Vegetation Program Manager

Position Purpose and Objectives:

Under the direction of the Vice President of Operations, the Vegetation Program Manager leads the development, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of United Power's utility vegetation management and avian protection programs. The position establishes vegetation maintenance practices, administers vegetation management contracts, monitors contractor performance and field quality, maintains program records and performance measures, and coordinates vegetation-related priorities with Operations, System Design, Engineering, and the Wildfire Mitigation & Emergency Preparedness Specialist. The role supports wildfire risk-reduction objectives through vegetation expertise and program execution.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop, implement, maintain, and periodically evaluate United Power's utility vegetation management program, including line-clearance practices, inspection methods, maintenance cycles, service standards, documentation requirements, and performance measures.
• Establish annual and multi-year vegetation maintenance plans for all districts using field conditions, vegetation growth, reliability needs, member concerns, regulatory requirements, historical performance, and available program resources.
• Administer vegetation management vendor contracts, including scope requirements, service expectations, work authorization controls, invoice review, documentation standards, and resolution of performance or service issues.
• Coordinate and monitor the work of vegetation management contractors; verify work quality, clearance practices, safety and environmental compliance, documentation, and completion of corrective actions.
• Conduct or coordinate field inspections and quality audits of vegetation management activities; investigate deficiencies, complaints, recurring conditions, and reliability concerns and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Manage accurate program records, maps, inspection results, contractor documentation, work history, member contacts, and other data needed to demonstrate program performance and compliance.
• Develop dashboards and recurring and ad hoc reports addressing trimming-cycle completion, inspection results, contractor performance, response times, complaints, costs, risk conditions, corrective actions, and other vegetation management measures.
• Develop, document, standardize, and periodically review vegetation management policies, procedures, specifications, work practices, communication materials, controls, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Provide technical guidance to members, employees, contractors, and external stakeholders regarding vegetation near electric facilities, compatible planting, line-clearance requirements, and vegetation-related service concerns.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for vegetation management-related member concerns and complaints, working directly with members to resolve issues in a timely, professional, and effective manner.
• Coordinate vegetation priorities and constraints with Operations, System Design, Engineering, Right-of-Way, Procurement, and other internal groups.
• Collaborate with the Wildfire Mitigation & Emergency Preparedness Specialist by providing vegetation condition data, contractor and field observations, trimming-cycle information, cost and performance data, and subject-matter expertise for wildfire risk assessments, mitigation planning, reporting, and red-flag-day readiness.
• Implement vegetation-related actions assigned through the Wildfire Mitigation Plan and communicate progress, constraints, and results to the Wildfire Mitigation & Emergency Preparedness Specialist; support external or community wildfire initiatives when vegetation management expertise is needed.
• Develop, administer, and maintain the Avian Protection Plan, including risk assessments, mitigation practices, incident documentation, reporting, and coordination with internal departments and external agencies.
• Monitor applicable vegetation management and avian protection requirements and industry practices; recommend program changes that improve safety, reliability, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, service quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Support annual planning and budgeting for vegetation management and avian protection programs by developing forecasts, documenting resource needs, monitoring expenditures, and explaining significant variances.
• Support audits, regulatory inquiries, claims, and management reviews by maintaining defensible records, providing requested documentation, and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Creates, expands, and maintains professional and productive working relationships with peers and stakeholders. Works collaboratively with colleagues and fosters a spirit of cooperation and inclusion in the workplace.
• Performs other such duties as may be requested or assigned to fulfill the needs of United Power in the interest of good management practice.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Acts independently to determine methods and procedures for new or special assignments within established program objectives. Coordinates and monitors the activities of vegetation management contractors but has no direct supervisory responsibilities. Escalates significant safety, compliance, reliability, contractual, financial, or organizational matters to management.

Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor's degree in forestry, arboriculture, natural resource management, environmental science, utility operations, business administration, or a related field, and at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in utility vegetation management, line-clearance operations, forestry, arboriculture, contractor administration, or a related field. Experience must include coordinating contractors, evaluating fieldwork, maintaining program documentation, and working across operational functions. Additional directly relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement. Valid Colorado Driver's License or ability to obtain one.

Desired Experience:

Experience developing or administering a utility vegetation management program is preferred.

Experience with electric utility operations, geographic information systems, vegetation management software, contract administration, regulatory compliance, avian protection, wildfire mitigation coordination, and data-based program reporting is desirable.

International Society of Arboriculture Arborist or Utility Specialist certification is preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of utility vegetation management principles and practices, including line clearance, tree-growth characteristics, pruning methods, inspection practices, maintenance cycles, compatible vegetation, hazard-tree identification, contractor quality control, and environmental stewardship.
• Knowledge of electric distribution systems and the operational, safety, reliability, and member-service considerations associated with vegetation near energized facilities.
• Ability to build and sustain a structured vegetation management program, including plans, standards, specifications, controls, records, performance measures, vendor requirements, and continuous-improvement practices.
• Ability to administer service contracts, evaluate contractor performance, review supporting documentation and invoices, resolve deficiencies, and hold vendors accountable for safety, quality, timeliness, and compliance.
• Ability to conduct field inspections and quality audits, document observations, analyze recurring conditions, determine root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Ability to interpret and apply technical standards, contracts, policies, procedures, regulations, maps, work records, and operational information.
• Ability to define meaningful key performance and risk indicators, establish baselines and targets, interpret trends, and communicate program results to leadership and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated judgment and ability to balance safety, reliability, member service, environmental impacts, regulatory obligations, cost, and operational constraints.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional program activities, clarify responsibilities, coordinate priorities, build stakeholder commitment, and sustain adoption of standard practices.
• Excellent verbal, written, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical vegetation issues to members, contractors, employees, government representatives, and leadership.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, field issues, contractor activities, records, deadlines, and program commitments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint; ability to learn and use GIS, work management, document management, reporting, and vegetation management applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the service territory, work outdoors in varying terrain and weather, and be accessible during extended or non-standard work hours when urgent vegetation conditions require support.

Problem Solving:

The employee develops solutions to complex vegetation management issues involving changing field conditions, contractor performance, member concerns, reliability risks, environmental considerations, incomplete information, competing priorities, and multiple concurrent program needs. The employee evaluates alternatives, identifies root causes, applies established standards and sound judgment, recommends risk-informed actions, and coordinates corrective measures with the appropriate internal and external stakeholders.

Discretion/Latitude:

Work assignments are broadly defined. The employee exercises substantial discretion in developing vegetation management practices, inspection methods, maintenance priorities, contractor controls, documentation requirements, performance measures, and corrective actions. The employee may adjust vegetation program priorities within approved plans and resources.

Impact:

Decisions and recommendations directly affect public and employee safety, electric reliability, wildfire risk reduction, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, member service, contractor performance, program cost, data integrity, and the effectiveness of United Power's vegetation management and avian protection programs. Erroneous decisions or inadequate program controls may result in service interruptions, safety exposure, environmental or regulatory consequences, member impacts, or increased operating costs.

Liaison:

Frequently interacts with vegetation management contractors, members, vendors, government representatives, landowners, utilities, and environmental or wildlife agencies regarding vegetation maintenance, access, service concerns, contract requirements, avian protection, and program compliance.

Frequently collaborates with the Wildfire Mitigation & Emergency Preparedness Specialist to exchange vegetation data, align mitigation priorities, support wildfire planning and reporting, and coordinate vegetation-related risk-reduction activities.

Frequently interacts with Operations, System Design, Engineering, Right-of-Way, Procurement, Safety, Communications, and other internal functions to coordinate vegetation requirements, resolve field issues, exchange technical and operational information, and support reliable service delivery.

Essential Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently uses hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, tablet, vehicle controls, and other standard equipment.
• Frequently communicates with employees, members, contractors, and other stakeholders and must be able to exchange accurate information verbally and in writing.
• Frequently reads, analyzes, and prepares electronic and printed documents and performs visual field observations.
• Regularly drives throughout the service territory and may drive for extended periods or on rough or unimproved roads.
• Frequently walks and stands at field locations and may traverse uneven, sloped, rocky, muddy, or vegetated terrain.
• Occasionally bends, stoops, kneels, crouches, reaches, twists, climbs, or maintains balance while accessing or inspecting field locations.
• May occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials or equipment weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Maintains attention to detail and situational awareness while working near electric facilities, vehicles, contractors, vegetation, and changing field conditions.
• Analyzes information, evaluates alternatives, and exercises sound judgment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Adapts to changing priorities, interruptions, urgent field conditions, and business needs while maintaining productivity and accuracy.

Work Environment

Work is performed in both office and outdoor field environments. Outdoor work may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold, wind, precipitation, dust, vegetation, insects, rough terrain, traffic, and noise. The position requires travel throughout the service territory and occasional travel to off-site meetings, training, or industry events. Personal protective equipment may be required based on the location and activity.

Department: Operations FLSA Status: Exempt Grade: 19 Updated: October 2026

Typical Hiring Range:

$97,700 - $114,150. Position is within a grade with a maximum of $130,600 annually

NOTE: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other job responsibilities as assigned by the immediate supervisor or management.

Management reserves the right to change position descriptions, specifications or work schedules to accommodate individuals with disabilities or as the need arises.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes an employee retirement plan, 401K with match, paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. For a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page at .

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Screening Notice: This position is subject to pre-employment drug screening, consistent with Colorado law and federal regulations. Applicants should be aware that a positive drug test—including for marijuana—may disqualify them from employment, as permitted under Colorado law. Additional information about our drug-testing policy will be provided during the hiring process.

United Power is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. United Power prohibits discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, color, religion, military or veteran status, national origin, disability, genetic information or any other applicable status protected by state or local law.