Job Details

Utility Forester

Location: Connecticut
Salary: 70,000-85,000

About the Role

We are a utility vegetation management company seeking an experienced and motivated Utility Forester to support our General Foreman in overseeing line-clearance operations. The ideal candidate will have strong technical tree knowledge, field experience, and familiarity with the safety and regulatory demands of vegetation work around utility lines.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform site inspections to assess trees, brush, and vegetation risk along utility lines.
• Identify species, structural defects, and hazard trees; recommend appropriate pruning or removal.
• Work with the General Foreman to scope and plan jobs, set priorities, and coordinate crew work.
• Review completed work to ensure it meets utility standards and spec (proper pruning cuts, clearances).
• Provide technical guidance to field crews on pruning techniques, removals, and safety.
• Assist in storm response: damage assessment, emergency line-clearance, and hazard mitigation.
• Document work in field software or GIS systems: collect data on tree conditions, work completed, and hazards.
• Interact with customers, landowners, municipalities, and utility stakeholders.
• Participate in safety meetings, job hazard analyses, and enforce compliance with relevant safety protocols (ANSI, OSHA, etc.).
• Prepare maps, reports, and documentation needed for job planning and utility audits.

Qualifications

Required:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• ISA Certified Arborist (or willing to obtain within 12 months).
• Valid driver’s license 
• Experience working in a field-based role -- preferably with vegetation management or utility companies.
• Strong knowledge of tree species, pests, diseases, and growth habits.
• Ability to identify and evaluate hazard trees, structural defects, and decay.
• Proficiency with mapping / GIS tools and field data collection software.
• Excellent communication skills (crew-level and stakeholder-level).
• Comfortable working outdoors in varied terrain, weather, and conditions.
• Ability to travel routinely and possibly stay overnight during storm response, if required.

Preferred:

• ISA Utility Specialist certification.
• Certified Tree Safety Professional (CTSP).
• 3+ years in utility vegetation management.
• Supervisory or crew-lead experience.
• Experience in emergency / storm-response work.
• Familiarity with herbicide use, wildfire mitigation, or fuels risk.