Vegetation Management Inspector - Elevated Routine Patrol (ERP)

Description:

We are requiring an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Certification for this posting.

The Vegetation Management Inspector Series (VMI) positions will patrol for hazardous trees, perform identification, inspection and evaluation of trees and brush along utility lines.

The VMI will submit inspection results to clients with recommendations; may plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of assigned tree clearance crews; Discuss and negotiate line-clearance crew access issues; may serve as a liaison between clients, tree crews, and client customers.

The VMI Series positions are covered under International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245, all employees in this position are required to join the union.

This role provides a hands-on opportunity to:

- Conduct field surveys along power line corridors

- Assess trees for potential risk to electrical infrastructure

- Support wildfire prevention and public safety efforts

- Contribute to proactive vegetation and hazard mitigation

This position is ideal for individuals with experience in forestry, arboriculture, or environmental science who enjoy outdoor fieldwork and making a measurable impact in their community.

Scope of Work – Elevated Routine Patrol (ERP)

Program Overview:

The Elevated Routine Patrol (ERP) program focuses on surveying power lines and identifying trees that may pose a strike risk to electrical facilities. The objective is to ensure regulatory compliance and system reliability by:

- Measuring vegetation distance to power lines

- Evaluating growth rates

- Maintaining compliant clearances between vegetation and electrical infrastructure

- Surveying power lines

- Conducting inspections along assigned power line corridors

- Utilizing tools such as rangefinders and DBH tapes

Duties/Responsibilities:

- Perform circuit patrols in accordance with the annual VM plan, VM patrol standards and processes

- Identify required tree work along the existing PG&E rights-of- way; prescribing tree work to be performed; document inspection done

- Notify property owners/agencies when tree work will occur and obtaining any necessary authorizations from the property owners/agencies to perform the tree work

- May serve as contact for new business and re-construction work

- Perform work verification inspections verifying applicable inspection and tree work completion and quality

- Perform investigation and documentation of tree-related outages and attending outage meetings as requested

- May be assigned a variety of VM Tags; perform tracking, field checking, prescribing of work, and notifying of customers associated with non- routine locations

- Assist in close out CC&B cases in the field after fielding the case

- Support emergency response; dispatching tree crews, field checking sites, first responder stand-by agreements

- Work independently complete tasks assigned by the supervisor

- Support oversight of vegetation projects, including field operations such as tree assessment, tree trimming, and other work as required

- Participate in contractor safety and tailboard meetings

- Act as customer relations representative on behalf of PG&E

- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations

- Complete electronic and paper-based documentation and reporting

- More experience/Senior VMI may audit work performed by other less experienced VMI

- Senior VMI may assist with training of new VMI

- Senior VMI may act as liaison to contractors to resolve obstacles to assist with work being performed in safe and productive manner

Requirements:

Desired Skills / Abilities:

- Ability to work independently

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Ability to read and follow maps

- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills

- Ability to identify local trees and knowledge of growth rate

- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

- Ability to prioritize and organize paying attention to detail for accuracy

- Accountable: accepting personal responsibility

- Ability to work additional hours and days

Minimum Qualifications:

- High School diploma or GED

- Required to maintain a Class C driver’s license

- Must be able to meet company driver acceptability requirements

- Ability to drive 4x4 truck or SUV

Experience / Education Requirements:

VMI Start

- One (1) year of related arboricultural experience, OR

- ISA Certified Arborist, OR

- 2-year or 4-year college degree in a related field

- TRAQ certification required for this posting

VMI-1

- One (1) year of Vegetation Management Inspector Start AND

- One (1) year of related arboricultural experience, OR

- ISA Certified Arborist, OR

- 2-year or 4-year college degree in a related field

- TRAQ certification required for this posting

SVMI

- Five (5) years of experience as a tree crew climber/tree crew foreman with at least two (2) years of line clearance certification OR

- Five (5) years of experience as a Vegetation Management Inspector AND ISA Certified Arborist OR

- Five (5) years of experience as a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) OR

- Five (5) years of experience as a Utility Inspector or higher classification with at least one (1) year of vegetation management experience OR

- Four (4) years of Military Service with honorable discharge AND at least one (1) year additional year of Vegetation Management Inspection experience

- Must successfully complete all training:

- OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview (must be completed within six months of start date)

- Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP) or ISA Certified Arborist (CA) with Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) certificate (must be completed within six months of test eligibility)

- 911 Standby Training (must be completed within one month of start date)

- Working knowledge of QA/QC (must be completed within one month of start date)

- TRAQ certification required for this posting

Physical Requirements:

- Prolonged periods of standing outdoors

- Prolonged periods walking and hiking outdoors in a variety of terrain

- Prolonged periods of sitting and driving 4x4 truck and/or SUV

- Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds at times

- Must be able to bend, lift, stretch, climb and crawl to check equipment and buildings

- Must be able to perform work in a variety of weather conditions

Bargaining Position: Yes

Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, Vision, AD&D and Term life Insurance

Company Vehicle for Business Use

Company Cell Phone

FLSA: Non-exempt Hourly

Compensation: $40.74 to $50.35 hourly

Subsistence: $50.00 per day worked

Per Diem: $100 per day, 7 days per full work week worked

Potential for up to 60 hours per week, depending on workload

Employment with Sierra Forestry Consulting LLC is contingent upon satisfactorily passing applicable drug screening and background check. SFC is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.