Description
UTILITY ARBORIST
THE POSITION:
Reporting to the Vegetation Management Supervisor, the Utility Arborist will manage and maintain a right-of-way maintenance program, specifying effective and efficient right-of way practices, and to insure uninterrupted electrical service to the membership and to provide access to the electric line for improvements, repair, patrolling, inspections, or any other needs.
Responsibilities:
- Supports strategic goals of NHEC by assisting in developing, reporting on, and achieving Balanced Scorecard objectives.
- Supports the cultural goals of the NHEC by exhibiting self-leadership, developing, and maintaining effective working relationships, having a results orientation, being innovative and seeking feedback.
- Supports financial goals of the NHEC by reviewing expenditures of the right-of-way budget monthly and to recommend corrective action for commitments of money, use of labor, materials, and equipment.
- Increases professional and technical knowledge by attending educational classes, reading professional magazines, and participating in professional societies.
- Minimizes service interruptions by assisting in developing clearing standards, administer clearing for new services and relocations and maintain existing right-of-ways.
- Ensures a safe and cost-effective distribution system by carrying out contract crew assignments based on annual maintenance and work plan priorities, conducting inspections, and comparing work to specifications, Construction and system improvement schedules and work orders, and by monitoring the use of contract crews to maximize productivity. Recommends changes in assignments and schedules as required.
- Maintains substations and pole yards by using mechanical and herbicide applications for worker and public safety and member service reliability.
- Maintains effective relationships with the member, public and governmental bodies by responding to requests for clearing information and addressing clearing concerns in a timely and caring manner.
- Ensures compliance with safety rules and procedures by evaluating and monitoring the performance of right-of-way contractors to see that their equipment and performance is in accordance with Safety Rules and practices of OSHA and Right-of-Way standards. Takes correction action if necessary and has authority to dismiss a contractor for failure to bring work performance in line with acceptable standards.
- Facilitates contact between municipalities and contractors performing right of way maintenance.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
THE PERSON:
Technical Degree in Forestry or Environmental Science; or an Associate of Applied Science degree in Forestry or related field is required. 4-year degree preferred. Should have or be able to acquire a N.H. Supervisory Pesticide Applicators License.
Three years’ experience in right-of-way maintenance clearing with a utility in a construction/operations area is preferred. Must maintain a current driver's license.
Must have skills to assist in the activities of the right-of-way clearing section, including budgeting, scheduling of day-to-day assignments, contract services, and developing competitive terms and conditions for bid specifications and contracts. Must have proficient math skills for performing calculations in field and office applications.
Must be able to work effectively and have the ability to read and understand construction drawings, maps, chemical formulations and instruction manuals for use of cutting and chemicals. Should be skilled in areas of verbal and written communications with NHEC membership and contractors. Should acquire and maintain a working knowledge of easements and permits along with all state, federal and local regulations and guidelines pertaining to Vegetation Management.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Individual will be exposed to a wide variety of working conditions, which range from office work to outside inspections of right-of-way throughout NHEC system. Travel is required in the responsibilities and representation of NHEC at various professional and association meetings. Overtime is also required especially during severe storm related conditions, and when seasonal workloads become great.
Assistance with power restoration efforts is required of all employees. It may be required during regular business hours that employees will be assigned functions to support power restoration and for some employees that may be different from their normal duties. In addition, such assistance may require working nights, weekends and holidays which may involve considerable extra hours. To meet this working condition, all employees are required to provide a personal phone number where they may be reached after hours. This number will only be used for internal purposes.
NHEC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer