OPPORTUNITIES

Pay Grade: M9, M10

POSITION SUMMARY

Oversees the coordination, execution, and monitoring of Hoosier Energy’s Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program. Provides technical as well as supervisory direction and assigns tasks to internal right-of-way crews and vegetation management contractors to accomplish all aspects of the IVM plan and positive property owner relationships. Must maintain compliance with Hoosier Energy’s vegetation management plan, electrical clearance requirements, OSHA, NERC/RRO and other industry standards. Facilitates successful mitigation of permitting, environmental and other constraining issues. Creates a work environment that fosters communication and collaboration within and between departments and external stakeholders. Ensures crew and contractor safe, efficient, and effective work practices are maintained.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists in completing annual IVM work plan with budget guidelines, addresses circuits with underperforming reliability of electrical service due to vegetation, provides quality customer service, meets internal/external safety metrics, and quality of work being performed. Includes planning, scheduling, evaluating, and documenting all work and activities.
• Ensures compliance with NERC and RRO requirements, OSHA, environmental, reliability and internal safety standards are met or exceeded through creation of a positive work culture.
• Indirectly responsible for right-of-way clearing and excavating budgets and oversight of internal right-of-way and contractor vegetation crews, and ensures completed work meets required specifications.
• Assesses and forecasts budget requirements including tracking and reporting of budget data through work completion.
• Evaluates strategy, processes, emerging technology, and alternative methods on a regular basis, seeking out and recommending ideas for continuous improvement using detailed business cases.
• Directs, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates vegetation management contractors to ensure safety, efficiency, quality, and reliability expectations are met.
• Oversees and mentors internal Right-of-Way employees, contracted Foresters, and contracted crew leaders by providing ongoing feedback and learning opportunities. Supervises staff to accomplish results through effective recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, and recognition.
• Manages scope, monitors results, and makes corrections as needed to achieve desired outcomes.
• Performs, documents, and evaluates aerial and ground inspections of right-of-ways on a periodic basis.
• Manages the UAS (drone) program within Delivery Services. Provides support for remote sensing programs such as LiDAR, satellite imagery, etc., and provides direction and support in the development of the Geographic Information System (GIS), mobile work management solutions, and enterprise asset management systems.
• Manages functional strategies including but not limited to line clearance pruning, hazard tree mitigation, aerial saw trimming, manual and mechanical clearing, right-of-way reclamation, and herbicide applications in accordance with NERC, RF, OSHA, ANSI, NESC, EPA, DNR, IDEM, internal safety standards, and ISA BMPs.
• Maintains employees’ pesticide licenses, procures equipment and materials for, and supervises the application of herbicide in and around substations, switchyards, remote offices, and other transmission facilities in accordance with the Office of Indiana State Chemist and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
• Identifies, communicates, and implements best practices. and develops effective strategies to meet objectives and improve operations.
• Ensures strong professional relationships with internal and external (i.e., city, county, state, and federal organizations) customers, property owners, and Member Cooperatives.
• Assists in storm and emergency situations occurring within or outside normal work schedule.
• Serves as a subject matter expert, participating in initiatives to positively affect pending legislation or rule making by local, state, or federal agencies such as DNR, EPA, USFS, and USFWS. Active in industry associations, such as the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), to stay current on the latest standards, emerging technology, and opportunities for program improvement.
• Participates in industry forums such as NATF, CEATI, and EPRI to continuously improve upon system reliability, security, efficiency, and resiliency, while ensuring the safety of utility personnel.
• Provides day-to-day oversight and guidance of transmission vegetation management operations.
• Responsible for vegetation management financial oversight (vendor invoicing, expense reports) with coordination of the Manager, Transmission Assets and Scheduling.
• Represents Hoosier in responding to property owner or other stakeholder complaints in a professional, timely, and positive manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science field such as Horticulture, Forestry, Biology, or any of the associated disciplines minimum
• In lieu of degree, an additional 5 years’ relevant experience minimum may be considered
• Must possess and maintain a herbicide application license
• Must possess and maintain an appropriate commercial driver’s license

Experience:

• 5 years’ electrical utility vegetation management experience minimum
• Use of GIS mapping and systems
• Computerized maintenance tracking databases and work order management
• Utility vegetation management tactics and processes
• Public engagement and conflict resolution

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong customer service and team orientation
• Demonstrated level of professionalism and positive attitude
• Ability to exercise flexibility to work effectively in a changing environment
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills to identify, anticipate and resolve problems at hand
• Advanced computer and technological skills, including GIS fundamentals
• Ability to work effectively from a vehicle office
• Broad knowledge of vegetation management including control techniques, equipment use, timber extraction methods, chemical herbicide application, and record keeping
• Knowledge of utility operation and maintenance
• Ability to walk on or operate off-road equipment in difficult terrain, in difficult environmental conditions
• Capable of towing, backing, and loading/unloading of off-road equipment.
• Comfortable performing inspections via aircraft for extended hours
• 24-hour availability to respond to system emergencies
• Must maintain a permanent residence within a thirty (30) minute drive of headquarter location

Hoosier Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.