Parks Seasonal Gardener

If you are committed to public service, enjoy collaborating with others, share our values and have a desire to learn and grow, join The City of Calgary . City employees deliver the services, run the programs and operate the facilities which make a difference in our community. We support work-life balance, promote physical and psychological safety, and offer competitive wages, pensions, and benefits . Together we make Calgary a great place to make a living, a great place to make a life.

The City is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace which is representative of the community we serve. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and reconciliation. Applications are encouraged from members of groups that are historically disadvantaged and underrepresented. Accommodations are available during the hiring process, upon request.

Parks Seasonal Gardeners complete and assign a variety of horticultural tasks. You will be assigned to an operational area within Parks and Open Spaces (Parks Operations and Cemeteries, Integrated Pest Management, Parks Infrastructure, Urban Forestry, or Centre Division) and depending on where you are assigned work may include:

• Implement annual plans for an assigned section including researching and creating flower and shrub bed designs and calculating the numbers of required plants.
• General gardening, site repair and maintenance activities.
• Administrative duties such as work planning, scheduling, completing time plant inventories and submitting cost estimates for projects.
• Respond to inquiries, requests from 3-1-1, and from the general public.
• Train, lead and direct the work of crews of Parks labourers to complete tasks and provide feedback on work performed.
• Prepare and maintain flower beds and shrub beds, apply soil mixtures and fertilizers.
• Prune plant material (will involve many accepted arborist’s practices).
• Inspect plant material for pests, insects, and disease and apply appropriate corrective measures.

Qualifications

• A completed 2 year diploma in Horticulture; OR
  A valid Journeyman Landscape Gardener certification or equivalent as recognized by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.
• A valid Class 5 Driver’s License (or provincial equivalency) with no more than 6 demerits OR a Class 5 Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) with no more than 4 demerits, and no current charges or suspension pending is required.
• Basic Microsoft Excel and Outlook skills is required.
• Working knowledge of horticulture and park maintenance practices, terminology and plant materials.
• Experience in any of the following would be considered an asset: arboriculture (including International Society of Arboriculture qualifications), pest management (including pest management qualifications), hard landscaping, and/or experience working with multifaceted horticulture implementation projects.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills along with a demonstrated safety awareness, customer focus, and ability to work as part of a team.

Well-developed planning and organizing skills and dependability for completing all aspects of the job.

Working Conditions: These positions require physically demanding work in all types of working and weather conditions. May be exposed to dust, dirt, fertilizers, and/or pesticides.

Pre-employment Requirements

• Must obtain a City of Calgary operator’s permit
• Applicants may be interviewed and hired throughout the duration of this competition.
• Successful applicants must provide proof of qualifications.
• Note: These positions are anticipated to start April 3, 2023.
  Pre-employment Drug Test: An offer of employment for this position will be conditional on an applicant passing a pre-employment drug test. This test assesses for use of drugs including cannabis. Failure to pass a pre-employment drug test may prevent an applicant from being hired into any safety sensitive position for a period of up to twelve months.

Union: CUPE Local 37
Business Unit: Parks and Open Spaces
Position Type: Up to 40 Temporary/Seasonal
Location: Various

Compensation: $36.73 – 40.71 per hour

Days of Work: Shifts vary to provide coverage for 7 day/week
operations and includes weekends/holidays.

Hours of work: Non-standard 38 hours work week