Manager of Parks and Open Space

Owen Sound; Owen Sound; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health & dental

OMERS defined benefit pension

Job summary

The City of Owen Sound is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as Manager of Parks and Open Space. Reporting to the Director of Community Services, this role provides leadership and management of the City’s parks, openspace, urban forestry program, River District beautification initiatives, and Greenwood Cemetery.

The Manager oversees the maintenance, planning, development, and operation of 48 parks spanning over 500 acres of openspace, along with Greenwood Cemetery.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Parks Planning, Environmental Studies, Landscape Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in urban parks, openspace, cemetery, forestry, or related municipal operations.
• Experience supervising staff in a unionized environment.
• Municipal experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for park, openspace, forestry, and cemetery operations.
• Direct maintenance programs including turf management, horticulture, sports fields, trails, playgrounds, landscaping, snow removal, and litter collection.
• Oversee campground operations, special events support, beautification initiatives, and urban forestry activities.
• Ensure facilities are safe, attractive, and well maintained; oversee urban forestry program.
• Lead invasives species management initiatives (Emerald Ash Borer, Phragmites).
• Develop proactive maintenance and environmental management programs for sustainability and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Public relations

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Education

Post-secondary degree in Parks Planning / Environmental Studies

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

ManagerofParksandOpenSpace

JobType:Full-timePermanent

JobPosting#:2026-33

ClosingDate:November6,2026

Group:Non-Union

Department:CommunityServices

Location:OwenSound,ON

TheCityofOwenSoundisseekinganexperiencedandstrategicleadertoserveasManagerofParksandOpenSpace.ReportingtotheDirectorofCommunityServices,thispositionprovidesoverallleadershipandmanagementoftheCity'sparks,openspaces,urbanforestryprogram,RiverDistrictbeautificationinitiatives,andGreenwoodCemetery.

TheManageroverseesthemaintenance,planning,development,andoperationof48parksencompassingover500acresofopenspace,aswellasGreenwoodCemetery.Thisroleisresponsibleforensuringsafe,sustainable,andaccessibleparksandopenspaceswhileprovidingleadershipinassetmanagement,capitalplanning,environmentalstewardship,andcommunityengagement.Thispostingisforanexistingvacancy.

WhatYou’llDo

Parks&OpenSpaceOperations

• Provideleadershipandoversightforallpark,openspace,forestry,andcemeteryoperations.
• Directmaintenanceprogramsincludingturfmanagement,horticulture,sportsfields,trails,playgrounds,landscaping,snowremoval,andlittercollection.
• Overseecampgroundoperations,specialeventsupport,beautificationinitiatives,andurbanforestryactivities.
• Ensureallparks,openspaces,andcemeteryfacilitiesaresafe,attractive,andwellmaintained.
• ProvideoversightoftheCity'surbanforestryprogram.
• Leadinvasivespeciesmanagementinitiatives,includingEmeraldAshBorerandPhragmitesmanagementstrategies.
• Developproactivemaintenanceandenvironmentalmanagementprogramsthatsupportsustainabilityandoperationalefficiency.
• Ensurecompliancewithapplicableenvironmentalandsafetyregulations.

ParksPlanning&Development

• Leadparksandopenspaceplanninginitiatives,includingParksMasterPlansandlong-termdevelopmentstrategies.
• SupportimplementationoftheCity'sOfficialPlanandRecreation,ParksandFacilitiesMasterPlan.
• ReviewdevelopmentapplicationsandproviderecommendationstotheCity'sDevelopmentTeam.
• Coordinatepublicengagementactivitiesrelatedtoparksplanninganddevelopmentprojects.

Budgeting&AssetManagement

• DevelopandmanageannualoperatingandcapitalbudgetsforParksandCemeteryoperations.
• Overseecapitalprojectsandlong-terminfrastructureplanning.
• Supportongoingassetmanagementinitiativesandlifecycleplanningforparksassetsandequipment.
• ManagefleetandequipmentassignedtoParksandOpenSpaceoperations.

Leadership&LabourRelations

• Provideleadership,guidance,andsupporttosupervisorsandstaffwithinParksandCemeteryoperations.
• Establishpriorities,approveworkschedules,andoverseestaffperformance,training,anddevelopment.
• Supportrecruitment,successionplanning,andworkforcedevelopmentinitiatives.
• Advisesupervisorystaffoncollectiveagreementinterpretation,grievancehandling,andlabourrelationsmatters.

CommunityPartnerships&CorporateCollaboration

• PreparereportsandpresentationsforSeniorLeadership,Committees,andCouncil.
• RepresenttheCitywithcommunityorganizations,governmentagencies,partnerorganizations,andstakeholdergroups.
• WorkcollaborativelywithotherCitydepartmentstosupportrecreationalprogramming,specialevents,capitalprojects,andfacilitymanagementinitiatives.
• Fosterstrongrelationshipswithresidents,usergroups,contractors,andcommunitypartners.

WhatWe’reLookingFor

Education&Experience

• Post-secondarydegreeinHorticulture,Forestry,ParksPlanning,EnvironmentalStudies,LandscapeManagement,orarelateddiscipline.
• Minimumfive(5)yearsofprogressiveleadershipexperienceinurbanparks,openspace,cemetery,forestry,orrelatedmunicipaloperations.
• Experiencesupervisingstaffinaunionizedenvironment.
• Municipalexperienceisstronglypreferred.

PreferredCertifications(Assets)

• IntermediateorAdvancedParksPractitionerdesignation.
• CertifiedGroundsTechnician.
• PlaygroundPractitionercertification.
• CemeteryOperationsorCemeteryManagementcertification.
• SportsTurfMaintenancecertification.
• ProjectManagementCertificationorPMPdesignation.
• ISACertifiedArboristMunicipalSpecialist.
• HealthandSafetycertificationsrelatedtomunicipaloperations.

Skills&Competencies

• Extensiveknowledgeofparks,openspace,cemetery,urbanforestry,sportsfield,playground,andlandscapemanagementpractices.
• Strongunderstandingofapplicablelegislation,includingtheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct,AccessibilityforOntarianswithDisabilitiesAct,TechnicalStandardsandSafetyAct,Occupiers'LiabilityAct,Funeral,BurialandCremationServicesAct,andrelatedregulations.
• Excellentleadership,communication,publicrelations,andstakeholderengagementskills.
• Experiencewithparksplanning,publicconsultation,andstrategicprojectmanagement.
• Strongfinancialacumen,budgeting,andassetmanagementexperience.
• ProficiencywithMicrosoftOffice,computerizedmaintenancemanagementsystems(CMMS),andrelatedsoftwareapplications.
• AbilitytoprepareandpresentreportstoseniorleadershipandCouncil.
• Excellentorganizational,analytical,problem-solving,anddecision-makingskills.

OtherRequirements

• ValidGClassdriver'slicenceandaccesstoareliablevehicle.
• Abilitytoworkevenings,weekends,andirregularhourstosupportspecialevents,emergencysituations,interments,meetings,andoperationalrequirements.
• Abilitytoperformsiteinspectionsinvariousweatherconditions.
• Strongcommitmenttocustomerservice,communityengagement,andcontinuousimprovement.

Compensation&Benefits

• Wage:$62.11-$75.74hourly,35hoursperweek.
• Benefits:Comprehensiveemployer-paidExtendedHealth&Dentalplan,andOMERSdefinedbenefitpensionplan.

WhyJoinUs?

Joinacollaborativeandforward-thinkingorganizationwhereyourleadershipwilldirectlyinfluencethequality,sustainability,andvibrancyofOwenSound'sparks,openspaces,urbanforest,andcommunitygatheringplaces.You'llplayakeyroleinenhancingresidents'qualityoflifewhileshapingthefutureofsomeoftheCity'smostvaluedpublicassets.

WhyOwenSound?

OwenSoundoffersurbanamenitieswithnaturalbeauty,avibrantartsandculturescene,extensiverecreationalopportunities,andexceptionalaccesstotheshoresofGeorgianBay.It'saplacewherecommunity,innovation,andqualityoflifecometogether.

EqualOpportunityEmployerStatement:

TheCityofOwenSoundvaluesdiversityandiscommittedtoprovidinganinclusiveworkplace.WewillaccommodatetheneedsofapplicantsinaccordancewiththeHumanRightsCodeandtheAccessibilityfor OntarianswithDisabilitiesActthroughoutthehiringprocess.

TheCityofOwenSoundiscommittedtoafair,transparent,andpeople-centredrecruitmentprocess.Whilemoderntoolsmayassistinadministrativetasks,allhiringdecisionsaremadebypeople,andeveryapplicationisreviewedbyamemberofourHumanResourcesteam.

Wedonotuseautomateddecision-makingorartificialintelligencetoolstoscreenoutoreliminateapplicants.Anytechnologyusedinthehiringprocessisdesignedsolelytosupportefficiency-nottoreplacehumanjudgmentorevaluateapplicantsuitability.

PrivacyStatement:

Wethankallapplicantsfortheirinterest;onlythoseselectedforaninterviewwillbecontacted.PersonalinformationiscollectedundertheauthorityoftheMunicipalActforthepurposeofcandidateselection.ItwillbemaintainedinaccordancewiththeMunicipalFreedomofInformationandProtectionofPrivacyAct.