Vegetation Technician

New Energy Equity•Syracuse, NY

8d•$50,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

New Energy Equity and Energy Support Services is seeking a motivated, reliable, and detail-oriented Vegetation Technician to join our field operations team. Safety is our top priority. We operate on active solar sites around high-voltage equipment, heavy machinery, and variable terrain—maintaining a strict safety culture and ensuring our team members go home safely every day is foundational to how we work. This role is primarily a physical, outdoors-focused position paired with essential administrative, routing, and operational responsibilities. Expect to spend 35 hours a week, on average, in the field performing physical tasks. The ideal candidate combines strong physical field work and a safety-first mindset with computer literacy to manage routes, track goals, and complete site documentation.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrated safety-first attitude with a clean safety record in previous industrial or field roles.
Previous experience operating heavy commercial vegetation equipment (zero-turn mowers, brush hogs, commercial trimmers).
Basic computer literacy and comfort using software applications (e.g., Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and Excel/spreadsheets) for administrative reporting, task tracking, and goal management.
Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record; comfortable towing and maneuvering a 20-foot utility trailer daily is desirable.
Uncompromising commitment to personal safety, team safety, and proper PPE use in high-voltage solar environments.
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, lift 50+ lbs regularly, and walk long distances over rough or uneven solar array terrain daily.
Comfortable with email, digital messaging, spreadsheet entry, web research, and basic organizational tools.
Strong time-management skills to balance physical field labor with timely administrative follow-through.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience with small engines or commercial equipment repair and maintenance is a major plus.
Experience operating chainsaws safely and performing minor fence repairs is a plus (not required).

Responsibilities

Adhere to & Enforce Safety Standards: Strictly follow and enforce all company safety protocols, PPE requirements, OSHA standards, and site-specific safety plans at all times.
Site Hazard Audits & Documentation: Conduct mandatory pre-work safety assessments and site inspections to identify, document, and mitigate hazards (e.g., thermal risks, electrical hazards, terrain issues, damaged infrastructure) before beginning work.
Safe Equipment Operation: Safely transport, load, and operate heavy vegetation equipment, trimmers, and utility trailers.
Helper Safety Supervision: Lead by example and ensure that seasonal helpers or crew members understand, follow, and maintain strict safety compliance on site.
Perform direct, hands-on mechanical vegetation control, including operating commercial-grade zero-turn mowers and brush hogs within fenced arrays, and detailed weed-whipping around electrical equipment, poles, and post foundations.
Execute a 4-day weekly field schedule to manage vegetation across assigned facilities on a variable rotation cycle, adapting to weather and growth conditions.
Perform routine small equipment maintenance and minor repair tasks (e.g., blade sharpening, belt replacements, oil/filter changes, basic small engine troubleshooting) to maximize equipment uptime safely.
Perform basic civil and site upkeep tasks as needed on an infrequent basis (e.g., debris removal, minor fence touch-ups, or tree/heavy brush clearing)
Plan daily routing for assigned regional sites; log and complete work orders promptly upon task execution. Same day completion of Service Reports, once a job is finished.
Use Microsoft Teams and Outlook daily to manage communications, track assigned tasks, participate in team workflows, and ensure project updates are clear.
Generate accurate site condition reports, incident logs, and mandatory job safety documentation in a timely manner.
Track completed site cuts in spreadsheets against contractual cut limits, flagging sites approaching limits for additional client coordination.
Conduct basic administrative research as needed (e.g., sourcing local repair shops, evaluating equipment options, locating storage units, or coordinating local vendor support).