Vegetation Coordinator

BC Hydro; Smithers; On-site; CAD 78,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Lifetime pension

Job summary

BC Hydro in Smithers, BC invites applications for a Vegetation Coordinator who will lead vegetation management planning for transmission and distribution systems. You will work with Operations to develop annual/long-term plans, create site-specific prescriptions, and ensure alignment with safety, regulatory, and environmental standards.

The role requires coordinating with contractors and internal teams, managing costs and performances, and liaising with First Nations and communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, or Biology.
• Diploma in Forestry, Horticulture, or Environmental Studies.
• Certificate in Arboriculture from a recognized college.
• FPBC registration or be eligible and register within two months of hire.
• ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Utility Specialist, or Certified Utility Arborist.
• Four years of experience in utility vegetation management.
• Valid Class Five driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual and long-term vegetation management work plans for review/approval by Operations management.
• Create site-specific vegetation prescriptions ensuring safety, system reliability, and MRS compliance.
• Implement work plans and prescriptions to meet regulatory requirements (NERC, forestry, environmental standards).
• Monitor work plan variances and provide explanations to Integrated Planning.
• Prepare business justifications for work plan changes.
• Oversee contractor crews: estimate costs, pre-job meetings, approve payments, evaluate performance.
• Ensure vegetation work meets specifications and environmental compliance; provide guidance to crews as needed.
• Support vegetation maintenance packages for BC Hydro transmission and distribution systems.
• Review progress, sign off on work packages with registered professionals when required.
• Gather evidence (ground patrols, measurements, photos) for MRS compliance.
• Identify vegetation risks and mitigation plans; report compliance evidence.
• Support vegetation encroachment risk response per SOPs within set timeframes.
• Quality/ completion checks of patrol data; sign off on patrol records.
• Respond to customer inquiries/ complaints related to vegetation management.
• Liaise with First Nations and other groups on vegetation management issues.
• Participate in community outreach to share BC Hydro information; negotiate tree removal with public.

Skills

Experience in utility vegetation

Interpersonal skills

Contract management support

Field inspection coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science in Forestry/Resource Management/Environmental Sciences/Biology

Diploma in Forestry/Horticulture/Environmental Studies

Certificate in Arboriculture

FPBC registration or eligible within 2 months

ISA Certified Arborist/ISA Certified Utility Specialist or equivalent

Valid Class Five driver's licence

Tools

Contract administration training

Job description

BC Hydro is located at Smithers DO. The company is currently looking for applications for the role of Vegetation Coordinator. We are seeking a self-disciplined individual with exceptional interpersonal skills. The chosen applicant will be required to join and begin their duties as soon as possible. This position is available as a permanent full-time opportunity.

Employer Name: BC Hydro
Position: Vegetation Coordinator
No. of vacancies: 1
Annual salary: $ 78,000.00 – 84,100.00
Employment type: Permanent, Full-time
Location: Smithers DO

• The candidate will assist in the development of annual and long-term vegetation management work plans for review and approval by Operations management and submit them to Integrated Planning.
• The candidate will be responsible for site specific vegetation prescriptions based on risk to the system, safety, patrol inventories, species, species diversification, growth rates, site classification, identification of target and non-target vegetation, prioritization of maintenance to maintain Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) and vegetation clearances, and reduction of target densities and environmental sensitivities.
• The candidate will implement work plans and prescriptions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements such as NERC, forestry, environmental standards, and MRS to prevent violation penalties.
• The candidate will monitor and provide explanations for work plan variances to Integrated Planning.
• The candidate will prepare business justification for work plan change requests for management and Integrated Planning approval.
• The candidate will perform a variety of complex contract management support tasks by estimating costs, conducting pre-job meetings, preapproving payment completions based on field inspections, ensuring optimal use of contractor crews and equipment, and evaluating contractor performance for future reference.
• The candidate will oversee, monitor, and inspect contractor crews to ensure work complies with specifications, proper arboriculture standards, and current best practices, and ensure contractor work meets safety and environmental compliance requirements.
• The candidate will provide technical advice, guidance, and direction to contractor crews involved in non-vegetation related work when required.
• The candidate will support operational planning requirements, including the preparation of vegetation maintenance work packages for BC Hydro transmission and distribution systems.
• The candidate will plan and define the type of work and work methods required.
• The candidate will review work to ensure completion as planned and will sign off or obtain sign off from a registered professional on work packages to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and prevent penalties or stop work orders.
• The candidate will gather and compile evidence of ground patrols, including measurements and photos, for MRS compliance evidence collection.
• The candidate will identify vegetation risks, including low conductor-to-ground clearance areas, develop and implement mitigation plans, and submit compliance evidence and mitigation plans to meet Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) reporting requirements.
• The candidate will support vegetation encroachment risk response in accordance with standard operating procedures within a specified timeframe by assessing and confirming risk, reporting vegetation encroachment, coordinating resources for vegetation removal, collecting field measurement data, and participating in violation investigation interviews as required.
• The candidate will perform quality and completion checks of transmission vegetation patrol data collected by contractors and sign off on patrol records.
• The candidate will support the preparation of quality assurance reports to identify improvements in data collection within patrol records and assist in tracking completion quality reviews for contractor performance assessment.
• The candidate will respond to a variety of customer inquiries and complaints related to vegetation management activities.
• The candidate will liaise with First Nations, internal and external groups, and agencies on matters related to vegetation management work.
• The candidate will participate in community and outreach programs to ensure BC Hydro information is distributed within the community, negotiate tree removal and related issues with the public, and resolve claims related to vegetation management work.
• The candidate will provide technical advice and guidance to management related to the resolution of vegetation and operational and maintenance related problems and coordinate vegetation process resources during major weather events.
• The candidate will perform duties of a minor nature related to the above duties which do not affect the rating of the job.

Job Requirements

• The candidate will be required to hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry, Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, or Biology.
• The candidate will be required to hold a Diploma in Forestry, Horticulture, or Environmental Studies from an Institute of Technology.
• The candidate will be required to hold a Certificate in Arboriculture from a recognized college.
• The candidate must be registered with the Forest Professionals British Columbia (FPBC) or be eligible for registration and register with FPBC within two (2) months of hire and complete requirements within two (2) years of registration.
• The candidate must be registered with the International Society of Arboriculture as a Certified Arborist and Certified Utility Specialist, or be registered as a Certified Utility Arborist, Arborist Technician, or Climbing Arborist.
• The candidate must have four (4) years of experience working in utility vegetation management or in the field of forestry vegetation management.
• The candidate must complete a variety of in-house courses related to contract administration, environmental issues, and specific applications/systems, or complete them within three (3) months of starting the job.
• The candidate must hold a valid Class Five (5) driver’s licence.

Security and safety

• The candidate will be required to successfully complete pre-employment alcohol and drug testing as a condition of employment for this safety-sensitive position.

Work Conditions

• The candidate is required to work with frequent exposure to field work.
• The candidate will spend up to 80% of time in the field in urban, rural, and wilderness areas.
• The candidate will be frequently exposed to all weather conditions.
• The candidate will work in construction areas and regularly hike with a lightly weighted backpack (up to 20 lbs) while walking over rough terrain in wilderness areas on a regular basis.
• The candidate is required to work in environments with some exposure to wild animals and dogs.
• The candidate must be prepared for occasional exposure to irate customers and hazardous materials during field operations.
• The candidate will be required to spend up to 50 nights per year away from home.
• The candidate must be willing to use helicopters in the course of inspection work.
• The candidate will drive a 4X4 on back roads and may use Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) as required.
• The candidate will receive a comprehensive benefits package.
• The candidate will be eligible for a minimum of 15 paid vacation days annually.
• The candidate will receive a lifetime pension benefit.
• The candidate will be eligible for a flexible work arrangement based on role requirements.
• The candidate will receive access to training and development courses.