Vegetation Management Inspector (1-Year) | Richmond, CA

ACRT • Richmond, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

ACRT Pacific, LLC is hiring an entry-level Vegetation Management Inspector for a full-time, one-year role based near Richmond, California. The position is intended for people interested in gaining forestry experience, including candidates with educational backgrounds in forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, biology, environmental studies, conservation, or related disciplines. The role is safety-sensitive, and employees must reside within 50 miles of Richmond, CA.

The inspector patrols utility distribution or transmission circuits and rights-of-way, assesses trees and brush that could affect utility facilities, and prescribes pruning or removal work to meet applicable standards and maintain required clearances. The inspector documents findings, notifies property owners and agencies about planned work, obtains authorizations or permits when needed, and coordinates with tree-clearance contractors, utility personnel, customers, agencies, and other stakeholders. Work may also include verification inspections, outage investigations, emergency response support, vegetation-project oversight, and processing field cases and notifications. The role involves electronic and paper-based reporting and use of handheld or iOS-compatible devices and assigned databases.

The position requires outdoor fieldwork in rugged terrain and inclement weather, driving, walking on uneven ground, and using forestry and safety equipment. The inspector must follow safety requirements, regulations, permits, environmental measures, and applicable work standards, and complete assigned work independently.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Maintain a valid Class C driver's license.
• One year of experience as a Vegetation Management Inspector or equivalent experience on a utility contract.
• Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of their growth rates.
• Ability to learn and use company- or job-specific software systems.
• Ability to work in rugged terrain and inclement weather.
• Ability to read and follow maps.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate accountability, accuracy, dependability, adaptability, and effective interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

• ISA Certified Arborist certification.
• Two-year or four-year college degree in a related field.
• Educational background in forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, biology, environmental studies, conservation, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Patrol distribution or transmission circuits in accordance with vegetation-management plans, standards, and processes.
• Inspect trees and brush along utility lines and rights-of-way, assess hazards and likelihood of failure, determine whether pruning or removal is needed, and prescribe work that maintains required clearances.
• Document inspections and prescribed work using assigned databases, handheld computers, iOS-compatible devices, and other electronic or paper-based reporting systems.
• Notify property owners and agencies about planned tree work and obtain necessary authorizations or permits.
• Coordinate and communicate with tree contractors, customers, utility personnel, public agencies, communities, first responders, and other stakeholders.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate assigned tree-clearance crew activities; discuss and negotiate crew access issues.
• Perform work-verification inspections to confirm the completion and quality of inspections and tree work.
• Investigate and document tree-related outages and attend outage meetings as requested.
• Track, field-check, prescribe work for, and notify customers associated with assigned vegetation-management tags and non-routine locations; assist with closing Customer Care & Billing cases in the field.
• Support emergency response as directed, including dispatching tree crews and field-checking sites.
• Support oversight of vegetation projects, including tree assessment, trimming, and other field operations.
• Participate in contractor safety and tailboard meetings and act as a customer-relations representative on behalf of PG&E.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, permits, traffic-control plans, railroad and Caltrans requirements, and environmental protection measures.
• Maintain direct contact with PG&E division personnel, public agencies, and customers as directed.
• Complete tasks independently as assigned by the supervisor and perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• In-lieu-of-benefits payment of $11.36 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 be available depending on eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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