Supervisor - Line Clearance

 DTE is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer’s homes and Michigan’s progress for more than a century. And as Michigan’s largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states.
 

But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job. At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities.  When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing.  Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE. Together, we can achieve great things.
 

Testing Required:

Hybrid Role: Must be able to come on-site periodically and reside a commutable distance from the assigned work location.

Emergency Response: Yes – Must be available to perform a primary assignment in support of DTE’s emergency response to storms or other events that impact service to our customers.

Job Summary

Supervises arborists and related personnel in the clearance (trimming and removal) of vegetation around electric power lines, including the review of completed jobs and assisting in the administration of line clearance contracts. Oversees execution of work to ensure completion and does not perform the work of those supervised.

 

Span of control: combination contractor and union-represented line clearance personnel.

Key Accountabilities

• Supervises Facilitator-Arborists to ensure execution of line clearance maintenance plan, storm restoration, and new construction on the electrical system
• Oversees contractors (approximately 1,200 trimmers and multiple contractors) and executes approximately $150M budget (including overseeing contractor safety, quality, delivery, productivity and customer service)
• Administers safety rules, attendance reviews, training, coaching, work management procedures, and environmental compliance
• Performs weekly safety observations on Facilitator-Arborist’s as well as contract tree trimmers.
• Ensures priority commitments are met safely and with a high standard of quality  
• Handles all tree trim related customer escalations, which may include visiting customer property to resolve escalations or inquiries 
• Oversees and maintains targeted number of crews working on maintenance each week; works cross-functionally with Central Dispatch and Service Centers to maximize and ensure efficiency of the number of crews working on maintenance
• Proactively drives productivity, innovation and contractor safety  
• Assists with contract negotiations as needed
• Performs or ensures the accomplishment of the following core supervisory/management functions for a given group(s): planning, organizing, directing the performance of ongoing activities and special assignments, staffing (employee selection, training/coaching and performance management), time-entry, coordinating, reporting and budgeting

• Leads continuous improvement (CI) efforts for a given group(s); designs processes; establishes quality/quantity standards and metrics; collects, refines, adapts and communicates ‘best practices’; shares knowledge and develops staff in a systematic fashion. Uses process design outcomes to solve problems

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

This is a multi-track minimum base requirement job; education and experience requirements can be satisfied through one of the following three options:

 

1. High School or GED and 6 years of experience in electric distribution operations vegetation management, planning, construction or maintenance of the system’s overhead or underground delivery system, OR
2. Associate’s degree in forestry or an engineering discipline and 4 years of experience in electric distribution operations, vegetation management, planning, construction or maintenance of the system’s overhead or underground delivery system, OR
3. Bachelor’s degree in forestry or an engineering discipline and 2 years of experience in electric distribution operations, vegetation management, planning, construction or maintenance of the system’s overhead or underground electrical system

Other Qualifications

Preferred:

 

• Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture and the Utility Arborists Association

 

Other Qualifications:

 

• Proficient verbal, writte