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

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 (