Parks Labourer 1 - Biodiversity

City of Red Deer; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Red Deer is seeking a Parks Labourer 1 to join our Parks - Biodiversity team on a temporary full-time basis in Red Deer, Alberta. The role emphasizes wildfire mitigation, forestry tasks, and support for biodiversity operations across urban forest sites.

Ideal candidates have Grade 10 with experience in labour roles, chainsaw and pruning skills, and the ability to operate small equipment and light vehicles.

Qualifications

• Grade 10 with six months in a labour role; preference for wildfire/forestry/arboriculture experience.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Demonstrated pruning and chainsaw experience; ability to work with trees and woody vegetation.
• Ability to operate chainsaws, chippers, vehicles and other Parks equipment safely.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather and rough terrain.
• RISE principles and 9 Core Competencies.

Responsibilities

• Perform wildfire mitigation and fuel management in urban forests in all weather conditions.
• Safely operate fleet vehicles, landscape equipment and power tools with proper inspections.
• Provide courteous, responsive customer service to the public and stakeholders.
• Assist with ecological restoration, reclamation and vegetation planting as needed.

Skills

Wildfire mitigation

Forestry operations

Chainsaw operation

Vegetation management

Teamwork

Physical stamina

Education

Grade 10

Tools

Chainsaws

Chipper

Vehicles

Job description

About Red Deer:

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Parks Labourer 1 to fill a temporary, full-time position. The ideal candidate will have related experience, a good work ethic, and the ability to work in a team-oriented environment. The Parks Labourer 1 positions are key positions, which allow Parks to provide our seasonal operational service levels.

In Parks - Biodiversity, you will assist with various Biodiversity operations, including but not limited to:

• Urban Forestry Aerial Assistance
• Urban Encampment Biohazard Control (UEBC)
• Reclamation and Tree Planting Construction
• Urban Forestry
• Shrub Bed Maintenance

*Depending on the area assigned, you will operate small, motorized equipment as required, occasionally drive small trucks and operate light equipment, and various horticultural related tools.

Work is expected in the urban forest completing wildfire mitigation work that includes hand sawing, chain sawing, processing trees through a chipper and manual labor removing brush and trees from forested areas during all weather conditions.Preference will be given to candidates that hold experience in forestry, chainsaw activity using best arboriculture practice in ecologically sensitive areas.

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Parks Operations -Perform wildfire mitigation and fuel management activities within the urban forests in all weather conditions including but not limited to selective thinning, pruning, brush and deadfall removal, ladder-fuel reduction, and hazardous tree removal, apply appropriate arboricultural practices when pruning, removing, or maintaining trees and woody vegetation, operatechainsaws for tree felling, limbing, bucking, pruning, and processing of woody material, operate wood chippers and other equipment in accordance with safe operating procedures, perform manual labour involving the removal, movement, processing, and disposal of brush, logs, branches, garbage, and other materials, identify and manage hazards related to trees, terrain, weather, utilities, equipment, wildlife, and public-use areas, work safely in ecologically sensitive areas while minimizing environmental impacts, support ecological restoration, reclamation, vegetation planting, and rehabilitation activities and other operational programs, and support specialized services such as biohazard control as required.
• Fleet and Equipment - Safely operate fleet vehicles, landscape equipment, small power equipment, power tools, and hand tools in accordance with operating procedures, safe work practices, and legislation. Conduct pre-use inspections, perform minor maintenance and adjustments, and change equipment attachments as required. Inspect equipment on scheduled maintenance cycles and report repair, replacement, or disposal needs to the Foreperson.
• Health and Safety Responsibilities - Participate in and comply with the City’s Health and Safety programs, policies, procedures, and applicable legislation. Follow Parks Safe Work Practices and Equipment Operating Procedures and recommend updates when required.
• Customer Service - Provide courteous and effective customer service and operational support to the public, user groups, schools, and stakeholders for events, bookings, and facility use. Communicate worksite information and adjust activities to minimize impacts to community use. Coordinate effectively with contractors, suppliers, and internal City departments.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 10 combined with a minimum of six months experience in a labour role.Preference will be given to those with related experience in wildfire mitigation, forestry, arboriculture, chainsaw activity, vegetation management or other parks related activities.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Standard First Aid course is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with pruning and chainsaw operations, including limbing, bucking, and removal.
• Demonstrated the understanding and experience with applying best arboricultural practices when working with trees and woody vegetation.
• Experience working with chainsaws and other forestry equipment in ecologically sensitive areas is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of wildfire mitigation principles, fuel reduction, hazardous tree identification, vegetation management, and urban forest practices is considered an asset.
• Ability to safely operate and complete routine maintenance on chainsaws, chippers, vehicles, other equipment and tools used within Parks operations.
• Ability to work outside in all types of weather conditions and in challenging terrain and forested environments.
• Ability to exert continuous physical effort and in fatiguing positions
• Ability to read and understand procedures, policies and operating instructions.
• Ability to exercise care and to follow all safety policies and procedures, particularly in high public-use areas.
• Ability to cooperate with colleagues as a team, work independently, understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to use computers, electronic devices and tablets for email, time entry and daily work and safety documents.
• Ability to complete jobs unsupervised, as well as keeping daily reports.
• Hold self to RISE principles and 9 Core Competencies.

Affiliation:

Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417

Status:

Temporary Full-time

Remuneration:

$27.75 to $29.38 per hour

Hours of Work:

80 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, as scheduled. Some evening and weekend work may be required when needed.

Additional Information:

This is a temporary position with an anticipated end date of March 27, 2027.

More than one position will be filled from this posting.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.