Supervisor of Horticulture

**Summary & Responsibilities**

Reporting to the Manager of Cemeteries, Horticulture & Forestry, the Supervisor of Horticulture is responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of Horticultural services and oversees the extensive horticulture program within parks, open spaces and along roadsides throughout the City of Brantford. This includes the design and maintenance of floral gardens, landscape plantings, horticultural displays and formal parks in the City, greenhouse management and crop production as well as community garden oversight and support. The Supervisor will also act as a Municipal Weed Inspector, with responsibility for IPM strategies and high-quality performance standards as well as safe, efficient work practices. They also oversee the Invasive Species program. This position performs on call response to Parks enquiries on a rotating schedule throughout the calendar year.

The duties will include but not limited to:

- Supervise daily horticulture and greenhouse operations; direct, and coordinate unionized staff, prepare work schedules, and weekly/seasonal work plans
- Plan and oversee the City’s horticulture program including garden locations, designs, special events displays, interior plant care and upkeep, greenhouse operations and community gardens oversight and support. Establish planting and maintenance schedules and routes; inspect all systems, plantings, and maintenance works; and evaluate operational performance, recommend changes to systems, procedures, and methodologies and adjust maintenance practices and develop/implement improvement plans to ensure quality standards and public safety and improve efficiencies
- Recruit, train, develop and monitor the performance of full-time staff and seasonal and student employees; Manage employee conduct and performance in accordance with Collective Agreements and legislation
- Promote and enforce compliance with health and safety legislation; provide training as required
- Administer and assist in the development of annual operating and capital budgets; monitor multiple business units and control expenditures; prepare labour and material cost estimates as well as related documentation and reports as required
- Implement effective site-based labour relations
- Maintain effective and co-operative communications with other Parks divisions, City departments and staff, as well as community partners and members of the public to ensure high levels of customer service
- Undertake special projects as assigned
- Represent management on committees as assigned
- Maintain practical awareness of relevant legislation. Investigate complaints, resolve problems, and maintain good public relations

**Qualifications**
- Successful completion of a college diploma in Horticulture from a recognized institution or related field or related professional certification
- Over (3) years of progressive work experience in horticulture, greenhouse operations or related field
- Proven successful leadership experience, supervising a substantial number of staff or leading large work teams, preferably in a positive, unionized, municipal environment
- Extensive knowledge of horticulture collections and the broad range of plants found within City of Brantford parks; proper horticultural practices and design principles; pest and disease identification and mitigation; and greenhouse operations including systems management, plant propagation, transplanting, and crop production
- Demonstrated knowledge of all applicable safety legislation, rules, policies and procedures, best practices, and industry standards, especially the Occupational Health and Safety Act including a working knowledge of applicable chemical and pesticide usage, control, and storage
- Current MECP Pesticide Applicators License (Exterminator License - Structural extermination for Greenhouse/Interior Category and Exterminator License - Land extermination for the Landscape and Industrial Vegetation Categories)
- Proven contract management abilities, including overseeing specification preparation and supervision of work execution
- Strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple and changing demands and priorities and implement a continuous learning approach
- ISA Certification is considered an asset
- Working knowledge of irrigation systems, including operation and control, maintenance, and repairs is considered an asset
- Possess a valid Class G driver s license in good standing during employment
- IMS 200 Certification or equivalent (ICS200) is considered an asset. Subject to course availability, certification must be achieved within the first year of employment

Our organization is committed to promoting the independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity of persons with disabilities by ensuring the accessibility of our facilities and services. Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment and selection process. Applicants need to m