Solid Waste Operations Co-op Student

City of Barrie; Barrie; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Barrie is seeking a co-op student for the Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability Department. The role involves monitoring waste operations, ensuring compliance, and assisting with various environmental initiatives. This temporary position offers an opportunity to gain practical experience in environmental management and contribute to sustainable practices within the community.

Benefits

Enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan

Paid sick time based on duration of employment

Access to Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes

Access to Perkopolis Perks program

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a recognized co-op program.
• Preference for students in Environmental or Civil Engineering.
• Strong communication, organizational skills, and computer literacy required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with compliance inspections and data collection.
• Coordinate and conduct waste audits.
• Support management of the Leaf and Yard Waste compost program.

Skills

Organizational skills

Strong communication skills

Computer skills

Knowledge of Waste Management methodologies

Education

Enrolled in recognized college or university co-op program

Preference for Environmental or Civil Engineering programs

Minimum age of 16

Job description

Posting Number: COOP-25-15

Job Type: Co-op, Temporary-Full-time, up to 4 Months, Union

Salary Range: $17.52 to $23.82 per hour

Location: Barrie, ON - Onsite (see below for more details)

Posted: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 11:59 pm

The Opportunity

The Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability Department is comprised of three Branches: Solid Waste Operations, Solid Waste Management Policy and Planning, and Environmental Risk Management and Compliance. Overall, this Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City's Landfill site, which includes non-hazardous solid waste disposal, household hazardous waste receiving and disposal, leaf and yard waste disposal and composting, and solid waste collection and disposal. The Environmental Risk Management and Compliance Branch aims to minimize environmental risk associated with growth and corporate infrastructure, including Source Water Protection, Climate change strategy, Sustainable Development Strategy, Contaminated site response, sewer use by-law, spill response, ground water and surface water monitoring and investigations, and site plan reviews. This Department also develops and maintains strategies that promote circular economy and environmental sustainability, including waste diversion programs, sustainable waste management strategy, public outreach, and education.

The Waste Disposal Section is responsible to ensure the safe handling and management of solid waste in accordance with applicable legislative requirements and the effective operation of engineered control systems.

The successful applicant to this position will perform and/or assist with the following tasks:

• Assist with ensuring compliance with the Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) and Permit to Take Water (PTTW) for the Landfill Site.
• Perform daily, weekly and monthly site inspections and data collection in accordance with the ECA, provide reports of findings to the Landfill Systems Technologist and the Supervisor of Waste Disposal, and assist with necessary corrective actions.
• Coordinate various projects within the scope of Solid Waste Operations to assist with site operations, obtaining greater waste diversion, or assist with conducting waste audits and daily bin contamination assessments.
• Conducting inspections of Purge Well and Leachate Collection engineered control systems, collecting field data via Cityworks application, obtaining water level readings in conjunction with downloading system flow from dataloggers.
• Assist in the data collection and compilation of monthly key performance indicators (KPIs), statistical reports and graphs, waste tonnages, diversion rates, compaction hours, and equipment maintenance records.
• Support the management of the City’s Leaf and Yard Waste compost program through inspection for contamination in feedstock, sample collection, and temperature and moisture reading data collection.
• Responsible for the maintenance of all data collected related to the Leaf and Yard Waste compost program and weekly tonnage reports.
• Maintain the Solid Waste Operations equipment maintenance records and required operating hours notifying the Landfill Systems Technologist when preventative and reactive maintenance and/or repairs are required.
• Calibrate and maintain field sampling equipment.
• Assist with keeping accurate inventory of field supplies and if required acquiring needed supplies to maintain inventory.
• Perform property maintenance duties including litter collection, tree planning and watering, washing vehicles, cleaning workspaces, snow removal and painting.
• Maintain hard copies and electronic files associated with the ECA including filing and file creation.
• Assist with the compilation and updating of various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assisting, when required, with performing duties associated with the operation of the Waste and Recycling Depot and Scalehouse.
• Conducting various research assignments and presenting information in a clear and logical manner.
• Utilizing Cityworks application to perform daily, weekly, and monthly inspections of all Environmental Monitoring Systems in accordance with the ECA.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Our Culture And Qualifications Of The Job

Corporate Culture: Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Equally important to what we do is how we do it - your actions reflect our core accountabilities of Personal Awareness, Teamwork and Collaboration, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Service Excellence, which define how we work together to succeed.

Education (degree/diploma/certifications)

• Currently enrolled in or is a student in a recognized College or University Co-op program*
• Preference will be given to students enrolled in Environmental or Civil Engineering programs
• Minimum of 16 years of age or turning 16 by the end of the calendar year and must have attended one of the academic establishments listed above the year in which they are applying for employment and/or returning the following year
  
  

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

• Be a well-organized self-starter with the ability to work well without close supervision
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Dependable, reliable, responsible and professional
• Computer skills – MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
• Knowledge of Waste Management and Waste Diversion methodologies considered an asset
  
  

Conditions of Employment

• Valid Class ‘G’ Driver’s Licence in good standing
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends
• Steel-toed safety footwear in good condition, minimum 6”
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*
• Please note that this is a requirement of the position for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Policy. Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.
  
  

Other Important Information

Work Term: September - December 2025

Location: Environmental Centre, 272 Ferndale Drive North, Barrie, ON

Hours: The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

Wage: $17.52 to $23.82 per hour

What We Offer: This position includes optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, prorated paid sick time based on the expected duration of employment and in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program, which provides exclusive access to discounts on a wide range of products and services available to all City employees.

How to Apply: Click the ‘Apply Now’ button at the top and/or bottom of the job posting to start the application process. Please note that emailed applications will not be considered.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Why Barrie?

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year-round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests. We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers. Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great.

The City of Barrie is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices and we will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise if you require Code-protected accommodation and we will work with you to meet your needs.