Senior Vegetation Management Inspector (SVMI) | Chico, CA

ACRT • Chico, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

ACRT Pacific, LLC is hiring a Senior Vegetation Management Inspector (SVMI) to patrol electric distribution and transmission circuits, assess trees and vegetation that could affect PG&E facilities, and prescribe pruning or removal work. The role is intended for experienced forestry and vegetation-management professionals. The SVMI inspects, audits, and monitors contractor performance; coordinates assigned tree-clearance crews; and serves as a liaison among clients, tree crews, customers, public agencies, and PG&E representatives. The position is safety-sensitive and requires the employee to reside within 50 miles of Chico, California. Duties are contingent on the contractual agreement between ACRT Pacific and its customer, and the role may not be permanent and could conclude in response to an RFP or RFQ.

The SVMI helps ensure work is completed safely, cost-effectively, efficiently, and on time, while managing field time and expenses, limiting rework, and maintaining quality. The role may include coordinating day-to-day work, confirming scope and equipment use, updating documentation, approving field schedule or scope changes with PG&E representative approval, auditing VMIs, helping train and onboard inspectors, supporting work verification, and assisting with outage, fire, incident, and customer-claim investigations. The SVMI may also support emergency-response activities and serve as a Vegetation Resource Coordinator at a local Divisional Operational Emergency Center.

The SVMI must ensure patrols follow the annual plan, patrol standards, mapping procedures, PG&E Vegetation Management standards and procedures, project specifications, applicable permits, safety requirements, and governing laws and regulations. The role requires use of computers and PG&E’s VMDSRs, along with Microsoft Office and job-specific software. Work takes place in varied and rugged terrain and inclement weather, with potential exposure to noise, temperature and moisture extremes, dust, gases, fumes, and chemicals, as well as extended periods of sitting while driving or attending meetings and training. Driving and use of forestry and safety equipment are required.

The position reports to the Operations Manager, is non-exempt and bargaining-unit eligible, and has a stated base rate of $52.87 per hour. The posting also states an in-lieu-of-benefits payment of $13.22 per eligible hour, for total stated compensation of $66.09 per hour, plus a $50 daily subsistence payment for qualifying workdays. Other compensation factors and benefits may vary by eligibility and region. Successful completion of specified training is required within the stated deadlines.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Maintain a Class C driver’s license.
• Meet at least one of the stated 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 and at least one additional year of vegetation-management inspection experience.
• Approval by a PG&E representative; all hires are subject to that approval.
• Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of growth rates.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, including verbal and written communication and the ability to present ideas in formal and informal settings.
• Strong customer-service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to use computers and learn company- or job-specific software systems.
• Ability to work with varied schedules, including availability for nights and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work in varied or rugged terrain and inclement weather.
• Ability to read and follow maps.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate accountability, accuracy, adaptability, dependability, sound interpersonal skills, job knowledge, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to meet work-quality, productivity, and timeliness expectations and to put in extra time and effort in crisis situations.
• Must reside within 50 miles of Chico, California.
• Successfully complete OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview training within six months of the start date.
• Successfully complete Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP) training or obtain International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist (CA) certification with Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) certification within six months of test eligibility.
• Complete 911 Standby training within one month of the start date.
• Complete working-knowledge-of-QA/QC training within one month of the start date.
• Complete computer training, such as forms, document uploads, and GIS access, within one month of the start date.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with data-collection devices and GIS software.

Responsibilities

• Patrol distribution and transmission circuits and prescribe tree-clearance work to maintain required clearances for at least one calendar year.
• Determine when the next trim is required and whether pruning or removal is appropriate; assess trees that could strike PG&E facilities for likelihood of failure and hazards.
• Identify and prescribe tree pruning and tree or brush removal needed to complete electric compliance tags and meet regulatory and PG&E vegetation-management requirements.
• Coordinate assigned tree-clearance crews and help resolve obstacles so work is completed safely, efficiently, cost-effectively, and on time.
• Manage field time and expenses, minimize rework, and promote quality and productivity.
• Monitor day-to-day work, confirm personnel stay focused on assigned work, verify scope and equipment use, and keep documentation updated as applicable.
• Serve as a vegetation-management contact for new business and reconstruction work requested by Energy Delivery, as applicable.
• Approve field scheduling and scope changes when authorized by a PG&E representative.
• Promote public, contractor, and employee safety; follow applicable safety rules and standards; and document Safety Observations and Good Catches.
• Audit VMI work and perform quality-check audits focused on field compliance and data integrity, as applicable.
• Assist with training and onboarding VM Inspectors, as applicable.
• Support the PG&E Work Verification team in ensuring observations are addressed promptly, as applicable.
• 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, including customer complaints.
• Use computers to run reports and update data in PG&E’s VMDSRs; use relevant office and job-specific software.
• Assist with outage investigations, fire and incident investigations, and customer-claims investigations, as required or requested.
• Support the local Divisional Operational Emergency Center as a Vegetation Resource Coordinator, as requested.
• Perform emergency-response duties as requested by the PG&E representative, following applicable safety requirements, laws, regulations, and labor agreements.
• Ensure all sections of line are patrolled according to the annual plan and applicable 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 directed by the PG&E representative or required by PG&E standards and procedures.
• Serve as liaison between the client’s representative and Operations Manager to support colleagues and monitor work-group progress.

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 and other region-specific benefits may be available depending on eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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