Utility Forester Specialist - Associate

American Electric Power•Logan, WV

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Utility Forester Specialist demonstrates and creates positive experiences for customers contacting AEP with questions related to vegetation management. This position is the primary customer solution liaison between customers and Distribution Forestry. The Specialist should demonstrate a willingness to learn and build relationships with customers and stakeholders. The position requires proactive and reactive responses to customer and public inquiries, as well as proactive promotion of Company forestry programs, products, and information. The Utility Forester Associate assigns and recommends industry accepted management practices to provide corrective control of non-compatible vegetation conditions in utility rights of way to vegetation control contractors; inspect ongoing and completed assignments to assure contract compliance to reduce preventable vegetation interruptions of service and to provide, as much as practical, access to facilities for the purpose of repair and inspection.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of three (3) years customer contact experience.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
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.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of field activities related to the technical aspects of customer services and distribution operations is preferred.
Basic knowledge of distribution operations and other departments within the AEP system preferred.
Bachelor 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.
Associate's degree in one of the same fields and four (4) years’ experience in utility vegetation management industry.
High school diploma and six (6) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Arborist certification is desirable.
Possession of Certified Pesticide Applicator's license is desirable.
Courses in horticulture and/or vegetation management are desirable.

Responsibilities

Assists customers by providing enhanced real-time forestry field communications
Manage and administer IO13 process to increase efficiency and reduce total volume
Administer and schedule internal and external forestry communications (DAVOX, postcards, etc.)
Update and administer forestry web page
Monitor, manage and provide solutions to customer inquiries via email and/or phone
Provide administrative support with regards to forestry work plan by district, business partner time sheets and invoices, budget reconciliation
Utilize CAMPS applications to process vendor timesheets, create invoices and reconcile with business partners
Administer work plan system tracking vegetation management, including real-time work plan schedule changes, plan adjustments and special projects
After training, patrol lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions and recommend utility vegetation operations, maintain records of work and make the necessary arrangements with landowners for vegetation management and access to facilities.
Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
With assistance, estimate vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding of new and existing facilities.
With assistance, determine future utility vegetation management requirements and recommend short and long-term vegetation management work plans and best management practices.
Contact governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners and others to arrange and coordinate right-of-way vegetation management work plans required.
Inspect vegetation management and work planning contractors for contract compliance, recommending acceptance or corrective action.
With assistance, 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.