As an Arborist I, you will lead a skilled team of arborists dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the City's urban forest. In this hands-on leadership role, you will oversee a wide range of arboricultural operations on City-owned trees, ensuring all work is completed safely and in accordance with industry standards and best practices. Combining technical expertise with strong leadership, you will mentor and support your team, promote a culture of safety, and communicate effectively with residents and stakeholders. This is an opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact on the health, safety, and sustainability of the City's tree canopy while contributing to a greener, more resilient community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Direct daily operations of the forestry operation crew on job sites
• Directing and monitoring how work is performed
• Managing available resources such as staff and equipment
• Deciding on and arranging for equipment to be used on a job site
• Dealing with residents' concerns, complaints, escalations and educate public on proper forestry practices.
• Ensuring and monitoring that all job sites are safe, staff are wearing PPE, working safely and all relevant paperwork completed
• Dealing directly with workers' complaints, or directing staff and other resources to address health and safety concerns
• Assigns tasks and ensures efficient workflow.
• Trains and mentors crew members, parks staff and students.
• Participate in recruitment process.
• Ensure assigned vehicles, equipment and tools are maintained, operated safely and ready for use.
• Maintains records of work completed, equipment used, and crew hours.
• Coordinates with office staff for scheduling and reporting.
• Provide ad hoc assistance on projects/initiatives within the unit/team.
• Must adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations (Construction & Industrial) and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario Traffic Manual (Book 7) Highway Traffic Act.
• Comply with relevant City policies.
• Required to participate in an on call 24/7 rotation throughout the year, including storm management after hours service

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be an ISA Certified Arborist, or must obtain this certification within the first 6 months of employment
• ISA Tree Worker certification considered an asset
• Must have a minimum of three years’ experience in arboriculture field
• Must have a minimum of one year of experience leading arborist crews
• Knowledge of Arboriculture practices (International Society of Arboriculture standards)
• Knowledge of Health & Safety Act & Highway Traffic Act
• Valid Ontario class DZ license, in good standing
• Must be able to obtain a driver's abstract at your own expense
• Crew lead/supervisory experience
• High degree of knowledge of pruning, maintenance and removal of trees, advanced technical rigging and roping, electrical utility safety rules, use of chainsaw, chipper, stumper, crane, climbing and aerial devices
• Ability to work at great heights, climbing and operating various sizes/weights of equipment
• Work around energized apparatus; following Electrical Utility Safety Rules
• High attention to detail
• Working in all weather conditions
• Must be physically capable of performing all forestry related tasks
• Must demonstrate effective communication skills, both oral and written, administration skills, time management skills and the ability to work within a team
• Show commitment to personal growth, development and leadership
• Contributes to building and being part of a positive culture
• 0-8 ton crane License considered an asset
• TRAQ qualification considered and asset
• IHSA line clearing Safety Awareness Certification considered an asset
• Book 7 traffic control training considered an asset
• Working at Heights considered an asset
• Utility arborist considered an asset