Manager, Parks and Roads

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 156,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is seeking a seasoned Manager, Parks and Roads to lead the municipal roads, sports fields, playgrounds, and green spaces. You will align operations with the Public Works Department’s strategic plan and manage service delivery, budgets, and cross‑functional teams to meet escalating community needs.

Strong leadership, policy knowledge and hands‑on public service experience are essential as you recruit, mentor staff and drive safety, quality, and efficiency

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Business Administration, Environmental Science, Parks Management, or related discipline.
• Membership or eligibility for professional bodies would be an asset.
• Project Management Certification and Leadership Training would be assets.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director, Public Works with overall program service delivery and budgeting.
• Develop performance measures to improve staff skills and service delivery.
• Lead staff, recruit, train, and mentor to ensure quality customer service.
• Provide cross-functional support to other Public Works branches.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Interdepartmental collaboration

Public speaking

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Microsoft Office

Heavy equipment familiarity

Education

Engineering degree or diploma

APEGGA/ASET eligibility asset

Project Management Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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Requisition ID:4525
Affiliation: Exempt
Position Type: Permanent Full Time
Number of Openings: 1
Bi-weekly Working Hours: 70 hours bi-weekly
Shift/Work Schedule:Monday - Friday
Department/ Branch: Public Works, Parks
Job Location: Fort McMurray

Starting Salary Range*:$155,901 - $164,809 (Pay Band I)
COLA:Bi-Weekly - $480

*The Municipality offers a competitive compensation package, including an attractive base salary, excellent benefits, retirement plans, and more. The starting salary for this position is within the range listed above and will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

We strive to make our hiring process accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodation for the interview or any other part of the application process, please let us know.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is looking for passionate, skilled and forward-thinking individuals to join our Public Works Department — a team that keeps our region running smoothly every day.

From road maintenance and fleet management to park enhancements and snow clearing, our Public Works team plays a critical role in daily life across the region. We’re seeking a hands‑on professional who is committed to public service, enjoys meaningful work and excels in fast‑paced environments.

If you take pride in seeing your work in action and want to contribute to a team that powers the municipality—this is your place.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Manager, Parks and Roads is responsible for providing leadership and management for all Municipal roads, sports fields, playgrounds, and/or green spaces, aligning working groups with the overall Municipal Strategic Plan. Supporting either Parks or Roads, the incumbent is accountable for service development and delivery for their assigned portfolio, as well as managing all administrative aspects for the department, ensuring client needs are met, and that service standards are consistently achieved or exceeded. This includes providing cross-functional support to other branches within Public Works as required to ensure organizational and operational requirements are met.

As a leader, the incumbent upholds the Municipality’s organizational values and is accountable for fostering a healthy, safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Leading by example, the manager promotes the Municipality’s cultural competencies of personal accountability, continuous improvement, effective communication, collaboration, excellence in customer service, and support for common goals. Primary responsibilities of this position include:

Departmental Management: Assists the Director, Public Works with overall program service delivery. Manages through direct involvement in daily operations, budgeting, and strategic planning of the overall design and deployment of all department initiatives. Develops and implements performance measures that will provide clear objectives and goals to increase staff skills and knowledge in functional areas and build service potential. Ensures all programs are developed according to legislation, industry standards, and best practices. Collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure consistency of service delivery standards across the Municipality.

Leadership: Takes a lead role in developing and implementing innovative and practical approaches to department initiatives to ensure all employees are working proficiently and effectively in a productive environment. Provides leadership, expertise, and advice to internal stakeholders. Recruits, trains, and mentors staff. Leads staff in the delivery of advice, recommendations, and decision support. Maintains relationships and communications on behalf of the department and municipality with other government offices including, federal, provincial, First Nations, and other governments.

Implementation of Strategies: Provides operations and preventative maintenance services in a high quality, cost effective and customer focused manner related to Municipal roads, sports fields, playgrounds, green spaces and parks inventory. Engages interdepartmental and inter-agency coordination and cooperation on municipal operations matters. Participates in projects/committees that are related to corporate and community goals and objectives. Develops plans based on analysis of community needs. Maintains municipal property and equipment consistent with sound engineering and industry standards and practices and provincial regulation. Administers roads and transportation bylaws. Investigates and responds to customer complaints, concerns, and requests for service.

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• Highly developed analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, with political awareness and sensitivity.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, employees, leaders, and external contacts; interacts in a manner that builds trust, credibility, and rapport.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to empower people, strong organizational skills, and uses innovative approaches in situations involving rapid change, shifting priorities, and/or simultaneous demands.
• Negotiation, investigation, mediation, and facilitation skills.
• High emotional intelligence including the ability to deal effectively with ambiguity, remaining calm and neutral in conflict situations.
• Experience liaising and partnering with community groups, organizations and orders of government. Must be familiar with health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Proficient with computer software such as Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficient knowledge in the areas of streets, roads, sports fields, playgrounds, and/or parks service delivery, including proactive maintenance practices, best practice operation standards, and basic knowledge of heavy equipment operation and applicable by‑laws and procedures.

EDUCATION:

• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Business Administration, Environmental Science, Parks Management, or other related discipline (i.e. Turf Sciences, Forestry, Horticulture, or Landscape Architecture).
• Membership or eligibility for membership in APEGA or ASET would be considered an asset.
• Project Management Certification and Management Leadership Training would be considered assets.
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.

EXPERIENCE:

• Ten (10) years of progressive experience working in the fields of road maintenance and/or parks management.
• Five (5) years of experience in a supervisory/leadership role.
• Experience working in a public sector environment with unionized and non-unionized employees considered an asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Submission of a Criminal Record Check.
• A valid Class Five (5) Operator’s Licence is required as the incumbent will be required to operate a personal or municipal vehicle for business use on a regular basis.
• This position requires work outside of regular business hours and the incumbent must have availability to be scheduled on a rotating on‑call schedule

SAFETY:

As an employee of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the incumbent is responsible and accountable for knowing and working in accordance with the organization’s Occupational Health and Safety Administrative Directive. As per section 2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the incumbent shall ensure while in the employ of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo the health and safety of employees, contractors and the public.

This position is employed in a supervisory capacity. As such the employee is required to obtain additional safety training in accordance with municipal procedures and directives.