Natural Areas Stewardship Operator

Service Area: Public Services
Department: Parks
Work Location: Parks, 69 Marilyn Drive
Work Mode: In Person
Job Type and Duration: Temporary, Full time Vacancy
Number of Open Positions: 3
Salary Range: $34.49 per hour
Affiliation: CUPE Local 241
Posting Period: January 14, 2026 to January 28, :59 p.m.

Why Join the City of 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;
• Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
• 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.

Applications are being accepted for the temporary position of Natural Areas Stewardship Operator within Parks. This position will report to the Program Manager, Forestry & Sustainable Landscapes. The successful candidate will perform duties related, but not limited to invasive species management, goose management, natural areas stewardship, and related services within the City's parks in accordance with established standard operating procedures, departmental and corporate policies, sound construction principles, practices, and applicable codes with 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 for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Under the direction of the Natural Areas Stewardship Technician, prepare plans and implement invasive species management and restoration projects on both Guelph properties and other public land properties.
• Lead crew of 2-3 seasonal staff doing invasive species control including spraying of herbicides to control invasive species, noxious weeds or planting trees and shrubs.
• Remove or control invasive species with various methods following provincial and federal legislation standards.
• Operation of mechanical equipment including farm tractors, chainsaws, ATV, water pumps, and loading large trailers.
• Conduct site visits to develop treatment and restoration plans for the management of invasive species on private/public lands.
• Use basic construction techniques to plant trees and herbaceous plants and build habitat structures.
• Support the implementation of the goose management program.
• Perform duties related to natural areas stewardship, parks events, and related services within the City's parks while working outdoors in all types of weather conditions.
• Perform litter, brush and garbage pick up.
• Operate various types of maintenance equipment and vehicles such as pickup truck with trailer, rototiller, blowers, shovels, rakes, string trimmer, chainsaw, chipper, box grader, lawnmowers, power washers, backpack sprayers, large mowers, agricultural tractors, front-end loaders, large mowers, waste collection vehicles, Bobcat toolcat skid-steer and small equipment including auxiliary attachments as required, in a safe and efficient manner.
• Where required, perform various duties relating to winter maintenance of trails including operating relevant equipment, manual snow and ice clearing, salting and sanding as needed.
• Vegetation management activities as directed for natural areas stewardship.
• Carry out all necessary maintenance and adjustments while keeping the equipment in a safe, clean and tidy condition, and perform daily circle checks and report defects and, if necessary, small repairs in a prescribed manner.
• Lead seasonal staff and instruct all support staff in the safe and efficient use, care and maintenance of tools and equipment, and maintenance practices.
• Comply with requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, The Highway Traffic Act, all Federal, Provincial and City regulations, policies and procedures.
• Remove and/or flag obstacles hazardous to employees or the public or that interfere with the safe operation of vehicles or equipment, and duly note and report such conditions to a Lead hand or Supervisor.
• Maintain daily written records of work related activities including paperwork for compliance with the Pesticide Act.
• Immediately report vandalism, mechanical difficulties, damage and hazardous conditions.
• Actively participate in a team environment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma in Parks Management, Ecosystem Management, Outdoor Recreation or closely related field and 1-2 years' experience performing natural areas management and operating in a relevant setting. Candidates with equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a current Forestry, Landscape, or Industrial Exterminator class applicators license from the Ministry of the Environment.
• Chainsaw certification and operating experience.
• Must possess a Class G license with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver's abstract prior to their start date to confirm their license 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.
• Experience and knowledge relevant to invasive species identification and control.
• Knowledge of all maintenance aspects of relevant equipment, including the attachments; chainsaw certification is a requirement of this position.
• Knowledge of native and non-native tree and plant identification and their habitats.
• Proficient time management skills and flexibility in adjusting between a variety of duties.
• A reliable self-starter, able to make decisions, function with minimal supervision, and work as part of a team.
• Effective communication skills: able to deal with the public in a cordial manner.
• Able to perform the physical demands of the job including lifting, kneeling and shovelling and be able to actively participate in daily activities, work within live traffic conditions and in all types of weather conditions.
• Possess an understanding of the OTM's Book 7 for Temporary Conditions, and proven knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Pesticide Act, and other applicable legislation.

Hours of work
Any five (5) consecutive days, eight (8) consecutive hours, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The anticipated start date will be Spring 2026.

Special or Seasonal Events employees in the Parks Department may be required to work shifts in order to accommodate special or seasonal events but shall not be scheduled for more than five (5) days per week, eight (8) hours per day. Shifts may be scheduled as day, afternoon, or night shifts.

How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by January 28, 2026. 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.

Hiring Process Transparency
The City of Guelph is committed to fair and transparent recruitment practices. Candidates who participate in an interview for this position will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their interview. Notifications will be provided in writing, or through technology.

Commitment to Diversity & Accessibility
The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Privacy Notice
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.