Forestry Specialist / Adv Forestry Specialist - Emerg Tech -Vegetation Management - Akron West Akron Campus
FirstEnergy Corp

Job Info

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JOB DESCRIPTION

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

This is role with FirstEnergy Service Co- a subsidy of FirstEnergy Corp.

About the Opportunity

NOTE:

• This posting is for 3 additional Forestry Specialists within the Vegetation Management team.
• Location is open to any FirstEnergy location within the operations footprint, subject to the hiring managers approval. Required to live within the FirstEnergy Service Territory or within driving distance (Within 1 Hour). This position will be primarily a remote position.

This position is primarily responsible for supporting and advancing current and future Emerging Technologies for Vegetation Management on the Transmission, Sub Transmission and Distribution FirstEnergy System.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrating and directing a solid commitment to all aspects of safety as a core value.
• Create an inclusive and welcoming work environment where each employee feels valued, that they belong and are enabled to do their best every day.
• Performing training of internal FirstEnergy employees and external contractors, developing training material and presentations, advising and teaching on topics related to current and new technologies, and monitoring the implementation and oversight of the Emerging Technologies.
• Actively demonstrate, be accountable for and encourage behavior that fosters a culture of integrity and accountability. Ensure that business activities, processes and procedures are performed in compliance with all applicable requirements and with the highest of ethics.
• Willing to learn and understand FirstEnergy/Utility Vegetation Management industry standards and best management practices as well as FirstEnergy Operations Specifications and processes to better support and implement Emerging Technology opportunities.
• Supporting current and future Emerging Technologies for the execution of vegetation management work in all required facets of industry.
• Understand the basics of Artificial Intelligence and the theory behind its use to provide data to support Vegetation Management.
• Assist with the current Vegetation Management LiDAR program including but not limited to data QA/QC, identifying trends and other required analytics, technical communication with LIDAR vendor or internal LiDAR peers, budget management, program integration with work management software, corporate support including Flight Operations, Transmission Engineering and Digital Factory Teams.
• Investing time into understanding available technology opportunities including their weaknesses, strengths, costs, and how they may support Vegetation Management group.
• Performing tasks and duties required to maintain current Emergent Technologies implemented.
• Assisting with the development of new innovative technology, methods, and procedures for vegetation management Emergent Technologies.
• Maintaining and supporting computer hardware and software for Emerging Technologies, work management systems, databases, cloud applications, data management, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, remote sensing systems including LiDAR, satellite, aerial imagery, maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), navigational tools and other key applications.
• Updating workflow documentation, reviewing, and editing of procedures, processes, compliance requirement standards and other program documents used in vegetation management for achieving business unit goals, strategies, and transformation initiatives for new Emerging Technology solutions.
• Ensuring required scope of work for development and implementation of new Emerging Technologies with internal business unit Executive Leadership and external vendors is understood and adhered to.
• Collaborating with other internal cross-functional business units to support current and implement new Emerging Technologies in Vegetation Management and across the entire FirstEnergy enterprise.
• Administrating Emergent Technology projects with FirstEnergy staff and external vendors to pilot, develop, and test new software, hardware and technologies that can be utilized for vegetation management.
• Attending meetings for the development, communication, training, support, and implementation of current and new Emerging Technologies with vegetation management staff, contractors, and any other external stakeholders including industry conferences and peer utilities.
• Performing storm restoration activities, field observations or field inspections if required.
• This position will require moderate travel and overnight stays (< 25%) throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and New York.
• Developing and providing key business metrics for monitoring data and outputs of the Emerging Technologies.
• Applying advanced image and data analytics from Emerging Technologies to identify vegetation management trends and drive efficiency into the vegetation management program and compiling formal presentations for Executive Leadership.
• Software / Technology user acceptance and full regression testing
• Working with Data Scientists and Data Engineers as well as industry technology vendors to solve vegetation management challenges as they are identified.
• Investing time into understanding available technology opportunities including their weaknesses and strengths.
• Assisting in budgetary exercises including tracking, understanding and communicating Emerging Technology planned or potential monetary costs.

Qualifications at the Forestry Specialist

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Forestry Science, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Data Science, or related discipline
• In lieu of Bachelor's degree, Associates degree with 4 years of related job experience or High School Diploma (or GED) along with 6-7 years related work experience in Forestry Science, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Data Science, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 2 (two) years of direct Emergent Technology work related experience is required.
• Knowledge and experience with ESRI's ArcGIS application suite and other GIS utility applications, highly preferred.
• LiDAR experience related to Utility Vegetation Management.
• Must have extensive knowledge and experience with Emerging Technologies and advanced data analytics.
• Good working understanding of Python or other currently utilized programming language, a plus.
• Must possess advanced computer proficiency skills with numerous PC software and applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, PowerBI and Azure.
• Excellent ability to communicate and present himself/herself in a professional manner.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing skills and experience.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational and note-taking skills.
• Superior interpersonal skills to gain cooperation with internal and external customers.
• Must have the ability to manage and motivate others, delegate tasks, set priorities and ensure deadlines are met.
• Must be self-motivated and able to multi-task with competing priorities, provide both internal and external quality customer service in a fast-paced environment.
• Must possess interpersonal skills necessary to operate in a team or consensus decision-making environment, possessing the ability to make quick assessment and deliver well thought out decisions when situations arise that require independent judgment.
• Must be able to resolve conflict, communicate, negotiate, and execute as needed in team environments.
• Must have the ability to build relationships and credibility, and provide staff support to management and higher levels of professionals.
• Possess leadership qualities that allow one to provide effective guidance to others, coach others in effective decision making and facilitate meetings.
• Must have the ability to proactively work with staff and contractors to assure there is uniformity, consistency and results obtained to meet business unit objectives and identify and implement efficiencies where applicable.
• Ability to work with business units to develop standard operating procedures, documenting workflow and process steps.
• Must be willing to work towards understanding Utility Vegetation Management and Integrated Vegetation Management basic processes and theories.
• Must be able to use data analysis and other Emerging Technology to support strategic process improvement plans, in addition to the ability to implement and execute process improvement changes for key performance areas.
• Understand the Company's Accident Prevention Handbook and possess the ability to work safely.
• Possess the physical ability to perform work in the field in all weather conditions and traverse difficult terrain to support and assess the Emergent Technologies.
• Must be willing to perform moderate (< 25%) travel and overnight stays.
• Must have a personal vehicle to commute to various locations as required, possessing a valid driver's license.
• Minimum of 5 (five) years of direct Emergent Technology work related experience is required.
• Must have a workspace in residence that allows for uninterrupted cooperation during required virtual meetings.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Role:

exempt
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