Urban Forester

Anishinabek Employment & Training Services; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 87,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a vibrant community as an Urban Forester, where you'll lead the management of the city's urban forest, implementing innovative arboriculture policies and programs. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the community's environmental sustainability while enjoying a supportive work environment. With a focus on inclusivity and respect, you'll collaborate with a dedicated team to enhance the urban landscape, ensuring safety and health for both trees and residents. If you're passionate about forestry and want to make a meaningful impact, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Matching Pension Plan

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Employee Family Assistance Program

Career Progression Opportunities

Corporate Training Programs

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Voluntary Leave Purchase Plan

Qualifications

• Degree in Forestry with 5+ years in urban forestry or related fields.
• Knowledge of arboricultural practices and safety equipment.

Responsibilities

• Manage the City’s public urban forest and develop maintenance programs.
• Coordinate with teams for forestry planning and budget alignment.
• Respond to public inquiries regarding City trees and provide education.

Skills

Urban Forestry Management

Arboricultural Practices

GIS and GPS Technologies

Tree Identification

Insect and Disease Management

Planning and Policy Analysis

Education

Degree in Forestry

Membership with OPFA

Job description

The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is the largest community on Lake Superior. With a census metropolitan area population of 123,258 (Census 2021), it is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario. Deeply rooted with European and Indigenous cultures, Thunder Bay is the sixth most culturally diverse community of its size in North America. The community values a high quality of life and promotes a clean, green, beautiful and healthy community that provides economic opportunity, respects diversity and provides affordable and safe neighborhoods that are accessible to all.

Thunder Bay is a vibrant community and is the region's commercial, administrative, and medical hub. From trees to transportation to the new frontier for research, health and life sciences, the community stands for hard work and innovation. The City by the Bay is home to 38 elementary schools, three middle schools, eight secondary schools, two private schools, an adult education facility, a post-secondary college and a university institution that provides a medical school and a law school.

As a four-season outdoor paradise, Thunder Bay is the sunniest city in eastern Canada with an average of 2121 hours of bright sunshine each year. It is also one of the most dynamic "Cultural Capitals of Canada". Residents and visitors of Thunder Bay enjoy the harmony of a city rich in wide-open green spaces, parks and wilderness - and a major centre for visual and performing arts, and culture.

If you truly enjoy the advantages of work-life balance that a smaller city provides in a large organizational setting, then come join us!

If you already live here, we can’t wait for you to join our team!

Employment Details

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Occupation Type: Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists

Total Positions: 1

Wage: Min: CAD $87,764.84/Yr. & Max: CAD $103,252.75/Yr.

Hours/Week: 0

Days of Work: n/a

Closing Date / Apply By: 11/3/2024

Start Date: n/a

Duties

The Opportunity

As the Urban Forester, you will be responsible for the overall management strategy of the City’s public urban forest including arboriculture policies and programs, invasive species strategies, and horticulture programs.

The role reports to the Manager - Parks & Open Spaces and has the following accountabilities:

1. Participates as a member of the Parks & Open Spaces management team in operational reviews, human resource management, staff recruitment, budget preparation, program delivery, technical matters, and liability/issues management.
2. Coordinates and works closely with the Supervisor – Forestry and Horticulture to ensure forestry planning is integrated and aligned with operational capacity and capital/operating budgets.
3. Plans, develops, coordinates, and oversees the delivery of the forestry maintenance work program for the Forestry and Horticulture work unit including training materials, routine inspections, systematic pruning, tree planting, and strategic removals.
4. Develops Sectional policies and procedures related to arboriculture standards, invasive species strategies, and horticultural services including Centennial Botanical Conservatory administration and programming.
5. Prepares, develops, updates, and oversees administration of the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan including strategic initiatives, projects, priorities, and delivery of annual written work plans directing the annual tree planting and maintenance programs.
6. Advises on site plan, rezoning, development, Planning & Building applications, and development plans for City parks and public spaces where City trees are involved.
7. Manages and oversees the Forestry customer service request, driveway permit application, and utility permit application processes administered by the Forestry Technician. Conducts professional tree assessments to inform decision making and support Forestry operations as required.
8. Responds to Council and the public regarding City trees. Provides professional advice and education, in the interest of staff/public safety and tree health, on tree planting, entomology, pathology, and pest control in accordance with arboriculture standards and City policies, procedures, and By-laws.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have the following:

1. Degree in Forestry or a related program together with at least five (5) years of experience in urban forestry or related areas.
2. Membership with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) as a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.), or as an Associate Member with confirmation of eligibility for R.P.F. status within one (1) year.
3. Knowledge of arboricultural practices, including safety equipment, tree trimming and planting methods, tree identification, insect and disease management is required.
4. Demonstrated ability in planning, research, and policy analysis.
5. Ability to work with GIS and GPS technologies to update tree inventory.

Why Work for the City of Thunder Bay (CTB)?

When you work for the City of Thunder Bay, you are part of our team, and here you can:

As an employee with the Corporation, you will be in receipt of the following benefits:

• Amazing team environment, built on respect & inclusivity
• Great competitive salary
• Fantastic matching pension plan
• Great paid vacation and holidays
• Supportive employee family assistance program (EFAP)
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• Fantastic corporate training & leadership development programs
• Great tuition reimbursement program (continuous learning)
• Advantageous voluntary leave purchase plan

We can’t wait for you to join us and be a part of our team!

For a detailed job description, including job responsibilities and to apply please visit: www.thunderbay.ca/jobs