Transmission Utility Forester | Panama City, FL

ACRT is currently seeking energetic experienced professionals who enjoy working outdoors. Our Transmission Utility Forester position is ideal for entry level and seasoned professionals with an educational background in forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, environmental studies, conservation or related disciplines and with experience in these fields and line of work.

Our Foresters perform identification, inspection, and evaluation of trees and brush along utility lines; Submit inspection results to clients with recommendations; Plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of assigned tree clearance crews; Discuss and negotiate line-clearance crew access issues; Serve as a liaison between clients, tree crews, and client customers.

Our workforce is essential to keeping the power on for millions of Americans who are either working to fight COVID-19 or who are staying home to stay safe. At ACRT Services our top priority is keeping our employees and those around us safe. Our business naturally lends itself to physical distancing; most of our employees work independently and are provided their own company vehicle, allowing them to avoid close contact with others. Safety has always been a core value and through this pandemic is no different. We have put in safety protocols and initiatives following the guidance of the CDC to keep our workers safe

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential & Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Patrols 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 Transmission Utility Forester 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.
• As requested by the SCUF or Manager, performs all necessary duties for emergency response in accordance with all safety requirements, law and regulations, and applicable labor agreements.
• 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.

Minimum Requirements:

• 2 year degree in forestry, horticulture, environmental science or closely related field OR in lieu of a degree, 2 years of experience in Utility Vegetation Management or other related field (Ex. general Right-of-Way management, Integrated Vegetation Management, nursery work or timber cutting, etc.)
• Vegetation management experience preferred
• ISA Certified Arborist required
• Competent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience working with GIS integrated data collection software/hardware preferred but not required
• Candidate must be self-motivated, organized, production oriented
• Candidate must be comfortable working in an independent environment and managing a geographical area for all vegetation related activities
• Candidate must be able to work with stakeholders, utility customers and line clearance vendors and have excellent interpersonal skills
• Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills
• Multi-tasking and strong time management skills required
• Ability to work in varied terrain and inclement weather with flexible schedules (available nights and weekends as needed)
• Valid driver's license 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 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.

Additional Information:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Group life insurance
• Optional life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Vacation
• Holidays
• 401(k)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company vehicle/fuel card for work-related and commuting purposes
• Boot allowance program
• ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) with a great vesting schedule
• Pre-employment drug screening and background check required

#LI-ACRT

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 60-1.35(c)