Forestry Operator

Service Area: Public Services
Department: Parks
Division: Forestry & Sustainable Landscape
Work Location: 50 Municipal St (Subject to change)
Work Mode: In-person
Job Type and Duration: Temporary, Full Time Vacancy (Up to 9 months)
Number of Open Positions: 3
Salary Range: $34.49 per hour
Affiliation: CUPE Local 241
Posting Period: January 6, 2026 to January 21, :59 p.m.

Why 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;
• 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 positions of Forestry Operator within Parks. Reporting to the Program Manager, Forestry & Sustainable Landscape, the successful candidate will perform duties related, but not limited to, chipper operation, tree planting and forestry maintenance and related services within the City's parks and streets in accordance with established standard operating procedures, departmental and corporate policies, sound arboricultural principles and 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

• Perform duties related to stump removals, tree planting and tree maintenance and related services within the City's parks while working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Perform stump grinding and removals using specialized equipment, ensuring complete root system removal and safe restoration of planting sites.
• Plant wire basket trees in rights-of-way and parks following best practices for spacing, soil preparation, and traffic safety, ensuring compliance with municipal standards.
• Read and interpret locate package information (utility locates, maps, and markings) to identify underground services before stump grinding or planting.
• Support arborist crews with brushing and chipping.
• Operate various types of maintenance equipment and vehicles such as pickup truck, single axle dump with trailer, stump grinder, shovels, rakes, chainsaw, chipper, agricultural tractors, front-end loaders, skid steer, and small equipment including auxiliary attachments as required, in a safe and efficient manner.
• 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.
• 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 records of work related activities using provided tools.
• Actively participate in a team environment.
• Comply with requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, The Highway Traffic Act, all Federal, Provincial and City regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Immediately report vandalism, mechanical difficulties, and damage.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a Grade 12 diploma and a post-secondary program in Forestry / Horticulture/ Arboriculture with 6 – 12 months experience performing tree maintenance activities and operating related forestry equipment in a relevant setting. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a Class D-Z licence 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 licence 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 stumping, tree installation/tree maintenance and landscape maintenance/construction activities an asset.
• Knowledge of all maintenance aspects of relevant equipment, including the attachments.
• Proficient time management skills and flexibility in adjusting within 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: ability 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 weather conditions.
• Requirement to obtain First Aid and CPR C certification prior to start date.
• Possess an understanding of the OTM Book 7 for Temporary Conditions, and knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety 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 21, 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.