Vegetation Operations Inspector

Pacific Gas and Electric Company; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company seeks a Vegetation Management/VM Inspector supervisor to oversee field safety, work quality, and contractor performance across distribution and transmission systems. The role supports safe, efficient operations and regulatory compliance.

The position is IBEW Local 1245 represented, with wages governed by collective bargaining; a starting hourly rate of $54.46 applies and payscale adjustments may occur with seniority and market conditions.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview within six months of start date.
• CTSP or CUFSP certificate required or within six months of eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Liaison to Contractors to resolve obstacles safely, cost-effectively, and efficiently in the field.
• May audit contractor vegetation crews to improve quality of work.
• Ensure proper equipment usage and approve scheduling changes with PG&E and Contractors.

Skills

English proficiency

Spanish proficiency

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

OSHA 30-hour safety

CTSP or CUFSP certificate

Job description

Department Overview

Vegetation Management and System Inspections is committed to improving the electric system for the safety of customers and communities by inspecting electric equipment and managing vegetation located near powerlines that could cause a wildfire or power outage. Vegetation Management inspects approximately 100,000 miles of overhead powerlines and prune or manage more than 1 million trees annually. System Inspections examines distribution, transmission, and substation equipment to find and identify potential risks to the safety and reliability of the system. The team's commitment is to make sure PG&E's electric equipment is working properly and delivering reliable electricity for our hometowns. Vegetation Management and System Inspections is comprised of approximately 10,000 coworkers and contractors.

Position Summary

This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 represented classification, which has over 100 years of experience representing employees at PG&E. This job is subject to collective bargaining.

Performs direct oversight of Vegetation Management work conducted on Electric Distribution or Transmission systems. Responsibilities include overseeing field safety, work quality, customer relations, public safety, permit compliance, and Contractor performance.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This position is subject to collectively bargained hourly wage rates and increases. The starting wage rate for this position is $54.46 per hour. The wage rate is based on collective bargaining agreements.

Job Responsibilities

• Liaison to the Contractors to resolve obstacles to the completion of the work in a safe, cost effective, efficient, timely, and productive manner, such as managing time and expenses (T&E) in the field, in order to minimize rework and drive quality.
• May audit work performed by contractor vegetation crews to correct quality issues and drive an enhanced culture around quality of work.
• Ensures personnel stay focused on the assigned job and the appropriate equipment is used. May approve scheduling and scope changes in the field with PG&E management and Contractors as required.
• Encourages public, contractor, and employee safety on site at all times by promoting positive leadership, positive safety culture, good catches, exhibiting an absolute commitment to safety for self and others, and by ensuring all applicable safety rules, regulations and standards are followed. Performs and documents Safety Observations and Good Catches.
• May audit work performed by VM Inspectors to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
• May assist with the training and onboarding of VM Inspectors.
• May assist with the onboarding of contractors and sub-contractors to drive safety and quality, and to ensure contractor awareness of PG&E specific administrative controls.
• May assist with incident investigation as a subject matter expert.
• Required to participate in the Employer Pull Notice Program (EPN) with DMV.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• High School diploma or GED
• Required to maintain a Class C driver’s license
• Proficient in English
• Must meet one of the experience requirements below:
• Five (5) years of experience as a tree crew climber/tree crew foreman with at least two (2) years of Utility Line Clearance Tree Crew experience OR
• Five (5) years of experience as a VM Inspector or Sr VM Inspector with at least three (3) years of Utility Line Clearance Tree Crew experience OR
• Five (5) years of experience as a Registered Professional Forester OR
• Five (5) years of experience as a Utility Inspector or higher classification with at least three (3) years of Utility Line Clearance Tree Crew experience OR
• Four (4) years of Military Service with honorable discharge and at least one (1) additional year of Utility Line Clearance Tree Crew experience.
• Must meet the training requirements below:

• OSHA 30-hour construction safety overview (Must be completed within six months of start date)
• Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP) certificate or Consulting Utility Forester Safety Professional (CUFSP) certificate. (Must be completed within six months of test eligibility)
• Employees will be provided the opportunity, at Company cost, up to two attempts to obtain the above certification as follows:
• Such retest attempt(s) shall be made and taken within the six-month of eligibility requirement with reasonable flexibility allowed for training and testing windows.
• In the event the employee is unsuccessful after two attempts and does not possess or maintain the required OSHA qualification, the employee will be subject to the release pursuant to Title 106.5(b)(1) or demotion under the provisions of Title 306

Desired:

• Proficient in Spanish

Pre-Employment Testing

PG&E Employees: You must have qualified on all prerequisite tests prior to submitting an application; and all secondary tests prior to interviewing. For more information on prerequisite and secondary exams, including study guides, please visit the Pre-employment testing program website.

• Post-Offer Physical Assessment (POPA)