Energize your Career at SECO Energy!
General Purpose of Job
This position is responsible for planning, quality assessing, and auditing vegetation clearance work needed on SECO’s transmission and distribution system. This includes cycle and non-cycle maintenance trimming/removals, mowing and herbicide application, and debris hauling. This position must ensure that all line-clearing and work planning is performed in accordance with SECO Line Clearance Specifications, Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) guidelines and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The overall goal of this position is to passionately pursue the elimination of “tree caused” electrical outages in a safe, member focused, efficient, and environmentally responsible way. This position must demonstrate a firm commitment to customer service as they will frequently interact with both internal and external customers.
Minimum Required Qualifications and Competencies
The following includes the minimum job requirements and essential duties for this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some job requirements may exclude individuals that cannot be reasonably accommodated or who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
Education
- Minimum: Two (2) year associate degree in horticulture, arboriculture, forestry, or related field of study.
- A high school diploma or GED with four (4) years of vegetation management experience in the electric utility industry or six (6) years of related experience in the electric utility industry may be considered in lieu of an associate degree with two (2) years of vegetation management experience in the electric utility industry or four (4) years of related experience in the electric utility industry
Experience
- Minimum: Two (2) years of vegetation management experience in the electric utility industry or four (4) years of related experience in the electric utility industry.
- Preferred: ISA certified Arborist Certification or ability to obtain within 18 months of employment
- Preferred: ISA Certified Utility Specialist or ability to obtain within 30-months of employment.
- Preferred: Possess a “Commercial Applicator License” issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Pesticide Certification Office, or ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment.
Other Requirements
- Ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including personal computers, printers, copy
machines and telephones.
- Ability to work irregular hours for assignment completion and flexibility to change scheduling and report to work on short notice during emergency situations. Normal work hours will either be eight (8) or ten (10) hours between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Successful completion of pre-employment background check, physical and drug screen.
Personal Protective Equipment - Yes
Living Requirement - Yes - This position qualifies for a commute vehicle. All employees must live within a 40-mile radius (“as the crow flies”) from SECO Energy Headquarters in Sumterville, FL.
Driving Requirements - Yes - Valid Florida Driver's License
Core Competencies
- Safety: Follows safety procedures diligently, identifies potential hazards, and takes appropriate action to maintain a safe working environments.
- Member Commitment: Provides exceptional service to members, actively listening to their needs and ensuring their satisfactions.
- Honesty & Integrity: Acts with honesty and integrity in all tasks, maintaining transparency and ethical standards.
- Work Ethic: Demonstrates a strong work ethic by consistently meeting deadlines and achieving high performance in all tasks.
- Inclusive Culture: Contributes to an inclusive culture by respecting and valuing diverse perspectives and collaborating effectively with all team members.
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for their actions and decisions, ensuring they meet commitments and deliver high-quality work.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with team members, sharing information and supporting collective goals.
Job Specific Competencies
- Leadership, Judgment & Ethics: Demonstrates strong leadership and sound decision-making under pressure, maintaining professionalism and prioritizing safety in all situations. Exhibits integrity, discretion, and ethical conduct while upholding confidentiality in accordance with company policies.
- Planning, Prioritization & Resource Management: Manages stress and shifting priorities effectively in a dynamic environment. Applies planning, budgeting, and forecasting skills to allocate resources responsibly and meet operational objectives.
- Vegetation Management & Compliance: Applies SECO’s Line Clearing and Vegetation Management program to achieve safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Adheres to ANSI Z133-2012 and ANSI A300 standards, striving for “zero” tree-caused outages through safe, cost-effective operations.
- Technical Proficiency & Safety Knowledge: Demonstrates proficiency with Microsoft Office, corporate databases, and customer information systems. Exhibits understanding of electric distribution and transmission systems, applying OSHA regulations and safety codes to ensure compliance and workplace safety.
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Communicates clearly and professionally with employees, contractors, vendors, and agencies. Demonstrates strong written, verbal, and listening skills; prepares accurate reports, presentations, and correspondence to support organizational objectives.
- Customer & Stakeholder Relations: Maintains a strong customer service orientation with a courteous, solutions-focused approach. Builds positive relationships with property owners, subcontractors, and community partners to support safety and reliability goals.
- Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Applies mathematical and analytical abilities to forecast workloads, manage budgets, and evaluate operational performance. Demonstrates sound reasoning and effective problem-solving to achieve desired results.
Verification
The above qualifications and competencies for this position may be verified through a combination of education, experience, interview questions and technical skills exercise(s).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of essential duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties that may be assigned based on the needs of the cooperative.
Vegetation Planning, Assessment & Quality Control
- Plans, inspects, and audits vegetation clearance work on SECO’s transmission and distribution systems, including trimming, removals, mowing, herbicide application, and debris management.
- Ensures vegetation activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally responsible manner
- Supports the cooperative’s goal of eliminating “tree-caused” electrical outages through proactive vegetation management and quality assurance practices.
Contract Oversight & Performance Evaluation
- Assists the supervisor in evaluating contractor performance and identifying opportunities to improve methods, procedures, and overall efficiency.
- Collects and maintains accurate records of vegetation management activities, assisting with report preparation and data tracking.
- Supports continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, productivity, and compliance within contracted vegetation programs.
Subject Matter Expertise & Professional Development
- Serves as a subject matter expert in tree biology, utility pruning, and herbicide application consistent with ISA standards, Best Management Practices, and the National Electric Safety Code.
- Maintains professional certifications including ISA Certified Arborist and Commercial Applicator licenses and completes required Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
- Participates in professional associations to stay informed of industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging vegetation management practices.
Education, Outreach & Community Engagement
- Supports public education initiatives on tree-power line safety, proper planting practices, and the importance of line clearing activities.
- Contributes expertise to community outreach and cooperative safety awareness effort.
- Represents SECO in industry and community forums that promote best practices in vegetation management and environmental stewardship.
Regulatory Compliance & Agency Coordination
- Ensures departmental compliance with all local, state, and federal laws governing vegetation management and herbicide use.
- Maintains awareness of regulatory changes affecting vegetation operations and ensures alignment with internal policies and procedure.
- Serves as a liaison with state and local government agencies as needed to coordinate vegetation management projects and resolve compliance issues.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by or those an employee encounters to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some requirements may exclude individuals that cannot be reasonably accommodated or who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
This position has extensive field exposure and general office environment conditions. Regular exposure to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
We are the third-largest electric co-op in Florida and the seventh-largest in the nation and we are looking for qualified, energetic and committed candidates to join our successful TEAM!
SECO Energy does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from applicants. SECO Energy will not consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes from any search agencies, staffing agencies, fee-based referral services, headhunters and recruitment agencies (hereinafter ‘vendors’). Unsolicited referrals and resumes sent to SECO Energy are deemed gratuitous. If any vendor (included but not limited to recruitment agency, headhunter, staffing agency) supplies any job applicant to SECO Energy without having a valid written and signed an agreement with SECO Energy, SECO Energy is not obligated to pay any kind of referral fee to such vendor. Any resumes submitted in the absence of a signed agreement become the property of SECO Energy and no fee shall be due.
If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request by emailing [email protected] or by calling (855) 483-2673. Please be advised that this assistance is available for individuals who require accommodation due to disability.
Sumter Electric Cooperative is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, the presence of any physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Discrimination or harassment based upon any of these factors is wholly inconsistent with our company values and will not be tolerated.
Reaffirmation of EEO Policy Statement
SECO Energy participates in E-Verify. E-Verify electronically compares information entered on the Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9, with records contained in Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
E-Verify English/Español
Right to Work English
Derecho a Trabajar
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
Reaffirmation of Statement of Non-discrimination
Know Your Rights/Conozca Sus Derechos
- This posting will be closed and no longer available to receive applications upon SECO Energy’s discretion.
^ SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving over 200,000 families and businesses across seven counties in Central Florida, making SECO Energy the third largest electric co-op in Florida and the sixth largest in the nation.
^ SECO Energy is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, genetics, or individuals with disabilities, or protected veteran status.
^ Qualified employees will be considered on an equal basis with external applicants.
