Supervisory Consulting Utility Forester | Rapid City, SD

Our Supervisory Consulting Utility Forester (SCUF) serve as leadership to Consulting Utility Foresters (CUFs) and other operations department employees. They will perform inspections to identify UVM work to be executed, conduct audits of work identified by CUFs as a quality control measure, as well as post-work audits of executed UVM work by tree pruning contractors as needed, and assist utility employees in monitoring contractor performance. In their role they also serve as a liaison between clients, tree crews and customers and will assist with resolving concerns that arise.

SCUFs assist the Operations Manager in making certain that ACRT personnel are working safely in the field and are equipped with all necessary PPE. They will conduct regional benchmarks to ensure team members are consistent in their planning methodology, according to contract specifications. SCUFs will also conduct pre-patrol meetings with field teams to assure each understands the scope of the feeder being patrolled. SCUFs will help utility track and make sure to close out all work releases and project documentation. SCUFs will accomplish other duties as assigned.

Role Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• 3-years minimum experience working on electric utility projects
• ISA Certified Arborist
• ISA Certified Utility Specialist preferred
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified or able to become qualified preferred
• Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of growth rates
• High level of communication and organization skills required
• High level of Customer Service skills required
• Experience working with data collection devices and GIS software desired
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office Self-motivated, organized, production oriented
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in varied terrain and inclement weather with flexible schedules (available nights and weekends as needed)
• Valid Driver License
• Pre-employment drug screen and background check required

The SCUF must also be able to perform all duties of the field CUF including:

Performs identification, inspection, and evaluation of trees and brush along utility lines and submits inspection results to clients with recommendations.  Plans, directs, and coordinates the activities of assigned tree clearance crews.  Discusses and negotiates line-clearance crew access issues, and serves as a liaison between clients, tree crews, and client customers. 

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential & Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Patrols distribution and/or transmission circuits and prescribes work to be performed by client tree trimming contractor, determines when the next trim is required, notifies property owners of tree trimming and tree and brush removal work to be performed relating to client specifications, manages the issuance of work and tracks work progress, maps circuits using client continuity lists, performs outage investigations and, when necessary, obtains permits from public agencies and documents work.
• Enters tree trimming and tree and brush removal prescription into hand-held computer or other similar systems, and uses computers and associated software to perform duties.
• Audits tree trimming and tree removal work completed by the tree trimming contractor in the field to ensure compliance with work request forms and approved tree trimming standards. The CUF shall complete post audit forms indicating adequacy of the tree trimming and tree removal work, and forward the completed forms to the vegetation management program manager or coordinator.
• Maintain working relationships with local client personnel as well as all relevant federal, state and local governmental agencies with which it may become necessary to interact with during the course of performing their prescribed vegetation management duties.
• Complies with all regulatory requirements and client vegetation management standards.
• May be required to participate in public presentations and meetings.
• Adheres to personal appearance standards and makes a positive personal impression on others. Adheres to attendance policies and faithful in coming when scheduled and conforms to work hour requirements.
• Conducts work in a safety-conscious manner as not to endanger themselves or others. Keeps the work area [office and/or company vehicle] neat, orderly, and professional in appearance. If applicable, ensures maintenance on company vehicles is done in a timely and efficient manner.
• Knows and exemplifies ACRT’s Guiding Principles.
• Other duties as required.

Equipment, environmental and safety requirements:

• Driving cars, trucks
• Walking on uneven ground
• Exposure to excessive noise
• Exposure to extremes in temperature, humidity, or wetness
• Operation of foot controls or repetitive foot movement
• Exposure to dust, gas, fumes, chemicals
• Various forestry-related equipment, including but not limited to DBH tape and various safety-related equipment such as hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, etc.                              

Required Skills:

• Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of 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.
• Ability to drive and operate a 4x4 vehicle.

Desirables/Preferred:

• Accountability: accepts personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work.
• Accuracy and work quality: performs work completely, correctly, and in a professional manner.
• Adaptability and flexibility: meets the changing conditions and situations in work responsibilities.
• Communications: possesses strong verbal and written communication skills and is able to present ideas in formal and informal
• Creativity: possesses ability to develop and present new ideas and better ways of doing things.
• Dependability: is reliable and has the ability to do required jobs.
• Drive and achievement orientation: sets challenging goals for self and willingly puts in extra time and effort in crisis situations.
• Independence: possesses the ability to work independently.
• Interpersonal skills: builds constructive and effective relationships.
• Job knowledge: possesses sufficient skill and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job.
• Physical fitness: possesses the ability to work consistently and with only moderate fatigue.
• Positive attitude: displays optimism about the work to be done and demonstrates a positive attitude towards customers, peers, and the company.
• Quantity of work: generates adequate amounts of work based on the job requirements.
• Work comparability: performs work that is comparable to other employees with the same length of service in the same position.

Pay: $30 an hour

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR