Vegetation Program Manager

dairynet; Rushford (MN); On-site; USD 93,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MiEnergy Cooperative in Rushford, MN is seeking a Vegetation Management Manager to lead a critical program ensuring safe, reliable electric service for our communities. You will blend strategic planning, field leadership, and community engagement while guiding contractor crews and internal teams.

The role requires an associate degree or ISA/Utility Arborist certification with five years of line clearance or vegetation management experience, plus proven leadership.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, Environmental Science, or related field, or ISA/Utility Arborist certification.
• Five years of experience in line clearance, vegetation management, tree work, or arboriculture; leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee MiEnergy, Allamakee-Clayton, and Heartland vegetation programs for safe, reliable line clearance.
• Develop long-term strategies to reduce outages and improve system reliability.
• Manage vegetation contractors, including performance, billing, and safety compliance.
• Supervise vegetation crew and provide leadership to contractors and field teams.
• Oversee vegetation management systems to plan, schedule, and report activities.
• Establish performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Conduct field audits to ensure OSHA, NESC, ANSI, and environmental compliance.
• Partner with Engineering & Operations to integrate vegetation data into planning.
• Lead risk tree assessments and line patrol initiatives.
• Develop and manage annual vegetation budget; support procurement processes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Associate Degree

ISA/Utility Arborist cert

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Vegetation mgmt software

Job description

MiEnergy Cooperative in Rushford, MN is seeking a Vegetation Management Manager to lead a critical program ensuring safe, reliable electric service for our communities. You will blend strategic planning, field leadership, and community engagement while guiding contractor crews and internal teams.

The role requires an associate degree or ISA/Utility Arborist certification with five years of line clearance or vegetation management experience, plus proven leadership.