Utility Arborist

Position: Utility Arborist
Location: Various – Sacramento, Redding, San Francisco Bay Area, LA, Bakersfield, Ontario, Pasadena, Irvine, Ventura, Fresno, based on client requirements.

Orion Managed Services, LLC. (Orion) is hiring Utility Arborists. These are full-time, hourly, term position for twelve to 36-month assignments. Some over-time and weekend work may be required. Qualified individuals (candidates) will possess International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) arborist certifications and will have a minimum of 3 years of prior tree crew experience for utility vegetation management. Candidates will have competency doing arboriculture work in and around high-voltage utility lines and be competent to conduct pre-inspection of electric system rights-of-ways to determine vegetation management and clearance requirements for encroaching vegetation and hazard trees. Ideal candidates will also possess ISA arborist certificates as Utility Specialists and/or be certified as Master Arborists. Certificates as climbing specialists and aerial lift specialists are a plus.

Utility arborists will be responsible to assess vegetation encroachment and hazard trees within utility rights-of-ways. Working knowledge of stand-off distances (i.e., Minimum Violation Clearance Distances) for electric transmission and distribution power lines is a pre-requisite. Utility arborists will document variances in accordance with utility standards and procedures and ensure data quality, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and daily production rates are met. Utility arborists will identify and document hazard trees both within and outside utility rights-of-ways. Candidates will show strong attention to detail and proficiency in assessing vegetation and hazard trees against utility standards at a 98 percent accuracy rate.

A critical component of the utility arborists position is to be effective at outreach to utility customers for requests for access to private property. Utility arborists will also maintain timely and effective follow-ups and create customer experiences that are positive. Utility arborists will shall proactively resolve customer concerns or elevate to their supervisor or utility representative, where concerns cannot be addressed. Hazard trees will be assessed against utility standards and in accordance with utility procedures. Strong candidates will display good written and verbal communication skills.

Requirements:

• Current ISA Arborist Certificate
• Driver’s license
• Experience driving off-road and with 4-wheel drive vehicles
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather and to hike and walk over rough terrain in mountainous areas
• At least 3 years prior experience working on utility rights-of-ways
• Competence with laptops, tablets, smartphones, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to use utility prescribed vegetation management software, including utility proprietary mobile tree assessment platforms, Fulcrum, Arbora, or equivalent field data collection software.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to resolve problems and to work with staff and utility customers effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening
• Ability to relocate to assigned geography for at least 12 months
• Ability to travel
• Ability to work over-time and occasionally to work weekends

Desired:

• Current ISA Utility Specialist Certificate
• Current ISA Master Arborist Certificate
• Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist Certificate
• Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist
• Certified Safety specialist
• Current First Aid and CPR certificate
• 4-year degree in Silviculture, forestry, horticulture, botany or equivalent
• Current ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

​Next Steps: Please send resume and cover letter to info@orionmsgroup.com. You must include “Open Position: Utility Arborist” in the subject line.