Arborist (ISA) - Tree Inventory

Oak Bay Parks, Recreation & Culture; Oak Bay; On-site; CAD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Pass

Flexible hours

Work-life balance culture

14% pay in lieu of benefits

On-the-job training

Job summary

Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture is seeking an Arborist (ISA) to manage Oak Bay’s urban forest through hazard assessment, species recommendations, and maintenance. The role supervises staff on tree work, planting, and removals while ensuring safety and data collection for inventories.

The position is full-time with a 13-month term starting January 2027, offering shift flexibility and community-focused benefits, including access to staff amenities and a pension-health package.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Arboriculture, Urban Forestry, Plant Sciences, Horticulture or related discipline and 2 years related experience.
• Completion of chain saw safety and Electrical Safety and Knowing your Approaches courses.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification or equivalent.
• British Columbia Pesticide Applicator's Certificate.
• Experience with tree inventory software.
• Certified Tree Risk Assessor.
• Valid BC Drivers License.
• Current OFA-Level 1 certification.

Responsibilities

• Participate in park operational functions including arboricultural techniques for natural system and tree management.
• Performs skilled arboriculture tasks such as planting, fertilizing, pruning, climbing and guying trees, removals, limbing, bucking, brush chipping or clean up.
• Monitors tree health and safety, responding to hazards and emergencies.
• Leads and coordinates the work of parks staff and collaborates with other departments.
• Assesses construction and utility impacts on trees and recommends mitigation measures.
• Responds to public inquiries and maintains data for tree inventories and preventive maintenance.
• Ensures safety compliance and maintains tools and equipment.

Job description

Arborist (ISA) - Tree Inventory

Full-Time
Starting January 2027 (13-month Term)

Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture is seeking a creative and knowledgeable individual to join the Parks team as an Arborist (ISA). This is technical work maintaining Oak Bay’s urban forest of indigenous and ornamental trees by carrying out the assessment, evaluation and rating of trees for hazard, retention potential and recommending species/varieties for suitability.

The Arborist (ISA) periodically supervises job site skilled and semi-skilled employees in a number of tasks involving tree work such as pruning, hazard tree removals, tree planting and transporting, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, trimming of hedges and spraying as required. Our Auxiliary staff enjoy a free Staff Pass when they work one shift per week, flexibility in hours to accommodate different lifestyles, a culture that cares about work-life balance, and 14% pay on top of their hourly wage in lieu of benefits. We foster a learning environment and provide you with on-the-job training. We acknowledge and respect that the District of Oak Bay lies in the traditional territory of the ləkʷəŋən people, known today as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and that their historic connections to these lands continue to this day.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in park operational functions including the application of accepted horticultural and/or arboricultural techniques and strategies for natural system and tree management including invasive plant control, natural area restoration, tree maintenance and pruning, and integrated pest management.
• Performs a variety of skilled arboriculture tasks such as planting, fertilizing, pruning, climbing and guying trees, tree removals, limbing, bucking, brush chipping or clean up;
• Monitors tree health and safety, responding to hazards and emergency situations as required.
• Leads and coordinates the work of parks staff and collaborates with other departments.
• Assesses impacts of construction and utility work on trees and recommends mitigation measures.
• Responds to public inquiries, maintains and collects data for tree inventories, and supports preventive maintenance programs.
• Ensures compliance with safety regulations, follows best practices, and maintains tools and equipment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma in Arboriculture, Urban Forestry, Plant Sciences, Horticulture or related discipline and 2 years related experience.
• Completion of chain saw safety and Electrical Safety and Knowing your Approaches courses.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification or equivalent.
• British Columbia Pesticide Applicator's Certificate.
• Experience with tree inventory software.
• Certified Tree Risk Assessor.
• Valid BC Drivers License.
• Current OFA-Level 1 certification.

HOURS OF WORK

Monday to Friday, eight (8) hours per day scheduled between 6:00 am and 4:30 pm, subject to operational requirements. It is anticipated that the regular hours of work for the majority of the year will be 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

LOCATION(S)

Parks

RATE

$42.17/hr – 2027 rates

STATUS

Regular Full-Time (13-month term) (This is a union position)

BENEFITS

• Municipal Benefits include Pension Plan, Extended Health & Dental coverage, vacation, and sick entitlement.
• Staff Membership to drop-in the weightroom, fitness classes, skating, and pool