Requisition Number: 1348
Terms of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time
Home Location: Repair Shop
Employment Address: 1523 Warden Ave., Scarborough Ontario M1R4Z8
Hours of Work:- Monday to Friday
- 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Vacancy: 1
Language: English
Hiring Range: $117,461 to $131,747 annually
About the Position:We are looking for a
Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services to join our team.
The Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services (Manager) provides strategic and operational leadership for the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of the organization's tree and plant care programs across all cemetery properties. The role is accountable for ensuring the long-term health, safety, preservation, and enhancement of living landscape assets, while balancing operational requirements, regulatory compliance, public interaction, and environmental stewardship objectives.
Reporting at the management level, the role exercises independent judgement in setting priorities, allocating resources, and resolving complex issues related to arboriculture, horticulture, risk management, and service delivery. The incumbent develops and oversees site-specific programs, budgets, policies, and standards, and ensures alignment with industry best practices, organizational objectives, and ArbNet international arboretum accreditation requirements.
The role works collaboratively with Property Managers, Development, Purchasing, and other internal stakeholders, and represents the organization in interactions with municipalities, regulatory agencies, contractors, educational institutions, and the public. Accountability includes oversight of staff and external service providers, vendor and contract management, and the coordination of work across multiple sites with varying operational and environmental considerations.
Decisions made in this role have a direct impact on public safety, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, service quality, environmental sustainability, and the organization's reputation as a responsible steward of significant green and heritage landscapes. The position operates within established organizational policies and legislative frameworks, while contributing subject matter expertise to inform planning, development, and long-term landscape strategies.
Your home location will be at our repair shop; however, you will be required to travel to all 10 cemeteries. What we offer:- Comprehensive benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and a health care spending account
- Wellness resources and benefits including a wellness spending account
- Defined contribution pension plan with employer match
- RRSP & TFSA options
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Internal training and development opportunities, including job shadowing and a mentorship program, and access to an Educational Assistance Program
- Paid Vacation days plus additional personal paid days off
- Annual Employee Engagement Surveys and Annual Employee Townhalls
- Salary increases, in accordance with company police
The successful candidate will be required to:Arboricultural & Horticultural Program Management- Develop, implement, and continuously improve comprehensive tree and plant care programs, including pruning, removals, planting, tree health care, risk mitigation, and long-term canopy stewardship.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with Mount Pleasant Cemetery's commitments under the ArbNet International Arboretum Accreditation Program, including documentation, reporting, and engagement activities.
- Provide strategic oversight of the care, maintenance, and preservation of all trees and woody plant material across cemetery properties, including arboretum-designated areas.
- Lead species selection and planting plans, with consideration for site conditions, biodiversity, climate resilience, heritage value, and the inclusion of rare or non-native specimens where appropriate.
- Coordinate and oversee response efforts to tree damage resulting from storms or other adverse weather events, prioritizing safety, service continuity, and asset protection.
- Ensure significant arboricultural and horticultural projects are appropriately documented, including before-and-after photographic records and supporting summaries for audit, planning, and stakeholder reference.
Operations and Maintenance- Provide training, guidance, and technical instruction to Seasonal, Full-Time, and Part-Time unionized staff on horticultural tasks such as planting, pruning, fertilization, integrated pest management, and general plant care, in alignment with approved practices and safety standards.
- Assist with implementing and monitoring plant health care programs, including soil testing, disease and pest management strategies, and irrigation planning and scheduling.
- Support the ongoing care and maintenance of gardens, trees, shrubs, planting beds, and naturalized areas to ensure spaces remain safe, respectful, and visually appropriate for a cemetery environment.
- Assist with the development, documentation, and application of standardized operating procedures to promote consistent horticultural best practices across all sites.
- Conduct regular site inspections, identify emerging plant or tree health concerns, and support timely responses in coordination with the Manager and operational teams.
- Assist with coordinating response and clean-up activities related to tree damage or landscape impacts resulting from storms or other severe weather events, in collaboration with internal teams and contracted services as required.
Leadership & Team Management- Lead all aspects of people management, including recruitment, onboarding, development, coaching, performance management, and recognition.
- Anticipate short- and medium-term staffing needs and communicate requirements to the Director, Property Services to ensure consistent service levels.
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and respectful workplace that values diversity and encourages team cohesion and engagement and a service-oriented workplace culture
- Establish clear work standards, service expectations, and behavioural expectations; provide day-to-day guidance, feedback, and coaching to support performance, skill development, and adherence to agreed-upon work practices.
- Ensure workload and productivity expectations are distributed equitably across the team and hold team members accountable for delivering consistent, high-quality work.
- Ensure equitable treatment of all team members in accordance with organizational policies.
- Provide employees with the necessary training, resources, and tools to perform their roles effectively and professionally.
Internal Coordination, Consultation & Public Engagement- Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor to Property Managers and internal teams on tree and plant care programs, service planning, and customer-related inquiries.
- Collaborate closely with the Development team to support compliance with private tree bylaws, review tree surveys, assess impacts of construction near trees or ravine areas, and guide planting and mitigation plans.
- Prepare bid specifications, tenders, and scopes of work for arboricultural and horticultural contracts, and provide oversight of contractor performance and work quality.
- Obtain required municipal permits, approvals, and exemptions related to tree work, removals, and planting activities.
- Lead public-facing and educational initiatives related to the arboretum function, including guided tree tours and engagement with schools, post-secondary institutions, and community groups.
Compliance, Risk Management & Safety- Ensure compliance with all applicable occupational health and safety legislation, environmental regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies.
- Maintain and continually improve a tree and plant risk assessment program, including monitoring for pests, diseases, and invasive species, and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Promote consistent, safe, and environmentally responsible work practices across internal teams and contractors through clear standards, training support, and oversight.
Vendor & Contract Management- Source, assess, and qualify arboricultural and horticultural vendors, suppliers, and service providers based on capability, quality, safety performance, and value.
- Monitor vendor performance using defined metrics, including service quality, timeliness, compliance with specifications, and responsiveness.
- Provide on-site coordination and oversight of vendor activities, including site meetings, progress check-ins, and issue resolution as required.
- Manage vendor contracts and renewals in partnership with Purchasing, ensuring alignment with organizational policies and budgetary controls.
Budgeting, Planning & Resource Management- Develop and manage annual operating budgets on a site-specific basis, ensuring expenditures remain within approved allocations while meeting operational and stewardship objectives.
- Plan, schedule, and oversee all contracted and in-house arboricultural and horticultural work, including maintenance programs, capital projects, and development-related planting initiatives.
- Identify, procure, and manage tools, equipment, and supplies required for tree and plant care, ensuring suitability, cost-effectiveness, and safe operation.
- Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and standards related to arboricultural and horticultural practices, including the safe use, storage, and handling of materials and equipment.
Labour Relations- Stay up to date with collective agreements and letters of understanding, ensuring adherence to all outlined policies and procedures.
- Document and escalate unresolved issues to the Director, Property Services or the Employee & Labour Relations Specialist as appropriate.
- Support training and development initiatives aligned with both organizational goals and the requirements of the collective agreement.
Other- Additional duties, and tasks that fall within the scope of the role as assigned by the Director, Property Services.
Qualifications:- Degree or diploma in Arboriculture, Forestry, Urban Forestry, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively responsible experience.
- Current certification as an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
- Valid Ontario Class G Driver's Licence; this role requires regular travel between work locations across the Greater Toronto Area.
- Minimum of five (5) years of related professional experience in arboricultural and/or horticultural services, including operational planning and program oversight.
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a management or supervisory capacity, including responsibility for staff, contractors, budgets, or complex projects.
- Experience working with publicly accessible green spaces, heritage landscapes, or cemeteries is an asset.
- Experience supporting arboretum programs, public education, or stakeholder engagement initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience working in relationship or partnership with diverse communities, particularly in environments with a clear commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Strong working knowledge of arboricultural and horticultural practices, including tree biology, plant health care, pruning standards, species selection, and urban forestry principles.
- Ability to apply industry-recognized standards and best practices to operational planning, service delivery, and risk-informed decision-making.
- Knowledge of integrated pe
