Utility Vegetation Management Specialist

Job Description:

Utility Vegetation Management Specialist

Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus three (3) years of customer service in vegetation management.
• Graduation with an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a related field, may substitute for experience, up to two (2) years

Licenses or Certifications:

• None.

Notes to Applicants
This position will assist Austin Energy customers with requests, concerns, and follow-up on status requests via phone and email regarding tree trimming near power lines, tree trimming ordinances and heritage and protected size tree species restrictions, condition and health of trees, tree replacements compatible tree species with utility lines. Will assist Austin Energy Inspectors with utility circuit, streetlight and line fuse maps for maintenance distribution, property ownership research, contact information and tree trimming history of properties. Will assist Austin Energy Contractors with Field activity reports with Customer Care & Billing (CC&B) and AE Forester programs, utility circuit maps, contact information of property owners.

This position is within the AE Contractor Vegetation Management team:
15 AE Distribution and Transmission Field Staff
4 AE Customer Service/Temp program process Staff

This team manages:
4 Contractors (50-60 Crews) performing Distribution and Transmission Energized Line Clearance work.
1 Contractor (2-3 Crews) performing Distribution Streetlight Line Clearance work.
15-25 Davey Resource Group Pre-Planning Arborist for work planning
2 Contractors performing tree planting and replacement.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.

• This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.

Work Schedule:

• Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends
• Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
• Employee may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.

Fair Labor Standards Act:

This position is classified as Non-Exempt
Pay Range
27.41 - 33.30
Hours
Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Additional work hours may be required to support the 24-hour Utility operations, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, inclement weather and emergency closures.
Job Close Date 02/11/2025 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location SCC, 2500 Montopolis Dr. Austin, TX 78741 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 2016 or later.
• Experience utilizing mapping software.
• Experience with customer service such as, dispatching calls to correct City entities, dealing with escalated calls and customer concerns within a utility in vegetation management.
• Administrative experience in vegetation management relating to scheduling, data-entry, database management and/or record keeping.
• Ability to travel to multiple work sites throughout the work day.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Uses utility vegetation management principals and methods to coordinate utility Right-Of-Way ( ROW ) maintenance and vegetation growth control, reducing the risk of outages, fires, and other disruptions and dangers to Austin Energy (AE) customers and field crews. Generates AE Forester Vegetation Work Plans (VWPs) from Customer Care & Billing (CC&B) field activity reports, customer ticket reports, and AE staff requests. Coordinates with AE field crews and AE contractors to verify and communicate the VWP . Analyzes, researches, and responds to AE customer and field crew inquiries related to utility infrastructure tree trimming ordinances, tree removal or tree replacements restrictions, environmental constraints, and heritage and protected tree species permits. Provides field staff with circuit, streetlight, and line fuse maps, property ownership records, contact information, and tree trimming history of properties for distribution and transmission work planning. Researches and identifies circuits planned for vegetation management, and provides Home Owners Associations (HOAs) with the required notification per City of Austin policy. Identifies and responds to customer complaints and escalation calls and provides appropriate solutions and follows up in a judicious and timely manner. Enters and extracts vegetation management data and supporting information into multiple data management software systems to document actions taken to resolve requests and verify work orders are completed. Prepares audit work package to include audit work documents, circuit maps, checklists, forms, property ownership research, and related documents, and ensure quality vegetation management is executed. Supports Electric Control Center operations by gathering emergency response vegetation work management data and information. Participates in public hearings, legal proceedings, or public information requests as a utility vegetation management subject matter expert.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of forestry and utility vegetation management concepts, methods, and techniques.
• Knowledge of current utility and energy industry issues, trends, and political, economic, and social issues affecting the vegetation management programs.
• Knowledge of local and industry laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Skill in reading and understanding oral, written, and electronic communications.
• Skill in collaboration and negotiation using diplomacy and tact with customers by telephone, in person, in-writing, or email.
• Skill in planning, prioritizing, organizing, and time management.
• Skill in managing projects and programs.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and professional working relationships with city employees, customers, and the public.
• Ability to assess and make vegetation management recommendations.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing and evolving business processes.
• Ability to interpret and apply current industry laws and regulations.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus three (3) years of customer service in vegetation management. Graduation with an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a related field, may substitute for experience, up to two (2) years. Do you meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

* Please describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your proficiency level with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 2016 or later. Include functions you have used for each (if applicable).
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience utilizing mapping software.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with customer service such as, dispatching calls to correct City entities, dealing with escalated calls and customer concerns.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your administrative experience in vegetation management such as scheduling, data-entry, database management and/or record keeping, dispatching calls to correct City entities, dealing with escalated calls (if applicable)
(Open Ended Question)
* This position is classified as an “essential” position. The candidate must be able to work during emergencies or bad weather if they are scheduled to work and, in some cases, when they are not scheduled. Shifts may change according to departmental needs. Are you able to meet these schedule requirements?

• Yes
• No

* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites throughout the workday?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Check.

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents