Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor

Position Open Until Filled

$45.80/hr Minimum Starting Base Pay* + KPI Bonuses + Competitive Benefits

Qualifications may warrant greater starting base pay within the full pay range.  Individual base pay is determined by experience, job-related skills, and relevant education or training.

Position Summary

This position provides tactical day to day leadership and direction to the Vegetation Maintenance Department for the Cooperative.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate external contract services for the Vegetation Maintenance Department

• Analyze and evaluate influencing factors on vegetation growth, i.e. weather, growing season, availability of water, etc.

• Forecast the general impact of vegetation growth on system reliability, public safety and environmental consequences.

• Conduct field inspections, inspect and validate the work of contractors

• Maintain a cyclical Vegetation Maintenance Program

• Update and provide maps in an electronic format to field personnel and contractors

• Identify and communicate Vegetation Maintenance issues to management

• Resolve member concerns and complaints

• Prepare reports, permits and written documents regarding VM activities to ensure department compliance with federal, state and environmental regulatory requirements, i.e. USFW, TCNR, BCP, COA, city/county ordinances and internal policies

• Participate in outage restoration by directing vegetation personnel and contractors in situations up to and including large scale division outages caused by natural disasters, weather, etc.

• Prepare written documents regarding vegetation management activities to ensure department compliance with internal policies and NERC/PUCT/NMPRC regulatory requirements and environmental regulations

• Keep abreast of current industry developments through maintaining communications with all pertinent agencies and departments

• Obtain necessary permits from public agencies

• Represent the Company on Vegetation Maintenance issues and associated environmental issues and promote the Company as a concerned corporate citizen

• Supervise the work of field, office, administrative or customer service employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines and proper procedures, correcting errors or problems

• Provide employees with guidance in handling difficult or complex problems and in resolving escalated complaints or disputes

• Implement corporate and departmental policies, procedures and service standards in conjunction with management

• Discuss job performance problems with employees to identify causes and issues and work to resolve problems

• Teach and instruct employees in job duties and company policies or arrange for training to be provided

• Evaluate employees' job performance and conformance to regulations and recommend appropriate personnel action

• Recruit, instruct and supervise subordinates

• Provides the forestry and arboricultural expertise necessary for managing line clearance operations through directing and monitoring contractor performance within an assigned area, including designating daily activities, performing weekly review and monitoring monthly production reports, and other measurements as well as frequent field visits for direct observation; performs regular and detailed audits of contractor logs, time sheets, invoices and other records

• Interpret and communicate work procedures and company policies to staff

• Assists in developing and reviewing operating procedures

• Assists in developing and managing department budget

• Assists in contract renewal and bid process; processes weekly contractor invoices

• Conducts periodic safety, environmental and other training

• Establish work priorities and activities

• Recommend promotions, transfers, hires and other disciplinary action

• Establish metrics and prepare monthly reports

• Coordinate activities with other departments

Maintain the security of confidential information

Stay abreast of advances in technology

Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance

Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned.

Supervisory and/or Leadership Responsibilities

A full range of supervisory activities, training, evaluation, counseling and recommendation for termination. This includes, but is not limited to, effectively communicating organizational policies and other information to subordinates, ensuring that employees have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of business and management principles including strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques and budgeting

• Knowledge of regulations, ordinances and rulings that impact the company or program

• Knowledge of using computer systems, which may include setting up and using hardware and software programs, entering data or processing information

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service

• Knowledge of herbicides and related regulations

• Knowledge of electric utility construction practices for transmission and distribution systems

• Knowledge of Utility Vegetation Management safety rules and practices

• Knowledge of GIS Mapping System

• Knowledge of tree physiology and biology

• Skilled in monitoring and managing performance

• Skilled in establishing and communicating performance expectations and metrics

• Skilled in time management

• Skilled in prioritizing and managing changing priorities

• Skilled in anticipating, identifying, analyzing and resolving conflict and problems

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to a wide-range of questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing

• Ability to listen and understand information verbally and in writing

• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization

Minimum Qualifications - (Education, Experience, Certification, & Licensing)

• Bachelors degree in Horticulture, Arboriculture, Forestry, or a related field of study

• Directly related experience may substitute for education

• Four years of electric utility experience

• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist

• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Utility Specialist

• International Society of Arboriculture, Texas Chapter Oak Wilt Qualification

• International Society of Arboriculture Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or obtain within two (2) years from hire

• Two years of demonstrated leadership skills

• Valid Texas driver's license

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here 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 qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee may be required to stand; reach with hands and arms, stoop and kneel

• The employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time

• The employee may be required to lift, carry, push, pull or move up to 25 pounds

• The employee may be required to travel

• The employee must be available for call out duty

• The employee will routinely utilize Personal Protective Equipment