Utility Forester

Southside Electric Cooperative; Crewe (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Southside Electric Cooperative is seeking a Utility Forester to protect electric reliability, support safe right-of-way maintenance, and strengthen vegetation management across Southside Virginia. In this field-based role you will identify vegetation risks, monitor contractor work, and help ensure safe, reliable power delivery for Cooperative members.

You will use forestry knowledge, tree risk assessment, GPS tools, vegetation management software, and sound judgment to support SEC's programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, forestry management, arboriculture, natural resources, or related field.
• Four or more years of forestry/arboriculture/vegetation management field experience.

Responsibilities

• Inspect rights-of-way and identify hazard trees and vegetation concerns.
• Monitor right-of-way contractors to ensure safety and contract compliance.
• Use GPS tools and vegetation management software to document work and assist reporting.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, System Operations and contractors to reduce outages.
• Communicate with members about tree trimming, line clearance and vegetation concerns.

Skills

Forestry knowledge

Field coordination

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in forestry

Tools

GPS tools

Vegetation management software

Job description

Southside Electric Cooperative is seeking a Utility Forester to help protect electric reliability, support safe right-of-way maintenance, and strengthen vegetation management across Southside Virginia. If you have experience in forestry, arboriculture, utility vegetation management, line clearance, or natural resources-and you enjoy working outdoors where your decisions make a visible impact-this could be a great fit.

About the Role

In this field-based role, you will identify vegetation risks, monitor contractor work, support hazard tree mitigation, and help ensure safe, reliable power delivery for Cooperative members. You will use forestry knowledge, tree risk assessment, GPS tools, vegetation management software, and sound judgment to support SEC's right-of-way and integrated vegetation management programs.

What You'll Do

• Inspect rights-of-way and identify hazard trees, undergrowth, overhang, and other vegetation concerns that could affect electric reliability.
• Monitor right-of-way contractors and arborists to ensure work meets safety standards, contract specifications, and Cooperative expectations.
• Use vegetation management software, GPS tools, mobile devices, and field data to document work, support reporting, and improve program performance.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, System Operations, contractors, and other teams to reduce vegetation-related outages and support storm restoration.
• Communicate professionally with members about tree trimming, line clearance, right-of-way maintenance, and vegetation management concerns.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, forestry management, arboriculture, natural resources, or a related field.
• Four or more years of experience in forestry, arboriculture, utility vegetation management, or related electric utility field work.
• Knowledge of right-of-way management, hazard tree assessment, tree identification, line clearance, integrated vegetation management, and electric distribution or transmission systems.
• Ability to read design drawings, staking sheets, survey plats, easements, and vegetation-related service requirements.
• Strong communication skills, good judgment, safety focus, and the ability to work effectively with members, contractors, employees, and leadership.

Preferred Certifications

• ISA Certified Arborist
• ISA Utility Specialist
• Certified Pesticide Applicator
• VDOT Work Zone Traffic Control – Basic
• First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications

Why Join SEC?

At Southside Electric Cooperative, your work matters. You will help protect critical infrastructure, improve reliability, and serve communities across Southside Virginia in a mission-driven cooperative environment. This position offers the opportunity to combine outdoor field work, forestry expertise, technology, teamwork, and public service.

All hires are subject to a pre-employment background check to include local, state, and federal criminal history; employment history; employment references; education verification; driver's record history; and, where applicable: license verification; safety history (linemen); and FMCSA query for positions requiring a CDL. We are a zero-tolerance drug-free workplace. All hires must take a pre-employment drug & alcohol test and have a pre-employment physical. All employees of Southside Electric Cooperative are subject to random drug tests at any time.