Utility Forester

APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants are required to submit a combined cover letter and resume in one document. Your cover letter must summarize your interest, education and experience relative to this position. Also specifically address any current/previous utility experience. Incomplete materials will not be considered.

To expedite the application process, combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF document before applying and upload electronically when requested in the online application process.

This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED and applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.  The first review date for application materials is scheduled for April 29th.

Interested parties are also invited to contact Human Resources at joblist@chelanpud.org to discuss the position.

SALARY RANGE
The starting salary range for this position is $76,960 – $96,200 (based on qualifications).  With tenure and strong performance in this role an employee may earn up to a maximum of $115,440, annualized.

Introductory Period: New employees holding regular positions must complete an introductory period of twelve months.

BENEFITS EPOA
In addition to competitive wages Chelan PUD employees also enjoy outstanding benefits which include zero cost employer funded medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits, access to the employee assistance program, a VEBA health reimbursement account, and long-term care.

Washington state retirement PERS participation and optional 457 plan participation with an employer matching 401(a) plan.

Leave, life & disability benefits including paid leave starting at 21 days per calendar year up to 35 with tenure, 11 paid holidays per calendar year, paid jury duty, short-term disability & long-term disability, and basic life, AD&D, and optional voluntary life.

The work life benefits include optional flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care, educational assistance, various rewards and recognition programs and position specific stipends.

For more explanation of the district benefits please visit our benefits website www.mychelanpudbenefits.org.

JOB POSTING
Utility Forester
Join our team at Chelan County Public Utility District. As one of the largest hydroelectric generating utilities in the Northwest, our mission at Chelan PUD is to improve the quality of life for the thousands of people who call our pristine desert and mountain community home.

Overview
This position inspects and inventories vegetation along District power line corridors, identifying hazardous vegetation and determining the best method to correct and address these hazards. This position regularly talks with customer owners, city/county & state agencies about their trees near power lines and tree pruning techniques or tree removal requirements needed for safety and service reliability. This position inspects and audits contractor tree work, coordinates jobs between landowners and contract tree crews, and works with other District field personnel when needed.

Responsibilities

• Hazardous Vegetation Inventory: Evaluate, determine and collect inventory of hazardous vegetation along District power line corridors. Works independently, inspecting trees along power lines throughout the District service area.
• Contractor Coordination & Inspection: Coordinates, plans and conducts operations of customer tree work between tree contractors and property owners. Organizes confidential customer contact information and tree work assignments. Audits contractor completed work to ensure compliance with the District’s contract specifications prior to invoicing.
• Customer Service: Professionally represents the District responding to customer power line/tree inquiries and complaints. Follows up with customers in a timely manner providing industry standard expertise to address and resolve their questions, issues and concerns. Must have effective oral and written communications skills.
• Represent the District’s Forestry Program at different public events, conferences and educational events. May involve some overnight travel.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• As an essential function, drive a motorized vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the District.

Reports To
Program Manager – Utility Vegetation

Overtime exemption
Exempt

Qualifications

Education
Equivalent experience (year for year) may substitute for required education.

• Associate Degree in forestry, urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture or a related field or equivalent from two-year college or technical school required.

Experience

• 3+ years utility vegetation management experience required.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Driver’s License at hire and WA Driver’s License within 30 days of hire required.
• Certified Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) upon hire is preferred.
• Certified Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) within 1 year required.
• Utility specialist certificate from International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) within 1½ years required.

Skills and Abilities
A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities:

• Requires knowledge of accepted industry practices for trimming trees near electric power lines; directional tree pruning techniques as generally described in ANSI A300
• Knowledge and understanding of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution line clearance tree trimming MAD zone.
• Knowledge of tree physiology, biology and species identification
• Knowledge of theory and operation of electric utility transmission and distribution systems and associated devices; safety requirements for working around energized electric facilities
• Knowledge of the equipment, tools and methods used in trimming trees near power lines.
• Requires good organization and problem-solving skills
• Requires critical thinking skills.
• Requires good public relations, negotiation and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Ability to recognize danger trees
• Ability to recognize electrical hazards
• Requires ability to develop effective working relationships with contractors, customers and fellow employees
• Ability to work independently in a self-motivated/self-directed manner, professionally represent Chelan PUD with the public, read and understand electrical distribution & transmission maps
• Requires the ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern to determine the best outcome
• Ability to read maps.
• The incumbent must possess or obtain within one year of employment the following certifications: First Aid, CPR and Washington State traffic flagging control card.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual is required to have knowledge of PeopleSoft Time Entry/HRIS; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Excel and PC Hardware. Intermediate knowledge is required in Microsoft Word; General Office Equipment; Daily use of a four wheel drive vehicle; office/field computers; occasional use of all-terrain vehicles; GIS; District communication radios; cellular/office phones; Data collection software using mobile technology; and Common forestry tools such as diameter tapes and tree paint will also be used. This position requires the use of personnel equipment (PPE).
• Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
• This position communicates with the public more than 20% of the time. Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is preferred.

Physical Demands
Sitting – Frequently
Standing – Regularly
Walking – Frequently
Climb Stairs – Occasionally
Talking – Regularly
Hearing – Regularly
Visual – Near Acuity – Regularly
Visual – Far Acuity – Regularly
Visual – Depth Perception – Regularly
Visual – Color Discrimination – Regularly
Feeling – Occasionally

Working Conditions
Exposure to Weather – Regularly
Extreme Cold – Regularly
Extreme Heat – Regularly
Wet and/or Humidity – Regularly
Atmospheric Conditions (dust, fumes, etc.) – Frequently
Noise Intensity Level: – Moderate

District Values

Safety – Protect public and employee health and safety
Stewardship – Acting on behalf of customer-owners, protecting public resources entrusted to us
Trustworthy – Competence, integrity, respect
Operational Excellence – High-quality innovative work execution

Equal Opportunity/ADA
Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.

EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers (chelanpud.org) page in English and Spanish.

The job functions and physical requirements described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
A valid driver’s license is required for this position (verified upon hire).  A valid Washington State driver’s license is required within 30 days of employment.

DISCLAIMER
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

EEO
Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.

EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers page in English and Spanish.

Chelan PUD will not be offering any work visa sponsorship for this role.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

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 60-I.35(c)