City of Grande Prairie |
Posted Date:
November 3, 2023
Closing Date:
November 24, 2023
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Contact | City of Grande Prairie |
The Opportunity
As the Parks Biological Manager, you will oversee the biological scope of Parks operations within the City of Grande Prairie. This includes:
• Supervising the Mowing/Sanitation Crew, Tree Crew, Integrated Pest Management Crew, Weed Inspection Crew, and Ornamental Parks Crew. This includes all necessary follow-up and reporting on items like Health & Safety incidents, attendance management meetings, Lead Hand one-on-ones, etc.
• Implementing urban forest management plans and updating tree inventories. Mitigating risks associated with the urban forest (pest/disease, Fire Smart, climate change, etc.) and helping to develop operational policy.
• Planning, developing, and managing biological operating and capital contracts and coordinating contractors in areas including but not limited to pest management, flower ordering, tree planting, animal control, stump grinding, etc.
• Developing and implementing a strategy for efficient execution of biological service levels. Ensuring compliance with regulations and obtaining necessary permits for operations.
A key component of this role is for you to have consistent hands-on leadership of a large group of diverse CUPE staff. The Parks Biological Manager will have direct oversight of Lead Hand roles, so you will be required to engage with and assist in work coordination for these crews. As the manager, you will be required to support these staff with all necessary development across their varying roles and will be responsible for the training and health and safety management of their scopes. You will need to bring a blend of scientific background and strong interpersonal skills to make sound operational decisions in a manner that is understandable and palatable to your direct reports (Lead Hands).
You will be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various biological parks-related matters including turf maintenance, horticulture, and integrated pest management. Doubling as the City’s Urban Forester, you will have expertise in urban forest management as it relates to several important functions, such as Fire Smart, Climate Change, etc.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will serve two key out-of-scope functions for Parks. One is to supervise the biological portion of the operation as the Parks Biological Manager, and the second is to be the City’s Urban Forester.
Parks Biological Manager:
• Supervise and manage the Mowing/Sanitation Crew, Tree Crew, Integrated Pest Management Crew, Weed Inspection Crew, and Ornamental Parks Crew
• Develop and implement strategies to improve the efficient execution of biological service levels
• Plan, develop, and manage biological contracts and coordinate contractors
• Collaborate with internal departments, external organizations, and community groups
• Ensure compliance with regulations and obtain necessary permits for operations (i.e. Weed Act, Temporary Diversion Licence)
• Manage budgeting and resource allocation for biological operations
• Contribute to the development of park management policies and guidelines
Parks Urban Forester:
• Implement comprehensive urban forest management plans for Grande Prairie
• Promote the conservation and preservation of urban forest areas including updating tree inventories
• Manage budgeting and resource allocation for tree maintenance and tree planting
• Contribute to policy development and integration of urban forest principles into City planning
• Assess and mitigate risks associated with urban trees (i.e. Fire Smart)
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the team of arborists and support staff
• Collaborate on urban greening initiatives and climate change adaptation strategies
You Bring
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Forestry, Biology, Landscape Architecture, or equivalent studies.
• ISA Certified Arborist credential and/or Registered Professional Forester designation.
• Minimum 5 years experience in a supervisory or management role within municipal government Parks or Public Works related operations.
• Minimum 5 years experience with Urban Forestry, Forestry, or Arboriculture.
• A valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence.
• The interpersonal skills required to coordinate multiple crews of varying biological disciplines to ensure adequate service delivery of parks maintenance operations.
• The customer service skills required to resolve elevated customer inquiries from biological operations.
• The ability to collaborate internally and externally with stakeholders across multiple biological disciplines (e.g. trees, turf, noxious weeds, etc.)
Applicants selected for an interview may be tested in some of the qualifications.
Applicants selected for an interview will be asked to bring a current Driver’s abstract to the interview.
Hours
Monday to Friday; 40 hours per week and your specific schedule will be determined by your supervisor.
Compensation
(Band F, Entry Step) Starting at $48.36 per hour or an annual wage of $100, 588.80.
Selection Process
We thank you in advance for your interest. Those selected for an interview will be contacted by phone or email. We will email those who did not make it to the interview stage within 60 days of the closing date of this job posting.
1. Submit a cover letter and resume using this web page’s “Apply Now” on the following link: City of Grande Prairie – Job Description (startdate.ca)
2. Applications will be reviewed, and short-listed and interviews will be scheduled.
Note: Once you apply and upload a resume you should receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted for this position. If you receive this email, there is NO further need to contact us regarding this position.
• This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in this position.
Due to the high number of applications we receive per job posting, we cannot answer job-specific questions before the interview. If you successfully get to the job interview stage, we will happily answer any questions you might have.
Apply here: https://cityofgp.com/city-government/working-city/career-opportunities
The Alberta Recreation & Parks Association would like to acknowledge the First Nations, the Métis, the Inuit and all of the people across Alberta who share a history and a deep connection with this land. We dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.