Manager, Parks & Open Space

City of Winnipeg; Winnipeg; Hybrid; CAD 131,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental and Vision care

Pension plans

Maternity/Parental leave

Job summary

The City of Winnipeg is seeking a Manager of Parks and Open Space to lead the division and oversee park and open space services within approved budgets of $70M operating and up to $24M capital. You will manage 374 FTEs and direct planning, environmental, and community programs.

Opportunity includes hybrid work with a designated location, collaboration with senior leadership, and a focus on safety, compliance, and strategic development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field as listed.
• Extensive leadership experience in parks, natural areas or urban forestry.
• Experience in financial management of operating and capital budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all Parks & Open Space operations.
• Represent the division to senior stakeholders and elected officials.
• Establish safety and environmental management programs and compliance.
• Lead strategic planning, budgeting and financial management of assets.
• Manage division human resources and develop risk management policies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Financial management

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Management / Urban Forestry / Environmental Science / Public Administration

Job description

Recruitment Details

Manager, Parks and Open Space

Department: Public Works

Designated Work Location: 1155 Pacific Avenue, Hybrid with designated work location

Position Type: Permanent Full-time

Hours of Work: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday

Salary: $130,609.82 - $190,686.37 annually (Grade 8)

Employee Group: Out of Scope

Posting No.: 127344

Closing Date: October 2, 2026

Providing a wide range of services to over half of all Manitobans, The City of Winnipeg is one of the largest employers in Manitoba. We provide a comprehensive range of benefits and career opportunities to our employees. These include competitive salaries, employer-paid benefits, dental and vision care, pension plans, and maternity/parental leave programs. Additionally, we offer education, training, and staff development opportunities to ensure that our employees are equipped with the necessary skills to advance in their careers.

Our Benefits web page provides detailed information about the benefits we offer, and we encourage you to visit it for further information at City of Winnipeg Benefits . We take pride in fostering a , diverse , safe, and healthy workplace where our employees can thrive and achieve their full potential.

Flexible work arrangements, which may include flexible hours, remote work, or a hybrid of remote work may be available; subject to review and approval. Please note that Employees who are approved to work remotely are responsible for and must demonstrate that they are available to return to their Designated Work Location and/or other work location to attend meetings or attend other tasks that occur in person.

The City is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse, skilled workforce that is representative and reflective of the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from equity groups that have been and continue to be underrepresented at the City; Indigenous Peoples, Women, Racialized Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples and Newcomers are encouraged to self-declare.

Requests for Reasonable Accommodation will be accepted during the hiring process.

Preference to internal applicants may be applied.

Job Profile

The Manager of Parks and Open Space is responsible for the delivery of park and open space services while working within the constraints of City Policies and approved operating budgets of $70 million and capital budgets of up to $24 million including 374 FTE's.

The Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of parks and park facilities, natural areas and urban forests. Services include support for park planning and development; including renewal of park infrastructure, environmental education and interpretation, natural areas management, tree disease and integrated pest management, forestry and naturalist consulting services, as well as downtown and special event support.

As the Manager of Parks and Open Space you will:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for all aspects of the Parks & Open Space Division service delivery, ensuring the assessment of community needs and trends to improve services.


• Represent the Division/Department to the CAO, CFO, Mayor/Councillors, Standing Policy Committee, and Community Committee to resolve complex matters, concerns, major issues, and requests.


• Establish and ensure compliance with safety/environmental management programs and regulations, and act in accordance with Collective Agreements, By-laws, policies, and Federal and Provincial regulations.


• Lead the strategic planning, budgeting and financial management of the Division's assets.


• Manage the Division's Human Resources.


• Establish on-going development of divisional risk management policies and practices.

Your Education And Qualifications Include

• Bachelor's Degree in one of the following: Recreational Management, Urban Forestry, Environmental Science/Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Urban/Regional Planning, Civil Engineering (with parks, infrastructure municipal focus), or Public Administration.


• Extensive progressively responsible experience in parks management, natural areas management, urban forestry, or operational leadership within land-based or environmental services; equivalent experience in facilities management, asset management, capital planning, or program delivery may be considered.


• Experience in research, planning, implementation, policy development, and management and delivery of operational maintenance services.


• Experience in financial management of operating and capital budget development, monitoring systems and analysis.


• Experience leading, directing and managing a dynamic and diverse group of professionals and technical employees, preferably in a unionized environment.


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to create innovative solutions to complex issues and problems.


• Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills to move issues forward in difficult or contentious situations with the unions, internal and external stakeholders and elected officials.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of people including staff, senior management, internal and external stakeholders, and elected officials.


• Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate and facilitate discussions and deliver presentations and information on challenging issues to all levels of the organization.


• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to write accurate and thorough reports for executive leadership decision-making.


• Strong knowledge of Workplace Health and Safety Act and regulations and how they apply in the workplace.


• Strong political acumen with the ability to work in a political and public sector management environment.


• IMPORTANT: Applicants who have been educated outside of Canada must have education which is comparable to the minimum qualification in Canada. Applicants submitting foreign credentials require an official academic assessment report issued by a recognized Canadian assessment service https://www.canalliance.org/en/ at application.

Conditions Of Employment

• The successful applicant must maintain legal eligibility to work in Canada. If the successful applicant possesses a work permit, it is their responsibility to ensure the permit remains valid.


• Must possess and maintain a valid Manitoba Class 5 Driver's License.


• Satisfactory completion of a Police Information Check at the candidate's expense.


• The successful applicant is required to provide a vehicle for transportation while on City business, subject to the terms and conditions of the City of Winnipeg Transportation Policy.

Position Reports To: Director of Public Works