Vegetation Management Coordinator en Northwestern Energy

Vegetation Management Coordinator

Work Location: Billings, MT

Pay range: $55,600 to $125,400 per year

Employment Status: Regular Full-time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect.

About this position:

The Vegetation Management Coordinator coordinates all vegetation management work on company property or utility right-of-ways including tree trimming, logging, weed spraying, new construction, and emergency storm damage. The Coordinator is responsible for managing contractors to perform vegetation management in accordance with company specifications and regulatory mandates.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,600 amazing people and serve over 800,000 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)
• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid training opportunities
• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Manage contractors who notify customers prior to tree-trimming events on their properties
• Investigate customer complaints; communicates and prepares reports to management
• Negotiate between customers and contractors to resolve concerns
• Ensure that safety and reliability are priorities in the carrying out projects
• Coordinate with operations, internal operators and crews, and external contractors and regulatory agencies to ensure that work is completed in accordance with company specs and regulatory mandates
• Stay current on regulatory issues
• Maintain communication with government and regulatory agencies to plan and execute vegetation management projects
• Prepare bid packages and request for proposals on cycle line clearance projects and other major vegetation mitigation work
• Inspect, supervise, and schedule crews to assure maximum productivity. This includes inspecting and evaluating contractor performance, ensuring that cycle trimming is completed on schedule and within budget, revising the budget, scheduling notifiers and crews as part of work planning, keeping crew managers up to date, and directing contractors to the next task
• Coordinate hot spotting for divisions including inspecting trimming orders, loading notifications to GPS to distribute to crews, and ensuring that orders are closed and completed
• Compile, enter, and analyze data using applicable software
• Assist in company bare ground and noxious weed control programs including operation and maintenance of herbicide spray equipment
• Respond during major storm work and work long hours in inclement weather
• Investigate and report on accidents involving the public, contractors, or employees
• Educate company or public groups on safety or vegetation management topics
• Assist in preparing the Vegetation Management Department annual budget
• Provide other basic general support for Central Maintenance programs
• Travel to jobsite, internal and external trainings, operations locations (up to 75% travel per year)
• Perform individual lifts and carried office supplies up to 35 pounds
• All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
• Ensure self and others actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile:

• Demonstrate and maintain a good safety record
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Degree Required: (Preferred, but not limited to, forestry, biology, or public relations)
• Three to five years of experience with Utility Arboriculture preferred
• Certified Arborist with a Utility Specialist option preferred
• Certified commercial herbicide applicator with State of Montana or ability to obtain within 3 months required
• Must be proficient in computer skills for a variety of applications relevant to the planning and work management requirements of the position
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• First Aid/CPR Certification preferred
• Get Into Energy - Energy Industry Fundamental 2.0 certification is a plus (click here to certify at no cost)

Requisition #4838

Posting Dates: October 1, 2025 through October 15, 2025

Department/Division: Distribution Operations Wildfire/Vegetation Management

Employment Physical: Required

Drug Test: Required

Background Check: Required

Relocation Benefit: Negotiable

Telecommuting: Part-time Negotiable within NorthWestern Energy Service Territory

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department at 1-800-245-6977 or at [email protected].