Guided by our vision that together we will protect, enhance, restore, expand, and connect Mississauga’s Urban Forest and Natural Heritage System to sustain a healthy community, the Forestry Section is a progressive and interdisciplinary team of professionals and experts that plans, sustains, and manages Mississauga’s trees, forests, and natural areas in an effective, efficient, and equitable manner.

Reporting to the Manager, Forestry Maintenance & Operations, the successful candidate will be responsible for the maintenance and operations of Forestry assets on streets, parks, and City property within an assigned area. This includes overseeing the delivery of arboricultural and boulevard vegetation management services by in-house and contracted resources, proactive and reactive maintenance programs, emergency response and preparedness, and contract management within an assigned area.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise the planning and delivery of arboricultural and boulevard vegetation management services within an assigned area in a safe, efficient, and effective manner;
• Supervise the planning, coordination, scheduling and supervision of contractors, personnel, equipment, supplies, materials within an assigned area to ensure the most efficient and effective use of in-house and contracted resources;
• Sets operational priorities and objectives within an assigned area, including milestones, timelines, and performance measures;
• Supervise the planning, development, tendering, and administration of contracts within an assigned area;
• Supervise emergency response and preparedness for extreme weather events and critical incidents impacting forestry assets in an assigned area. Acting as Incident Commander and leading incident response teams;
• Supervise, motivate, mentor, and train assigned staff, including recruitment and hiring, scheduling, assigning, and reviewing of work. Authorizes and coordinates standby, overtime, and leave requests. Determines staff training and development needs, monitors and evaluate staff performance, providing coaching, performance management, and taking disciplinary action when necessary;
• Provides input into and administers the annual operating and capital budget for an assigned area, and ensures that the expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget;
• Develops and implements operational plans, policies, procedures, service standards, service level agreements;
• Evaluates operational effectiveness and efficiency, monitors performance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence;
• Ensures the timely delivery of quality customer service and resolutions to service requests, complaints, and inquiries from the public, elected officials, or other City staff;
• Develops, prepares, and submits correspondence, reports, briefing notes, memoranda, and presentations for leadership and Council;
• Cultivates effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including members of Council and their staff, other departments, divisions, and sections, and members of the public;
• Represents the Division at public meetings, committees of Council, inter-divisional, and inter-departmental meetings;
• Leads, participates and/or contributes to working groups, committees, task forces, and project teams;
• Develops and fosters a strong culture of health and safety and ensures compliance with all applicable health and safety legislation and policies (i.e. Occupational Health and Safety Act);
• Ensures quality of work and services meets legislated, corporate, departmental, divisional, and section standards.

Skills and Qualifications

• Post secondary degree or diploma, or an approved equivalent, in urban forestry, arboriculture, ecology, environmental science, or related discipline;
• Must be a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and possess the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. (ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Arborist or ISA Board Certified Master Arborist would be an asset);
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in urban forestry;
• Must have extensive knowledge of urban forestry and arboriculture principles and practices;
• Extensive experience with tree maintenance operations and/or boulevard vegetation management in streets, parks, and City property by in-house staff and contractors;
• Demonstrated experience overseeing projects, crews and/or contractors (this might include developing procurement documents, budget control, meeting deadlines and deliverables, quality control, working with/on project teams and working groups, and/or planning and coordinating complex arboricultural operations and tasks);
• Demonstrated interpersonal and leadership skills to provide direction to staff and/or contractors;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with residents, stakeholders and elected officials effectively;
• Sound knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, and standards (i.e. Occupational Health and Safety Act, Municipal Act);
• Must be able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends and participate in the Forestry On Call program;
• Must hold a valid Ontario Class G Driver’s License or higher with an acceptable driving record;
• Must be willing to obtain and provide a current driver's abstract at your own expense;
• Must be able to work in all weather conditions, on uneven terrain, and perform heavy lifting.