Trades Assistant

City of Victoria BC; Victoria; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Victoria BC is seeking a skilled Parks & Recreation worker to perform intermediate horticulture, arboriculture, irrigation, and maintenance tasks. You will work under a qualified tradesperson, maintaining green spaces, planting, pruning, and installing irrigation systems.

You will operate a range of equipment, support staff, and interact with the public as needed. A background in horticulture and BC driver’s licence is required; 2 years of related experience preferred.

Qualifications

• High school graduation with horticulture certificate.
• ITI Levels 1 and 2 certification.
• Valid BC Class 5 driver's licence.
• 2 years of related experience or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, maintain horticultural areas and greenhouse.
• Renovate and maintain parks, fields, boulevards, turf.
• Plant, prune trees and maintain nursery stock.
• Install and maintain irrigation and drainage systems.
• Operate parks equipment and hand/power tools.
• Provide guidance to staff and respond to public inquiries.

Skills

Organize work

Maintenance techniques

Parks equipment

Relationships

Public communication

Safety

Education

High school Graduation

Certificate in horticulture (1 year)

Irrigation Technician Levels 1 and 2

BC Class 5 Driver's Licence

Job description

Competition Number: 26/204

Posting Scope: Internal / External

Posted Date: October 13, 2026

Closing Date: October 20, 2026, 4:30 PM PST

Department: Parks & Recreation

Work schedule: Monday to Friday (7:00 AM – 3:30 PM, shifts may vary based on operational requirement. 40 hour work week) – Continuous (Full-Time)

Salary: $38.18 per hour, Pay Grade 8

Job Code: 644

Employee Group: This is a CUPE Local 50 position

Number of Vacancies: 1

Position Function

Performs a variety of intermediate skilled tasks in the trades of horticulture, arboriculture, irrigation, construction and maintenance.

Key Duties

• Working with or under the direction of a qualified trades person. Prepares, maintains horticultural areas, and works in the greenhouse. Renovates and maintains parks and playing fields, boulevards, and other turf areas. Plants, prunes, and maintains trees. Constructs and maintains parks equipment, hard infrastructure, and furniture, installs, and maintains irrigation and drainage systems.
• Water, fertilize, seed, cultivate as required; grow, propagate, plant, and maintain various annual, perennial, specialty plants, and other nursery stock and trees.
• Prepare, construct and repair hanging baskets, window boxes and displays. Inspect for pest and health problems and apply pest controls and conduct soil testing.
• Keep records and inventories as required; make recommendations on hard and soft landscape improvements.
• Operate a variety of parks industrial equipment such as industrial trucks and tractors with attachments; operate various hand tools and power equipment such as shovels, and line trimmer, rototiller, electric shears, riding mowers, chainsaws, ditch-witch and turf-cutters.
• Provide instructions and information to other staff as required.
• Occasionally respond to general enquiries from the public and other departments.
• Perform related duties where qualified.

Independence

• Work is assigned and reviewed by supervisor.
• Issues such as removal of equipment or changes to landscaping are referred to supervisor.

Working Conditions

Physical Effort

• Lift and move heavy materials and equipment. (often)
• Operate manual and power tools and equipment. (frequent)

Mental Effort

• Normal

Visual/Auditory Effort

• Normal

Work Environment

• Work outside in all weather conditions. (continuous)
• Exposure to equipment noise. (occasional)
• Work in an environment where protective measure must be taken to avoid exposure to chemicals and fertilizers. (occasional)
• Work in close proximity to moving traffic. (occasional)

Key Skills And Abilities

• Organize and prioritize work.
• Understand and apply a variety of skilled maintenance techniques used in various Parks trades.
• Use industrial parks equipment, hand tools and power equipment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Deal effectively with the public and outside agencies.
• Work and operate equipment safely.

Qualifications

Formal Education, Training and Occupational Certification

• High school Graduation.
• Certificate in horticulture. (1 year)
• Certified Irrigation Technician Levels 1 and 2 (24 hours)
• Current and valid Class 5 B.C. Driver's Licence.

Experience

• 2 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other

• May be requested to substitute in a more senior position.

The City of Victoria is committed to integrating equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility into our programs, policies, spaces, and services. Our goal is to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the community we serve and aim to become. Individuals who are Indigenous, racialized, immigrants, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, or facing any additional barriers are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be available upon request throughout the application and selection process.