Forestry and Special Program Planner - #259109

Arizona Public Service generates clean, reliable and affordable energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. Our service territory stretches across the state, from the border town of Douglas to the vistas of the Grand Canyon, from the solar fields of Gila Bend to the ponderosa pines of Payson. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.

Since our founding in 1886, APS has demonstrated a strong commitment to our customers in one of the country’s fastest growing states, earning a reputation for customer satisfaction, shareholder value, operational excellence and business integrity.

Our present and future success depends on the creative and dedicated people of our company who demonstrate the principles outlined in the APS Promise: Design for Tomorrow, Empower Each Other and Succeed Together.

Summary

The Forestry and Special Program Planner is responsible for ensuring the departments vegetation management program complies with APS Promise, applicable federal and state laws, ANSI and OSHA standards, industry best management practices, and environmental regulations. Provides direction, monitors productivity, and ensures arboricultural standards are met in a cost-effective manner compatible with current regulatory standards. Contributes to the strategic planning and decision-making process to support the overall department goals and objectives. Prioritizes daily and weekly activities, builds relationships with internal and external customers, effectively implements scheduled activities (e.g., work plans, substation vegetation inspections) and emergent work activities (e.g., maintenance orders, vegetation outages), and auditing completed activities.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum four-year bachelors degree in forestry, arboriculture, biology related field from an accredited college or university and four (4) years related arboriculture experience.
• In lieu of bachelors degree, ISA Certified Arborist plus five (5) years arboriculture field experience.
• Driving throughout statewide division territories to various work sites.
• Working hours outside of the normal work schedule including evening / weekend on call, and overnight travel (approximately 25%).
• Working outdoors during inclement weather or extreme heat or cold situations.
• Exposure to dangers inherent to work sites including sharp, high-speed rotating equipment, electrical facilities, and infrastructure, falling, and flying debris, difficult terrain, pesticides, insects and wildlife.
• This position requires work to be performed in the field and/or at the work site and is approximately 80% field work, 20% office.
  

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications: ISA Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist certification and/or obtain such certifications within one year of employment and maintain certification.

Arizona Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Management Division, Right-of-Way Certified Applicator license and/or obtain such certification within one year of employment and maintain certification. Working knowledge of APS policies and procedures, environmental regulations, applicable ANSI and OSHA standards, and DOT regulations. Computer experience including Microsoft Office 365 suite. Experience communicating effectively across multiple layers of an organization and with geographically distributed field personnel. Interpersonal and communication skills, strong problem solving and multi-taking abilities and show attention to detail. A strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Major Accountabilities

• With general direction and weekly review, responsible for implementing, recording, organizing and documenting divisional and departmental plans and programs which have a significant impact on the performance of the business unit.
• Provide support to overall directives and performance expectations in compliance with the APS Accident Prevention Manual. Assist management in the investigation of personnel injuries, accidents, property damage and any line outages or suspected line outages vegetation contract crews may have caused.
• Coordinate the activities and operations of Pre-Inspectors in assigned area to conform to the overall work plan developed with Supervisor.
• Investigate requests for trimming or removal of trees and brush; perform identification, inspection and evaluation along utility lines and right of ways.
• Address customer concerns related to scheduled trimming/removals and/or completed trimming/removals, including clean up and property damage.
• Plan, schedule and release work to contractor crews in accordance with specific discussion and consultation with the Supervisor to determine needs and priorities. Evaluate performance of contract tree trimming crews and conformance to the contract with APS, industry standards and best management practices; applicable federal and state laws; DOT and EPA SPCC regulations; ANSI and OSHA standards; herbicide product labels and MSDS sheets; APS safety standards; and APS Vegetation Management Manual.
• Provide technical expertise, instruction, and assistance to field personnel.
• Responsible for safety observations and auditing of the contactor for effectiveness, work productivity and quality, safe work practices and compliance with utility specifications, adherence to best management practices and environmental mitigations.
• Ensure that all equipment is operating properly, all trucks are scheduled for periodic maintenance and repairs to maintain DOT compliance and stocked as required. Required to make certain that all tools are in working order.
• Conduct substation vegetation inspections for pruning, removal and replacement and bare ground herbicide treatment.
• Act as liaison for customer (internal/external) interactions, educating and working with utility consumers, tree trimming crews and utility personnel. Participate in training programs and public education programs by preparing and or public speaking.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of technology and regulations through professional reading, attendance at seminars and participation in professional organizations.