Utility Forester Associate - Utility Forester

American Electric Power•South Bend, IN

2d•$54,063 - $79,369•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves assigning and recommending industry-accepted management practices for controlling non-compatible vegetation in utility rights of way. The primary goal is to reduce preventable vegetation interruptions of service and provide access to facilities for repair and inspection by inspecting ongoing and completed assignments to ensure contract compliance. The position requires patrolling lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions, recommending utility vegetation operations, maintaining work records, and making arrangements with landowners for vegetation management and facility access. It also involves investigating and resolving landowner issues, estimating vegetation management requirements and costs, determining future needs, and recommending short and long-term vegetation management work plans and best practices. Coordination with governmental agencies, other utilities, and landowners is also a key aspect, as is inspecting contractors for contract compliance and recommending actions. The role requires applying and staying informed of current contract provisions, maintaining records, preparing reports on costs, production, and work quality, and operating forestry computer programs and records systems. Additionally, guiding and training others in vegetation management procedures is expected. Extensive travel is required for inspections and planning.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester Associate (SG 04): Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and two (2) years of experience as a contract utility forester desired. OR associate’s degree in one of the same fields and four (4) years’ experience in utility vegetation management industry. OR High school diploma and six (6) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester (SG 05): Bachelor Degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and three (3) years of experience in utility vegetation management industry. OR Associate's degree in one of the same fields and five (5) years' experience in utility vegetation management industry. OR High school diploma and seven (7) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Knowledge and safe use of pesticides required.
Competency in GIS systems and Microsoft Office components such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word in addition to other analytical tools is required.
Valid State Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

Possession of Certified Pesticide Applicator's license desirable.
Arborist certification desirable.
Courses in horticulture and/or vegetation management desirable.

Responsibilities

Patrol lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions and recommend utility vegetation operations.
Maintain records of work and make necessary arrangements with landowners for vegetation management and access to facilities.
Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
Estimate vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding of new and existing facilities.
Determine future utility vegetation management requirements and recommend short and long-term vegetation management work plans and best practices.
Contact governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners and others to arrange and coordinate right-of-way vegetation management work plans.
Inspect vegetation management and work planning contractors for contract compliance, recommending acceptance or corrective action.
Recommend work plans, priorities, schedules and contractor requirements in accordance with the vegetation management program.
Apply and keep informed of current contract provisions.
Maintain records and prepare reports on costs, production and work quality.
Operate the forestry computer programs and records systems.
Guide and train others involved with the vegetation management program in proper work practices and utility vegetation management procedures.
Act as a professional, employing a great deal of diplomacy to "sell" the Company's necessary right-of-way maintenance projects to the public.
Apply AEP Accounting Policies & Guidelines related to expense vs. capitalization for labor, services, and material in a proficient manner.