Natural Area Practitioner - Urban Forestry

Organization:

City of Surrey

Region:

British Columbia

Application deadline:

Aug 7, 2018

This job posting has expired

Type:

Regular Full Time

Category:

Parks & recreation

Description

The City of Surrey’s Urban Forestry – Natural Areas team has a unique full-time temporary job opportunity for someone who is interested in applying their varied experience and skills to meet the challenges of assisting in the management of over 1,500 hectares of forest, shrubland, and grassland.

Responsibilities:

Supervise, train and review work of junior staff; including assisting with scheduling and ensuring work is included in an efficient and timely manner.
Assist in administering contracts for Parks Division work.
Complete a variety of manual and semi-skilled tasks including but not limited to:
- trail edge pruning
- invasive plant removal
- planting maintenance (weeding/brushing/mulching)
- planting native trees and shrubs
- refuse and yard waste removal
- tree debris clean-up
- inventorying assets
Respond to service requests from the public.
Prepare reports and maintain records.
Work on a team or alone completing heavy physical work in all weather conditions, requiring sufficient physical strength, stamina and coordination.
Complete other related duties as required.

Requirements

Completion of Grade 12, supplemented by successful completion of five additional relevant courses from an approved post-secondary education institution in any of the following course areas plus a minimum of 2 years of recent experience in the management of natural areas.
- Biology
- Urban land management
- Ecology
- Conservation
- Wildlife management
OR Completion of Grade 12 and a Technical Certificate Program (one year full-time) from an approved post-secondary institution, supplemented by 18 months of recent experience in the management of natural areas.
OR Completion of Grade 12 and completion of a diploma program from an approved post-secondary institution, with a minimum of 6 months recent experience in the management of natural areas.
Possession of valid, BC Driver’s License.
Experience supervising staff and strong leadership skills.
Have experience performing manual labour.
Have experience with power tools (brush saw, hedge trimmer, backpack blowers, chainsaw) and hand tools (shovels, picks, hand snips, loppers, hand saws).
Demonstrate an ability to identify native and invasive plants.
Possess strong public relations, communication and interpersonal skills.
Possess strong organizational, time management, record-keeping and computer skills.
Have a B.C. Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed Pesticide Applicator Certificate (to be obtained before the completion of the probation period).
Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment and must be physically able to carry out the duties as required.
Ability to think logically and analytically in problem-solving situations.
Possess superior public relations, interpersonal, communication, organizational and leadership skills.
Have considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, standards and guidelines used in urban park natural area management.