Utility Forester: Associate – Senior
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and two years of experience as a contract utility forester; alternatively, an associate's degree in one of the same fields and four years of experience in the utility vegetation management industry; or a high school diploma and six years as a contract forester or in other related utility-industry positions.
- Knowledge and safe use of pesticides is required.
- Ability to communicate with employees, customers, and the general public in a courteous and proper manner.
- Competency in geographic information systems, Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, as well as other analytical tools.
- Must be available for overtime callout, including weekends and holidays.
- Must live within a 35-mile radius or 40 roadway miles of the service location.
- After training, patrol lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions and recommend utility vegetation operations, maintain work records, and arrange vegetation management and facility access with landowners.
- Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
- With assistance, estimate vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding new and existing facilities.
- With assistance, determine future utility vegetation management requirements and recommend short- and long-term vegetation management work plans and best management practices.
- Contact governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners, and others to arrange and coordinate required right-of-way vegetation management work plans.
- Inspect vegetation management and work-planning contractors for contract compliance and recommend acceptance or corrective action.
- With assistance, recommend work plans, priorities, schedules, and contractor requirements in accordance with the vegetation management program.
- Apply and stay informed of current contract provisions.
- Maintain records and prepare reports on costs, production, and work quality; operate forestry computer programs and records systems.
- Guide and train others involved with the vegetation management program in proper work practices and utility vegetation management procedures.
- Use diplomacy to explain and promote the company's vegetation control projects to the public.
- Travel extensively to inspect and plan the company's right-of-way maintenance program.
- Arborist certification is desirable.
- A Certified Pesticide Applicator's license is desirable.
- Courses in horticulture and/or vegetation management are desirable.
About the company
American Electric Power (AEP) is a large U.S. electric utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to more than five million customers across 11 states. It uses a mix of power sources—coal, natural gas, nuclear, and growing renewable energy—to run a wide network of transmission lines that deliver electricity from plants to homes and businesses. Revenue comes mainly from selling electricity, with rates regulated by state and federal authorities. AEP’s scale, its extensive transmission grid, and its mix of regulated services distinguish it from smaller utilities and pure energy producers. The company aims to provide reliable electric service, manage energy costs, and pursue a gradual shift toward cleaner energy while complying with regulatory requirements.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Columbus, Ohio
Founded
1906
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- July 30, 2026: AEP raised guidance to $6.25–$6.55 after strong first-half execution.
- AEP’s $78 billion 2026–2030 capex plan fuels rate-base growth and earnings expansion.
- Longview acquisition and South Texas upgrades position AEP for industrial and AI demand.
What critics are saying
- ERCOT approvals and transmission buildouts delay 45 GW of Texas contracted load.
- SEC’s 2025 enforcement order and $19 million penalty keep governance scrutiny alive.
- If 69 GW of signed load never energizes, AEP carries $78 billion of underearning assets.
What makes American Electric Power unique
- AEP’s regulated network spans 11 states, giving unmatched transmission scale and local rate bases.
- July 2026: AEP booked 69 GW contracted load, mostly Texas data-center demand.
- AEP controls 13 GW of secured gas turbines, pairing load growth with generation buildout.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Vacation