Regional Forester

Job Summary

The Regional Forester effectively manages internal resources and external contracted resources to achieve high quality Forestry Operations within assigned area.  To be successful the Regional Forester balances the need for public safety, system reliability, safe operations, a healthy sustainable urban forest, and superior customer satisfaction, within a challenging budgetary environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborates with Area personnel to evaluate reliability concerns related to Line Clearance, recommends a course of action to resolve. Coordinates with area operations personnel to implement actions using Line Clearance resources, monitors progress and keeps management apprised of progress to resolve.  
• Oversees utilization of Line Clearance contract work force within area of responsibility. Develops and implements short term action plans to ensure progress and eventual completion of the company’s overall Line Clearance plan, recommends relocation or reassignment of Line Clearance crews as required. 
• Exercises authority to approve or disapprove Line Clearance work in order to ensure compliance with state and federal policies, WEC Energy Group standards and contract provisions.
• Oversees program to periodically inspect work sites to observe Line Clearance contract crews and inspect work in progress. Ensures work is being performed safely using appropriate personal protective equipment, public hazard mitigation, tools, equipment.  Directs actions to correct problems.
• Reviews all Line Clearance contractor invoices and independently makes decisions to approve or disapprove invoices totaling approximately $250,000 per week.
• Actively participates or leads multiple department, company, or external task forces and teams to develop, evaluate, and revise Line Clearance policies, operating procedures, work methods, process improvement and performance evaluation procedures. 
• Anticipates needs, coordinates, and may direct Line Clearance resources during storm emergency operations.
• Attains expert level proficiency with systems and processes used to initiate, manage and track forestry work.
• Confers with real estate, legal, landowners, and municipalities to interpret complex easement rights and resolve line clearance issues and disputes. Involves security and personnel when necessary to enforce easements for reliability and safety.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with key municipal and agency personnel in assigned area. Communicates forestry program objectives and seeks to pro-actively coordinate activities related to Line Clearance work. 
• Supervises a team of Line Clearance personnel to perform all vegetation management activities in assigned areas.
• Participates in community activities and external industry organizations as a representative of the company to advance good urban forestry practices and to educate the general public
• Functions as company technical expert for all Vegetation Management issues.  Provides expert level advice and recommendations in the development of long and short term Line Clearance plans and policy.
• Develops and presents general and specialized Line Clearance related presentations and training to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops and maintains comprehensive Line Clearance/Forestry related literature and website information for customers, employees, municipalities, contractors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Either a bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Horticulture, Urban Forestry or a related field along with two years of supervisory experience; or a two year degree in one of these fields and five years of supervisory experience. 
• Must obtain and maintain certification as an ISA Certified Arborist within 12 months of employment.
• Must be able to make important decisions with minimal guidance related to resolution of customer issues; resolution of forestry related system reliability issues; and resource utilization.
• Must be responsible for communicating expert level technical information and recommendations related to all aspects of vegetation management and so must have demonstrated strong technical skills, as well as above average oral and written communication skills. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership and team building skills
• Above average decision making skills
• Mature judgment
• Strong personal responsibility for results
• Ability to think creatively and innovatively