Utility Forester: Associate - Senior

American Electric Power • Tulsa, OK

9d

About The Position

This posting is for a Utility Forester role that may be filled at the Associate, Utility Forester, or Senior level. The role assigns and recommends accepted vegetation management practices to contractors working in utility rights of way, inspects work for contract compliance, and helps reduce preventable vegetation-related service interruptions while maintaining access to facilities for repair and inspection.

After training, the employee patrols utility lines and facilities to assess vegetation, recommends operations, maintains work records, and arranges vegetation management and facility access with landowners. The role also investigates landowner concerns; supports estimates of vegetation work requirements and costs; develops short- and long-term work plans and best management practices; coordinates with agencies, utilities, landowners, and others; and monitors contractor performance. Additional duties include maintaining contract knowledge, preparing cost, production, and quality reports, using forestry computer and records systems, and guiding and training others in proper vegetation management practices.

The position requires 40 hours per week, with overtime and extensive travel as required. The employee must be available for overtime callouts, including weekends and holidays, and live within a 35-mile radius or 40 roadway miles of the service location. The stated physical demand level is sedentary. Compensation ranges by level: Associate, $54,063–$81,095; Utility Forester, $63,496–$95,242; and Senior, $74,551–$111,826. AEP states that it offers a comprehensive benefits package but does not list individual benefits in the posting.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and two years of experience as a contract utility forester desired; alternatively, an associate's degree in one of these fields and four years of experience in the utility vegetation management industry; or a high school diploma and six years as a contract forester or in other related utility-industry positions.
• Knowledge of and safe use of pesticides.
• Competency in GIS systems and Microsoft Office components including Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, as well as other analytical tools.
• Ability to communicate with employees, customers, and the general public in a courteous and proper manner.
• Ability to employ diplomacy when presenting the Company's vegetation control projects to the public.
• Must live within 35 miles or 40 roadway miles of the service location.
• Must be available for overtime and travel as required, including overtime callouts on weekends and holidays.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Patrol utility lines and facilities to assess vegetation conditions and recommend vegetation management operations.
• Maintain records of vegetation management work and arrange with landowners for vegetation management and access to facilities.
• Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
• Assist with estimating vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding of new and existing facilities.
• Assist in determining future vegetation management requirements and recommending short- and long-term work plans and best management practices.
• Coordinate right-of-way vegetation management plans with governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners, and others.
• Inspect vegetation management and work-planning contractors for contract compliance and recommend acceptance or corrective action.
• Assist in recommending work plans, priorities, schedules, and contractor requirements consistent with the vegetation management program.
• Apply and stay informed about current contract provisions.
• Maintain records and prepare reports on costs, production, and work quality.
• Operate forestry computer programs and records systems.
• Guide and train others involved in the vegetation management program in proper work practices and procedures.
• Communicate courteously and properly with employees, customers, and the general public.
• Travel to inspect and plan the Company's right-of-way maintenance program.
• Be available for overtime callouts, including weekends and holidays.

Benefits

• AEP states that it offers a comprehensive benefits package intended to support and enhance employee well-being; individual benefits are not specified.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level