Arborist/ROW Inspector

About us:

Founded in 1990, LS Power is a premier development, investment, and operating company focused on the North American power and energy infrastructure sector, with leading platforms across generation, transmission and energy transition solutions. Since inception, LS Power has developed or acquired over 50,000 MW of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage, and natural gas-fired facilities. Through LS Power Grid, the Firm has built and operates approximately 780 miles of high-voltage transmission with another 350+ miles and multiple grid infrastructure projects currently under construction or development. Across its efforts, LS Power actively invests in and scales businesses that are accelerating the energy transition, including electric vehicle charging, demand response, microgrids, renewable fuels and waste-to-energy platforms. Over the years, LS Power has raised $65 billion in debt and equity capital to support North American infrastructure.

Our Purpose, Mission, & Values:

Our Purpose is to solve complex energy problems that improve the world

Our Mission is to make lives better by developing a cleaner and more reliable energy ecosystem

Our Values are the willingness to participate in and help strengthen our culture of integrity, Innovation, Teamwork, and Taking Ownership

Our People create value and are our Most Valuable asset.  We take our values of Integrity, Innovation, Teamwork and Taking Ownership seriously and ask candidates to think about how they can help us further enhance our culture with their specific skillsets, capabilities and experiences.

Benefits

We provide our team the opportunity to share their unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and continue in their career growth. We are committed to supporting employees’ happiness, healthiness, and overall well-being by providing comprehensive benefits that include 100% employer paid premium healthcare, paid parental leave and more.

About the Role:

This position supports the regulated electric transmission business of LS Power operating in the south and west regions of the US with a primary reporting office in Amarillo, TX.  As ROW inspector you will be responsible for maintaining transmission line rights of way and overseeing contractors that perform clearing and chemical treatment services along with performing routine line inspections and serving as the primary contact for landowner easement relationships.  Currently, the majority of transmission line assets are in the panhandle of Texas with an additional short segment in Leon County Texas.  This position reports to the Manager of Vegetation Management for LS Power.

Works in both a corporate office environment and various field locations near energized high-voltage transmission lines.  The individual will be issued a company truck, and it will be necessary to occasionally trailer equipment or materials (e.g. UTV).  Periodic helicopter flights will be necessary for performing aerial inspections of line and ROW segments.  The Company will provide all required training and supply PPE to support field work assignments.    The individual may have occasional visits to other regional operating facilities for meetings and project support.  Working hours are generally normal but circumstances or deadlines may dictate extended hours to complete the required tasks. Must have a valid, state issued driver’s license and agree to a pre-employment review of the state driving record.  Operates computer equipment, uses the phone daily, and travels locally and regionally in accordance with maintenance schedules and operational demands.

What you will do:

• Execute the regional vegetation management program to meet the objectives of eliminating vegetation threats while fostering sustainable ROW practices
• Provide direct oversight, monitor performance and implement control measures of external vegetation contractors
• Assist in scheduling work of external contractors while balancing priorities of safety, timeliness and criticality of work
• Assure that electrical clearances are maintained in accordance with LS Power policy and applicable external stakeholder requirements such as NYISO or New York regulatory protocols
• Review and approve chemical treatment plans by contractors and retain documentation pursuant to local or state requirements
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with landowners impacted by vegetation management work
• Coordinate and conduct aerial and ground patrol inspections for the assigned service territories
• Support System Operations during after-hours outage restoration and emergencies
• Utilize the LS Power work management application for documenting inspections, classifying findings and logging work results to create the required compliance evidence repository
• Identify opportunities to improve practices and reduce cost of vegetation management services in order to optimize the program without sacrificing results
• Routinely interface with vendors, interconnected utilities, contractors and consultants in the performance of daily responsibilities
• Requires some overnight travel to remote office/field locations and subject to after-hours consultations for unplanned system events

We want you on our team because you…

• Are experienced in vegetation management, forestry/arboriculture, and/or federal forestry services
• Have an Associate’s degree in forestry, vegetation management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Hold an ISA Arborist certification or are able to obtain certification within one year

Ideally, you also have

• ISA Utility Arborist Specialist certification (a plus)
• Familiarity with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standard FAC-003-5
• Working knowledge of Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) principles
• Familiarity with the National Electric Safety Code and other electrical system safety standards
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills that enable you to work effectively both within traditional reporting structures and in team environments
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software applications
• The ability to learn specialized workflow management software and maintain proficiency as technology evolves
• The discipline to work independently with minimal direct supervision