By-Law Officer, Forestry - City of Mississauga, Mississauga

About this opportunity

The City of Mississauga is looking for a dedicated By-Law Officer, Forestry to join its team. Reporting to the Manager, Forestry Planning & Permits, this temporary opportunity allows you to play a vital role in safeguarding Mississauga’s urban forest. You will contribute to the protection of public and private trees, administer tree permits, and ensure that development, construction, utility, and road occupancy activities are conducted in a manner that supports the health of the urban canopy and community character. This position is crucial for achieving the City’s long-term urban forestry goals and maintaining the natural beauty of Mississauga.

What you'll do

As a By-Law Officer, Forestry, you will be responsible for a wide range of duties focused on urban tree protection and by-law enforcement within Mississauga. Your work will involve both administrative tasks related to tree permits and active enforcement to ensure compliance with city regulations.

• Administer the tree permit process for Residential, Development, Public Utilities Coordinating Committee (PUCC), Road Occupancy Permits, and internal projects.
• Review tree permit applications, Arborist reports, tree inventories, preservation plans, encroachment agreements, consent to enters, park access permits, committee of adjustments, and pre-pool installations.
• Evaluate and interpret development applications related to site plans, building permits, and rezoning applications.
• Determine permit fees, replacement tree securities, tree removal/pruning fees, tree preservation securities, and public tree appraisals.
• Provide tree preservation recommendations.
• Process tree security releases.
• Enforce compliance under public and private tree protection, encroachment, and parks by-laws based on complaints from the public, Councillors, and internal staff.
• Investigate, research, and collect evidence, including on-site inspections and oral investigations.
• Prepare orders, take witness statements, compile prosecution briefs, and prepare Part 3 Summons.
• Give evidence and liaise with Prosecutions to determine fines.
• Provide expert professional consultative services under the Property Standards By-law pertaining to tree-related issues and hazardous conditions.
• Complete Tree Evaluation and Tree Risk Assessment forms.
• Attend appeal hearings.
• Respond to written and verbal inquiries from internal and external agencies, including Development & Design, Planning & Building, Transportation & Works, Legal Services, Parks Planning, Parks Development, tree companies, developers, residents, utility companies, and Councillors.
• Write and administer contracts.
• Provide supervision and direction to appropriate contractors, monitoring their work through site inspections.
• Conduct final inspections to ensure work has been completed to contract specifications.
• Collaborate with municipal, provincial, federal, and CVC levels of government and agencies to reclaim natural areas.
• Collect, maintain, record, and analyze field data on encroachments and their impacts on adjacent parkland, greenbelts, and woodlots.

Skills and experience

To succeed in this By-Law Officer, Forestry role with the City of Mississauga, candidates should possess a strong background in urban forestry and arboriculture, coupled with practical experience in by-law enforcement and tree permit administration. The following skills and qualifications are essential:

• A diploma or degree in Forestry and Arboriculture from a recognized institution with 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in Urban Forestry. An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of arboricultural theories and practices.
• International Society of Arboriculture Certification (ISA) is a requirement or must be obtained within 3 months.
• Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) is considered an asset.
• Obtain By-law Core Competency Certification is a requirement or must be obtained within 3 months.
• Must have knowledge of the Tree By-laws, Property Standards By-law, Encroachment By-law, and Parks By-law.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret engineering, landscape, tree preservation drawings, surveys, and GIS generated maps.
• Understanding of applicable Health and Safety regulations and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Access to a personal vehicle is a requirement.
• A valid Ontario driver's license is a requirement.
• Ability to perform shift work if required.
• Participation in the On Call program is a requirement.
• Detail-oriented with excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.