Line Clearance Foreman

Job Summary

An employee in this class serves as a lead worker in the line-clearance and vegetation trimming, pruning, clearing, and removal to mitigate conflict with overhead electric power lines, electric utility right of ways, and structures near power lines. Work involves providing guidance and training to staff; assisting with training new staff; ensuring the availability of supplies, materials and equipment; and overseeing safe work practices. The position works alongside the crew in trimming, cutting, and clearing trees, shrubs, brush and vegetation using power equipment and hand tools including hydraulic tree trimming saws, chain saws, clippers, rakes, and other power and hand tools. Employee performs work trimming trees and branches often at significant heights and around energized systems requiring knowledge of proper and required safety standards and precautions. Work also includes mowing grass, spraying herbicides and pesticides, and clearing and removing vegetation for right-of-way maintenance; brush-chipping; blocking streets and work areas for protection of staff and the public; maintaining trucks and work equipment; and assisting other divisions and staff with work as requested. The employee is subject to hazards associated with electrical work, along with tree trimming and cutting efforts, in difficult environments, outdoors, in all temperatures and elements, and often at heights. Work is performed under regular supervision and reviewed while in progress and upon completion to determine that proper work methods are being followed and ensure adherence to instructions and standard trade and safety practices.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as lead crew member, assists with training new employees, explains work duties and equipment operation to crew members, ensures safe work practices and procedures are followed, and ensures completion of work.
• Oversee the work of crew personnel; may perform the more complex and difficult on-site maintenance activities; troubleshoots problems to make corrections.
• Supervises and participates in the skilled labor to maintain and clear utility and street rights-of-ways; prunes, removes, and maintains trees, shrubs and vegetation from conflict with overhead electric power lines and above-ground structures.
• Operates a variety of landscaping equipment, hand tools and power tools including chain saws, hydraulic tree trimming saws, rakes, aerial man lifts, trucks, chippers, bush-hog, backhoe, and tractor.
• Operates bucket trucks, aerial man lifts, and other equipment around energized lines.
• Assures thorough clean-up of worksites including proper brush and/or vegetation removal and chipping.
• Safeguards self and public from hazards in and around work area; sets up cones, markers, flags, barriers, warning signs to block streets or work areas and protect employees and the public.
• Repairs damage to lawns, fences, and vegetation caused by tree-trimming or maintenance activities.
• May apply and spray herbicides and/or pesticides for right-of-way maintenance.
• Performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs to landscaping equipment.
• Inspects trucks, tools, and equipment used in forestry, trimming, and grounds maintenance for safe condition and efficient operation and reports and/or recommends necessary repairs.
• Assists with customer complaints involving tree-trimming and vegetation maintenance activities and works with supervisor(s) to remedy them.
• Monitors and evaluates activities of employees for effectiveness, completeness, and compliance with safety standards.
• Performs work in extreme temperatures, wetness and/or humidity, adverse weather conditions, and with noise, vibration and physical hazard.
• Assists other divisions of Public Services with assigned work as requested including sanitation, street maintenance, and water and sewer.

Job Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, twisting, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, fingering, fine dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to lift objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate power tools and mobile equipment, monitor work site progress, perform skilled tasks, and inspect and manipulate small parts.

Desirable Education and Experience

High School graduate or equivalent, and at least 7 years of experience in the care and pruning of trees and shrubs; preferably some experience in aerial line clearance tree-trimming; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License.

Hiring range for this position is $50,500 to $54,836, DOQ, with a 5% increase following the probationary period. Applications may be obtained at the Town of Dallas Administrative Offices located at 210 N. Holland St., Dallas, NC 28034 or at www.dallasnc.net.

Completed applications can be emailed to jobs@dallasnc.net or turned in at the Administrative Offices.

Open until filled. EOE