Crew Leader - Horticulture

The City of Edmonton is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Crew Leader to join our team. This role is perfect for someone passionate about horticulture and leading a team in maintaining and enhancing Edmonton's beautiful landscapes. As a Crew Leader, you will play a vital role in ensuring the efficient and effective operations of our horticultural services, contributing to the overall beauty and vibrancy of our city. This position offers the opportunity to work outdoors, lead a team, and make a tangible difference in our community. If you have a strong work ethic, leadership skills, and a love for plants, we encourage you to apply.

As a Crew Leader, you will be responsible for supervising and participating in the daily operations of a horticulture crew. This includes assigning tasks, ensuring quality control, and maintaining a safe work environment. You will also be involved in various horticultural activities such as planting, pruning, weed control and maintaining plants and green spaces. In the summer, you are mainly leading crews performing shrub bed maintenance in the form of mechanical weed control. In the winter, you are mainly leading crews performing shrub pruning. This role requires strong leadership skills, a solid understanding of horticultural practices, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment. The Crew Leader reports to the Team Leader.

What will you do?

• Provide oversight, direction and hands-on leadership at the field level to deliver approved work plans which include but are not limited to: completing task cards, setting daily priorities and implementing work plans to existing standards; assessing needs and resources to perform tasks; scheduling weekly/seasonal staff, ensuring work is done following current policies and procedures; investigating complaints; preparing estimates or work completion and progress of various sites; ensuring up to date certification of staff; assisting in job interviews, screening applicants and conducting seasonal evaluations of staff and work.
• Train staff on the proper/safe use of equipment, perform competency testing on small equipment operation, review and continually assess required updates to Standard Operating Procedures and hazard assessments, continually assess training needs, assist in the mentoring and orientation of staff, ensure staff are up to date with best practices, provide safety instruction as necessary, ensure safety programs and information are disseminated, conduct accident investigations both personal and equipment related as required, process all documentation in regards to safety in a timely fashion (WCB forms, incident data collection forms etc).
• Maintain effective working relationships with your team, city departments, the public and outside organizations. Being a team player, a helpful colleague and a knowledgeable resource.
• Prepare work plans and track accomplishments in line with our budget and program plan; authorize minor expenditures of task related tools and PPE.
• Assess notifications and provide recommendations for resolution. Direct off-route work in collaboration with your team leader.
• Assist the Supervisor and Team Leader in planning for upcoming seasons, this includes staffing requirements, trucks and equipment, inventory organization and safety and training planning.
• Assisting with and planning for specialty and one-off projects and required tasks.
• Other related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years diploma: Red Seal Journeyman in Landscape Horticulture/Turf Science/Forestry or related field. Other related post-secondary education may be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years related experience in Parks maintenance, construction or operations.
• Minimum two (2) years experience leading and supervising crews.
• Experience in operating a variety of horticultural equipment.

Assets:

• Class 3 / Airbrakes.
• Chainsaw, Chipper, Toolcat, Skidsteer certification.
• Trailer training.

Skills required for success:

• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as a positive attitude.
• Strong work ethic, including lead by example.
• Experience dealing with difficult people and situations.
• Adaptable to changing priorities, whether because of managerial direction or weather dependency.
• Demonstrate effective written, verbal and technical skills for team development, customer service, and effective delivery of approved services.
• Proficiency with SAP, GIS and Google suite of programs, able to learn new technology and new programs.
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies.
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion.
• Applicants may be tested.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be physically fit for the position and be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds which may include certain small equipment, fertilizer, or other materials used in horticulture.
• Must have certifications for C permit, Chainsaw and Chipper or the ability to complete them upon appointment.
• Successful candidates will be fit for a respirator, and compliance with the City of Edmonton's Code of Practice for Respiratory Protective Equipment, including medical monitoring, is a requirement of this position.
• Compliance with the City of Edmonton's safety standards for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as wearing steel toed boots, is a requirement for this position.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 driver's licence (or provincial equivalent). Obtaining and maintaining a City permit (C or CN) within 6 months of starting the role is a requirement of this position. The successful candidate requires reliable personal transportation to report to yard(s) which may not be accessible by transit.

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact employment@edmonton.ca. Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits.

Up to 1 permanent full-time position

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week
Salary Range: $37.010 (hourly); $77,276.880 (Annually)
Talent Acquisition Consultant: AM / SB

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.

Classification Title: Comm Serv Crew Leader
Posting Date: Apr 15, 2025
Closing Date: Apr 22, 2025 11:59:00 PM (MDT)
Number of Openings (up to): 1 - Permanent Full-time
Union: CUPE Local 30
Department: City Operations
Work Location(s): Edmonton