Charles Nielsen
South Pambula
Summary
Experienced Vegetation Maintenance Officer with a strong background in vegetation management, utility corridor safety, and powerline clearance. Skilled in conducting detailed site assessments, identifying vegetation hazards, and developing accurate scoping reports to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and utility provider requirements. Adept at liaising with contractors, landowners, and stakeholders to plan efficient vegetation works while maintaining safety, reliability, and environmental sustainability. Known for strong attention to detail, practical field knowledge, and a commitment to safe work practices in line with industry guidelines.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Working Supervisor
Treeserve
10.2024 - Current
- Supervise and coordinate crews performing vegetation management, tree removal, and pruning around utility corridors and residential sites.
- Conduct daily job briefings, hazard assessments, and ensure compliance with safety protocols.
- Train, mentor, and assess staff in safe work practices, equipment use, and efficient work techniques.
- Communicate with clients, contractors, and management to ensure project requirements are met.
- Manage work schedules, allocate resources, and monitor progress to meet deadlines.
- Scoped vegetation near powerlines to ensure compliance with Essential Energy and regulatory clearance requirements.
- Conducted site inspections, measured vegetation encroachments, and documented work requirements.
- Used digital scoping tools and GIS mapping to record vegetation conditions and plan clearance works.
- Liaised with landholders, contractors, and councils to coordinate access and minimise impact.
- Produced accurate work packs and schedules for vegetation crews.
- Ensured all works adhered to WHS policies and environmental regulations.
Treeserve Operations Manager
Treeserve
01.2024 - 10.2024
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
- Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
- Lead day-to-day operations across multiple crews delivering arboriculture and vegetation management services.
- Implement and enforce safety programs, reducing incident rates while maintaining compliance with utility and environmental regulations.
- Manage fleet and equipment logistics, ensuring maximum uptime and cost-effective utilization.
- Develop and monitor operational budgets of $[X]M+, achieving cost savings through improved resource planning.
- Coordinate with clients, local councils, and utilities to deliver projects on time and within scope.
- Mentor and develop supervisors and team leaders, improving workforce retention and productivity.
Regional Safety Manager
Asplundh Tree Experts
03.2018 - 12.2023
- Trained employees in most current regulations and practices in effort to prevent mishaps and promote overall safety.
- Reduced incidents among personnel with the implementation of robust safety programs and policies.
- Facilitated meetings with upper management and executives to discuss ways that safety could be improved.
- Inspected job sites to detect potential health hazards and put corrective measures immediately into effect.
- Facilitated occupational safety meetings and handled inquiries, questions and concerns in terms of training.
- Addressed non-compliance issues and suggested remediation.
- Developed and implemented company procedures that reduced job site accidents.
- Managed full life cycle of assigned audits in alignment with departmental procedures, delivering progress as well as closing reports to senior management and clients.
- Formulated detailed recommendations based on audit findings to support annual planning and definition of goals.
- Performed regular compliance reviews and audits, identifying non-compliance issues.
- Prepared and presented comprehensive reports to upper management and audit team, covering issues and recommendations.
- Liaised with clients to identify and target inefficiencies in areas of risks and business controls, process gaps and workflow discrepancies.
- Analyzed and identified risk areas to determine compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Implemented effective compliance policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements.
- Addressed compliance issues by developing and implementing corrective action plans.
- Investigated potential compliance violations and reported findings to senior management.
- Investigated incidents and reported findings management and the client.
Tree Climber and Vegetation Maintenance
Snowy Mountains Tree Service
03.2013 - 03.2018
- Maintained solid safety record with no OSHA-recordable incidents.
- Safely climbed and pruned trees, maintaining a keen eye on vegetation encroaching upon powerlines to ensure uninterrupted power distribution.
- Executed precision tree trimming, adhering to industry standards and guidelines while mitigating potential risks and hazards.
- Operated a wide range of equipment, including chainsaws, ropes, harnesses, and Elevated Work Platforms, to execute tree-trimming tasks efficiently.
- Followed Procedures to ensure the powerline network remained clear of vegetation to prevent power outages and minimize potential safety risks.
- Conducted regular safety inspections, equipment maintenance, and utilized personal protective equipment (PPE) to promote a safe working environment
- Perform Ground based rigging
- Implement tree maintenance programs
- Inspect trees for access and work
- Perform pruning operations
- Identify trees
- Maintain chainsaws
- Trim and cut felled trees
- Fell tree manually (Advanced)
- Provide 1st aide
- Dismantle trees
- Undertake aerial rescue
- Use arborist climbing techniques
- Maintain and audit stump grinding machine
- Access trees for inspection
- Control plant pests diseases and disorders.
- Coordinate worksite activities
Skills
- Vegetation scoping & assessment
- Powerline clearance regulations & standards (AS 4373, Utility Vegetation Management Guidelines)
- GIS & digital mapping tools
- Hazard identification & risk management
- Environmental compliance & sustainability practices
- Stakeholder engagement (landowners, councils, contractors)
- Work scheduling & project planning
- WHS compliance & reporting
- Strong communication & documentation
- Team Leadership & Staff Supervision
- Worksite Safety (OSHA / ISO / Utility Safety Standards)
- Tree Pruning, Removal & Vegetation Management
- Chainsaw & Power Equipment Operation
- Hazard Assessment & Risk Mitigation
- Client & Contractor Communication
- Scheduling & Job Coordination
- Equipment & Vehicle Maintenance
- Training & Mentoring Staff
- Operations & Project Management
- Fleet & Asset Management
- Contract & Vendor Negotiation
- Budgeting & Cost Control
- Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Environmental & Sustainability Practices
- Client & Stakeholder Relations
- Process Improvement & Lean Practices
- Process Management
- Audit Support
- Internal Audits
- Conducting investigations
- Consultation and Communication
- Document reviews
- Chainsaw operation
- CAVC qualified - Ground, Climb and EWP
- Tree climbing
- EWP operation
- Tree pruning to Australian Standards
- Risk assessment and Hazard Management
- Site leadership and management
Certification
- AHC30820 Certificate III in Arboriculture
- ESI qualified - CAVC - EWP, climb and groundline
- Fall Trees Manually (Advanced)
- Height Safety Inspection
- Perform Ground Based Rigging.
- Drug and Alchol testing
- Mental Health Training
- ISO9001:201& Internal Audit Training.
- ICAM investigation Training.
- Investigations Differently training - Mark Alston
- National license to perform high risk work: Class WP
Timeline
Working Supervisor
Treeserve
10.2024 - Current
Treeserve Operations Manager
Treeserve
01.2024 - 10.2024
Regional Safety Manager
Asplundh Tree Experts
03.2018 - 12.2023
Tree Climber and Vegetation Maintenance
Snowy Mountains Tree Service
03.2013 - 03.2018
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