Associate, Vegetation Management

Invenergy is seeking an Associate for its Vegetation Management Team in Florida to support vegetation management for utility-scale solar projects. The role involves coordinating with internal teams and external consultants throughout the project's life cycle, from development to construction. Responsibilities include developing site-specific management plans, overseeing vegetation monitoring, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate should be a collaborative, detail-oriented critical thinker with a strong interest in managing diverse projects effectively.
Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Powered by decades of entrepreneurial experience and unparalleled execution, we solve the energy challenges facing our customers and communities. We provide power generation and storage solutions at scale around the world to create a cleaner energy future. We develop. We build. We own. We operate. We are Invenergy.

Job Description

About the Vegetation Management Team

At Invenergy, our environmental commitment goes beyond the development of clean energy. Invenergy is committed to the responsible development, construction, and operation of our renewable energy generation and transmission projects. Understanding the impacts of infrastructure on the landscape and how to minimize those impacts while advancing the deployment of clean energy is a cornerstone of our company process. Invenergy’s dedication to responsible development is reflected in its Vegetation Management Team, which is unparalleled in the industry. The Vegetation Management Team consists of 9 vegetation and soil experts with different backgrounds from ecological restoration to soil science. The team regularly collaborates across regions and portfolios to leverage its expertise and consults with federal and state governments and resource experts to ensure projects incorporate real-time data to inform responsible project decisions. The Vegetation Management Team supports projects from development to construction and through operations, maintaining project expertise and oversight of compliance through each project’s life cycle.

Position Overview

As Associate, Vegetation Management, you will support Invenergy’s vegetation management processes for utility-scale solar projects in the southeastern U.S, from early development stages through pre-construction vegetation planning and construction implementation. This role will coordinate across internal teams, including Development, Preconstruction, Environmental Compliance & Strategy, and Project Management, and support each solar project in the development of its vegetation management strategy. You will support vegetation management activities throughout the permitting and construction stages of the project, which may include overseeing the development of site-specific plans, scheduling and managing pre-construction seeding efforts, overseeing third-party vegetation monitoring inspections, and confirming that contractors implement adaptive management needs. This will also require coordination with external vegetation consultants, civil contractors, and regulatory agencies to ensure successful implementation and compliance with the project’s strategy during construction.

The ideal candidate will be driven to be part of a team. This candidate will also be a critical thinker and collaborative self-starter with a keen attention to detail, and the ability and interest in effectively managing a diverse portfolio.

Responsibilities
• Direct vegetation consultants on developing project-specific vegetation and soil management plans that meet conditions of state and local regulations, guidance documents, project permits, and customer contracts.
• Assist internal teams on estimating project-specific vegetation maintenance costs into economic models. 
• Ensure vegetation management plans align with project-specific objectives, permits, contracts, and budget.
• Oversee EPC contractor’s vegetation efforts and provide staff training on vegetation management strategies. 
• Conduct site visits to projects in construction and operations stages to evaluate performance of vegetation processes during appropriate growing windows.
• Supports Manager, Vegetation Management, on review of project documents and plans, development of vegetation improvements and processes, and forward-thinking strategies that are relevant to Invenergy’s vegetation program.
• Provide feedback and engagement with industry groups relating to vegetation management, pollinator habitat, and ecosystem services on utility-scale solar projects.

Requirements
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree
• 2-5+ years in utility vegetation implementation and planning, or land management related position
• Experience working on vegetation management during construction, coordinating with construction contractors, and collaborating with environmental consultants
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and make decisions that promote/advance company and project goals and objectives
• Working knowledge of the EPA’s Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) principles and NRCS conservation practices
• Self-directed and detail oriented, with the ability and desire to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive materials, activities, and initiatives
• Able to act and adapt to a fast-paced business environment with competing deadlines, and quickly learn and implement internal processes
• Strong attention to detail, assuring documents and communications are concise and accurate.
• Ability to navigate ArcGIS and/or Google Earth to interpret environmental spatial data and identify potential project risks
• Flexible to travel
• Eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer visa sponsorship now or in the future

Benefits

Eligible for medical, dental, vision, 401(k), bonus, paid time off, etc.

Invenergy LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability.