Winter Control Operator (Casual, Temporary up to 6 months)

City of Guelph; Guelph; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Guelph is seeking a temporary Winter Control Operator to maintain road safety during winter conditions. This role involves operating heavy equipment for snow clearing and salting, ensuring public safety and compliance with regulations. Candidates should have a Grade 12 education, relevant experience, and a Class G licence. The position offers competitive hourly pay and various employee benefits, underscoring the city's commitment to service and community values.

Benefits

Paid vacation days

Defined benefit pension plan

Extended health and dental benefits

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 education is required.
• 1 year of related experience including operating heavy equipment and plow attachments in winter conditions.
• Good driving record with a Class G licence; Class DZ is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Perform winter control duties including road maintenance and snow clearing.
• Operate tractors and other heavy equipment safely.
• Report hazards and assist in compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Customer Service

Decision Making

Teamwork

Physical Stamina

Education

Grade 12 education

Tools

Heavy Equipment

Plow Equipment

Job description

Why Guelph

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

Resumes are being accepted for the temporary casual position of Winter Control Operator within the Operations Department. Reporting to the Public Works Supervisors, the successful candidate will have a focus on quality customer service and continuous improvement processes. Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Corporate Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision – an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Perform duties in the development, maintenance and operation of the Operations Department related roads winter control.
• Operate various types of equipment including tractors with plow attachment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Perform various duties relating to winter control of roadways including operating manual snow and ice clearing and manual salting and sanding equipment.
• Comply with all applicable regulations and requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, the Highway Traffic Act, all Federal, Provincial and City regulations, policies and procedures.
• Remove obstacles hazardous to employees or the public or that interfere with the safe operation of vehicles or equipment.
• Immediately report vandalism, mechanical difficulties, damage and hazardous conditions.
• Actively participate in a team environment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• Minimum Grade 12 education is required.
• Experience related to the duties listed above which includes 1 year relevant experience
• Operating front end loaders and other relevant heavy equipment (such as tractor/backhoe and tractors) in a safe and efficient manner in live traffic and in winter driving conditions (preferably for winter control purposes). Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a Class G licence with a good driving record. A Class DZ would be a definite asset. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm their licence is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
• Must be a reliable self-starter, able to make decisions and function with minimum supervision.
• Must possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Have the ability to deal with the public in a cordial manner and work well in a team environment.
• Ability to perform a variety of physical activities including lifting, digging, shoveling, raking and climbing ladders and be able to actively participate in daily activities, working within live traffic conditions and adverse weather conditions.
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health & Safety Act.

Hours of workThis role is required to work during or following snowstorms for shifts ranging from 4 to 12 hours in duration. Hours will be as needed on a call-in basis, Sunday through Saturday, up to a maximum of 12 hours per day and 60 hours per week. Ability to respond to the worksite within a reasonable response time is required.

This is a temporary position working from approximately November 2025 until approximately mid-April 2026.

Pay/Salary$29.94 per hour

Mandatory OrientationYou will be required to complete an orientation session which is expected to be scheduled in November 2024. Further details will be provided to successful applicants.

How to apply

Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system. Preference will be given to all applications received by August 22, 2025. Applications received after August 22, 2025, will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered. Proof of qualifications will be requested at the interview stage.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity in the workplace. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual needs in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, please contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.