Forestry Coordinator - City of Mississauga, Mississauga

AI Summary

This Forestry Coordinator role with the City of Mississauga in Mississauga, ON, involves coordinating urban forestry programs and projects. Key duties include managing contractors, overseeing tree maintenance, and ensuring high-quality outcomes for the community. Top requirements include a post-secondary degree in forestry or a related field, ISA Certified Arborist designation, and at least five years of relevant experience in urban forestry.

About the Opportunity

The City of Mississauga is seeking a dedicated Forestry Coordinator to join its team, reporting directly to the Manager of Forestry Maintenance and Operations. This permanent position is crucial for the planning and delivery of essential operational and capital forestry programs and projects across Mississauga’s streets, parks, and City-owned properties. The successful candidate will play a vital role in protecting, enhancing, restoring, expanding, and connecting Mississauga’s urban forest, contributing significantly to the city's green infrastructure. This role provides strategic direction to external contractors and internal crews, offering functional guidance to team members. It also involves comprehensive project and contract management related to tree maintenance, tree planting, and vegetation management initiatives. The primary objective is to ensure safe, sustainable, and high-quality outcomes for the community, reflecting the City of Mississauga's commitment to environmental stewardship. The coordinator will also ensure all work meets legislated, corporate, departmental, and divisional standards, fostering a strong culture of health and safety.

Key Responsibilities and Impact

As a Forestry Coordinator, the incumbent will coordinate the planning, procurement, scheduling, and monitoring of contractors, consultants, personnel, equipment, and materials for various forestry operations and capital projects. This includes leading all phases of the project lifecycle, from initiation to closure, and preparing work plans, designs, and studies for tree maintenance, planting, and vegetation management. A critical aspect of the role is to conduct thorough inspections and ensure all work is completed to corporate and legislative standards. The coordinator will assign work orders to both contractors and in-house crews to ensure timely and effective service delivery, responding promptly to service requests for tree maintenance and boulevard vegetation management. Furthermore, this position administers full contract lifecycles, including developing specifications, tender preparation, evaluation, and monitoring performance against contract specifications. Financial oversight includes tracking expenditures, monitoring budgets, and reviewing invoicing to identify variances. Delivering prompt, high-quality customer service to residents, elected officials, and internal staff is also paramount, alongside building collaborative relationships and representing the Division at public meetings and committees. The role also requires active participation in the Forestry On-Call program.

Qualifications for Success

To excel in this Forestry Coordinator role, candidates must possess a post-secondary degree or diploma in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Arboriculture, or a related field. It is mandatory to be an ISA Certified Arborist, with additional certifications such as Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist considered significant assets. A minimum of five years of relevant experience in urban forestry is required, specifically with demonstrated experience in tree maintenance and boulevard vegetation management on municipal infrastructure. The role demands proven experience overseeing contractors and projects, encompassing procurement, budgeting, scheduling, and quality control. A strong understanding of urban forestry, arboriculture, and landscape construction practices is essential. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for effectively engaging with residents, internal staff, and elected officials. The ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, on uneven terrain, and perform heavy lifting is also necessary. Candidates must have sound knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and municipal policies, along with a valid Ontario Class G Driver’s Licence and an acceptable driving record. The flexibility to work evenings and weekends if required, and to participate in the Forestry On-Call program, is also expected.