps.
• Complete required training: OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview within six months of start date; CTSP or Certified Arborist (CA) from the International Society of Arboriculture with TRAQ within six months of test eligibility; and 911 Standby, working knowledge of QA/QC, and computer training within one month of start date.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with data-collection devices and GIS software.
• Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP) or Certified Arborist (CA) from the International Society of Arboriculture with a Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) certificate; the posting also lists these as required training credentials with a completion deadline.

Responsibilities

• Resolve field obstacles so work is completed safely, cost-effectively, efficiently, and on time; manage field time and expenses to minimize rework and improve quality.
• Coordinate day-to-day activities as needed, keep personnel focused on assigned work, verify scope and equipment use, and update required documentation.
• Serve as the vegetation-management contact for new business and reconstruction work requested by Energy Delivery.
• With PG&E representative approval, approve field scheduling and scope changes.
• Promote public, contractor, and employee safety; follow applicable safety rules and document Safety Observations and Good Catches.
• Audit VMI work for compliance with applicable standards and perform quality-check audits focused on field compliance and data integrity.
• Assist with training and onboarding of VM Inspectors and, as needed, support PG&E’s Work Verification team.
• Maintain working relationships with public agencies, including Caltrans, CalFire, USFS, and BLM, as directed by a PG&E representative.
• Maintain working relationships with PG&E tree contractors and assist with escalated work, such as customer complaints.
• Patrol distribution and transmission circuits and prescribe tree-contractor work that maintains clearances for at least one calendar year.
• Assess trees with the potential to strike PG&E facilities for failure likelihood and hazards; determine when the next trim is required and whether trimming or removal is necessary.
• Identify and prescribe pruning and tree or brush removal needed to complete electric compliance tags, including 540 tags, and meet regulatory requirements and PG&E standards.
• Use computers to run reports and update data within PG&E’s VMDSRs; use applicable software such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Assist with outage, fire, incident, and customer-claims investigations as required.
• Assist at the local Divisional Operational Emergency Center as a Vegetation Resource Coordinator when requested.
• Perform emergency-response duties as requested, following applicable safety requirements, laws, regulations, and labor agreements.
• Ensure all line sections are patrolled according to the annual plan and patrol standards and that patrols are documented correctly under PG&E’s mapping procedure.
• Identify newly discovered Idle and Private Lines and notify the PG&E representative.
• Perform other work as directed by the PG&E representative or PG&E standards and procedures.
• Serve as liaison between the client’s representative and Operations Manager to support colleagues and monitor work-group progress.
• Complete required training, including OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview, CTSP or Certified Arborist with TRAQ, 911 Standby, QA/QC, and computer training, within the stated deadlines.

Benefits

• In-lieu-of-benefits payment of $13.22 per eligible hour worked.
• Union members receive a $50 daily subsistence payment for each day worked in excess of four hours.
• Medical, dental, or vision insurance, per diems, or other region-specific benefits may apply, subject to eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED