Senior, Vegetation Program Manager

Requisition ID # 161607 

Job Category: Project / Program Management 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Operations - Other

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Auburn

Position Summary

The Vegetation Program Manager oversees Vegetation Management operations, ensuring electric system safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance with state and federal rules. The incumbent may also serve as a subject matter expert and provide guidance and education or influence leaders in the industry (PG&E, other utilities, or other decision-makers) on regulatory issues and program strategies. Leads team within a specific geographic area of operations, including direct oversight of inspection and tree contractor personnel. Works with customers and public entities to monitor and manage vegetation proximity to PG&E assets to contribute to system reliability and safety objectives.

• This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned location based on business needs. The headquarters is located in Auburn, CA.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company, in good faith, believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, particular skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity. 

A reasonable salary range is:​

Bay Area Minimum: $102,000

Bay Area Maximum: $​162,000

&/OR​

California Minimum: $97,000

California Maximum: $154,000

This job can also include participation in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.

Responsibilities:

• Leads and oversees vegetation management operations and outside contractor work performance in a specific district or division.
• Works independently to solve moderate to highly complex problems and takes new perspectives on existing solutions, plans, and goals.
• Leads project teams.
• Provides direction on the overall program plan and goals within a specific functional area of operations. Delivers the program implementation plan.
• Develop new and ad-hoc reports, summarize findings and recommendations, and provide business insight to various levels of management.
• Oversees in-depth quality assurance final reviews and contract drafts.
• Works with managers and directors across lines of business to influence decisions and meet goals.
• Communicates complex ideas to diverse audiences (PG&E, other utilities, public entities, community organizations, etc.) using various media. Guides complex industry regulatory and compliance environment and considerations.
• Contributes to implementing and creating new concepts, processes, and ideas to advance the vegetation management program.
• Participates in public hearings, legal proceedings, or similar in support of the subject matter expert, who may be the subject matter expert.
• Develop budget forecasts and business cases.
• Reviews, funding, and purchase orders associated with complex projects for supervisor approval.
• Manages multiple programs and projects that support other lines of business.
• Manages environmental submissions of agency work and acts as a liaison.
• Manages emergency work, such as severe storms, wildfires, and power shutoff events.
• Manages internal quality observations, including Quality Assurance, Quality Verification, Work Verification, and Vegetation Management inspections.
• Reports out, provides updates and corrective actions and holds daily huddles under the Lean Management model.
• Oversees vegetation management safety investigations and corrective action plans. 
• Analyzes support for identifying budget variances and solutions to address them.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree in job-related discipline or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of job-related experience
• May be required to work extended hours during special projects. Travel 50%

Desired:

• ISA Arborist/Utility Specialist certification
• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)
• Expert knowledge of forestry and/or utility vegetation management concepts, methods, and techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent negotiation and collaboration skills, diplomacy, and tact.
• Excellent organizational, time management, prioritization, and planning skills
• Ability to lead or manage teams.
• Excellent project and program management skills.
• Ability to communicate findings and recommendations to various levels of management.
• Adaptable to changing and evolving business processes
• Knowledge of current utility and energy industry issues, trends, and political, economic, and social issues affecting the program.
• Ability to work within an environment heavily dependent on laws and regulations and knowledge of how to interpret and apply them.
• Knowledge and understanding of business drivers. Advanced knowledge of the Program
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PowerBI, etc.) and GIS applications.