Principal Specialist, Vegetation Strategy

About us

National Grid is hiring a Principal Specialist, New York Vegetation Strategy for our Vegetation and Reliability Analytics department in Syracuse, Albany or Buffalo, NY.                                                

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. 

The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Job Purpose

The New York Distribution Vegetation Specialist is responsible for monitoring and analyzing the impact of vegetation on the distribution network within the Vegetation and Reliability Analytics department. This role involves developing and applying modeling techniques to improve the company's vegetation management strategies, reviewing cycle prune and hazard tree plans to identify deficiencies, and recommending systemic and process improvements to enhance vegetation-related reliability and safety in compliance with regulatory requirements.

The hybrid role can be located in our Albany, Buffalo, or Syracuse, NY office. 

Key Accountabilities

• Development of annual work plans for the distribution cycle prune and hazard tree programs, in conjunction with Forestry Operations
• Track and report on all forestry vegetation management KPI’s monthly and annually as required
• Review, assess and deliver strategies relating to vegetation management for both cycle pruning as well as hazard tree removal to facilitate access and ensure network reliability related to vegetation.
• Review and edit as needed all specifications related to distribution vegetation management, including but limited to pruning clearance specifications, vegetation management plans, and others as needed.
• Monitor, investigate and review vegetation issues with respect to reliability and safety to identify performance deficiencies and their root causes and recommend remedial action and appropriate investment priorities.
• Develop and apply for Annual Temporary Revocable Permits (TRP) NY Statewide permitting through the DEC for the forestry operations. Prepare any and all data required for additional TRP’s for pruning and hazard tree mitigation as needed within the Adirondack park for routine vegetation maintenance.
• Develop, enhance and manage the current business applications and digital tools used to manage Company vegetation information.
• Contribute to the identification and formulation of strategic objectives relating to network reliability and vegetation, taking account of industry best practice, in order to drive process and technical innovation necessary for reliability improvements.
• Evaluate regulatory requirements, implement best practice across the organization and develop and implement compliant governance standards through the leadership of local and global reliability councils to ensure the company meets regulatory commitments and eliminates the risk of penalties for non- compliance.
• Prepare and deliver various annual New York Public Service Commission (PSC) Vegetation Program Filings and NY PSC Reliability Report as required by regulatory obligations.
• Engage and influence Local and National arborist organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, EPRI and the UAA to participate in researching and developing industry-wide standards relating to vegetation related reliability.
• Assignments may change from time to time depending on business impact and demand.

Supervisory/Interpersonal- Experience Required

Qualifications

• Expertise and in-depth knowledge of factors that affect network reliability due to vegetation at the distribution level.  
• A practical understanding of vegetation management and arboreal techniques acquired thorough professional arborist qualifications.
• Sound understanding of key business computer applications necessary for the management and analysis of large amounts of data.
• Proven expertise in the design and delivery of statistical modeling techniques to analyze the impact of supply/demand changes on processes and plans.  
• A Minimum of a four-year degree in Arboriculture, Urban Forestry, Forestry or related natural resources field from an accredited school or two year degre