MANAGER FORESTRY OPERATIONS

City of Toronto • $126K — $176K *

Toronto, ON M3C 0E3In-Person

Education, Government & Non-Profit

5 - 7 years of experience

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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

Post-secondary education in Forestry or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive management experience in program management, planning, and service delivery.
Experience in leading and managing a diverse workforce in a politically sensitive, customer-oriented environment.
Considerable experience in financial planning, budget preparation, and expenditure forecasting.
Strong contract management skills with accountability for vendor compliance.
Highly developed interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
Knowledge of Ontario municipal legislation, policies, and health and safety regulations.
Ability to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.

Responsibilities

Manage the delivery of tree maintenance services on public properties and parks.
Develop and implement strategic plans and policies for program requirements.
Motivate, train, and supervise unit staff to ensure high work standards.
Oversee daily operations, including scheduling, performance reviews, and vacation approvals.
Administer the unit’s budget and ensure expenditures remain within limits.
Manage the efficient delivery of tree services to meet public expectations.
Prepare and administer contract documents and procurement recommendations.
Attend meetings to present operational programs and policies as needed.
Respond to customer inquiries, complaints, and service-related claims.
Ensure emergency response procedures for tree-related issues are in place.

Benefits

Full-time, permanent employment with a structured work week (Monday to Friday, 35 hours).
Opportunity to lead a team in a critical environmental service role.
Engagement in urban forestry initiatives aimed at sustainability and community enrichment.
Involvement in strategic city-wide service planning and collaboration with government agencies.
Potential for professional development in leadership and operational management.

Full Job Description

Job ID: 65562
Job Category: Parks & Natural Resources
Division & Section: Environment Climate and Forestry, Urban Forestry Operations
Work Location: Booth Ave Yard, 433 Eastern Ave.,Various
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: $126,000.00 - $176,140.00
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours a week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 22-Jul-2026 to 05-Aug-2026

Major Responsibilities:

Environment, Climate, and Forestry is looking for an experienced operations professional to manage, motivate and train assigned staff while leading the delivery of arboriculture services (i.e. pruning, removal, maintenance, selected planting, watering, commercial tree pit and container maintenance) within a designated area. This position is responsible for overseeing staff, contractors and equipment, managing work performance, training, employee and labour relations, and maintaining effective communication with internal and external partners.

Manages the delivery of in-house and contracted services within Forestry Operations consisting of planting, removal and maintenance services on trees on the City road allowance and in City parks/ravines, and ensures private tree hazard abatement conforms to relevant policies and procedures, current arboriculture practices, legislation and regulations, including health and safety, asset and risk management and related administrative duties

Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements.

Manages, motivates and trains the unit's staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.

Supervises the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary.

Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the unit, and ensures that the unit's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.

Manages the effective, and efficient, and equitable delivery of a consistent level of tree maintenance services throughout the City that meet public and political expectations within budget allocation.

Development of contract documents, tenders, special specifications for planned operating, emergent work, reviews procurement documents and prepares recommendations for contract award.

Manages the activities of staff and contractors engaged in operating and capital programs through planning, scheduling, coordinating and effective development of resources, authorizes resources, authorizes payments to contractors including the negotiation of extra work orders and claims.

Prepares correspondence, reports and attends Standing Committee and Council and public meetings to present operational programs and policies, as required.

Resolves customer enquiries and complaints and investigates and documents claims from the general public related to tree maintenance operations.

Manages, motivates and trains assigned staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others

Provides on call/standby responsibilities, ensuring emergency response to tree failures and tree related by-laws.

Responds to emergency and priority situations by anticipating problems, making decisions, deploying appropriate financial and human resources; provides senior level operational support to the Director and Executive Director and coordinates all unit operations support issues.

Ensures that Divisional operation issues including weather related emergencies, SMOG, Heat Alerts, Pandemics are managed effectively

Ensures that City trees are maintained in an environmentally sensitive manner in keeping with Integrated Plant Health Care principles

Ensures the sustainability of the urban forest in Toronto through review, monitoring and revision of tree maintenance and planting programs and practices, with the aim of enhancing and expanding the Urban Forest, and its associated benefits

Acts as branch and or divisional lead on divisional and Corporate initiatives including increasing tree canopy cover, through participation on teams or committees and any associated implementation in revision to practices and allocation of resources

Ensures the quality of work and service meets corporate and divisional standards and employees are trained to perform work in compliance with all legislative regulations that apply, such as Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Ontario Building Code, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), Fire Code, Electrical Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), etc.

Acts as a Supervisor under the definitions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and ensures the creation, development, modification and implementation of adequate training, safety equipment and safe work procedures are in place, as well as, provision of safe accessible facilities and programs in order to develop a strong culture of Health and Safety, reduce risk and liability to the corporation and any Health and Safety issues. • Liaises with WSIB Consultants to manage workplace injuries, costs and return to work, and ensures regular meetings of Ministry approved Health and Safety Committees.

Responsible for on-going strategic planning and development of city-wide service direction, functional standards, policies and procedures, in consultation with other City divisions, government agencies and community stakeholders.

Key Qualifications:

Post-secondary education in Forestry or a related field is considered a strong asset, or an equivalent combination of education, experience and demonstrated expertise managing complex operations.

Extensive management experience gained through progressively more responsible positions that include the functions and administration of program management, planning, policy and standards development and service delivery.

Extensive experience in leading, motivating, directing and managing a diverse workforce in a fast-paced politically sensitive, customer service oriented unionized environment.

Considerable experience in financial planning and reporting including budget preparation and control, expenditure forecasting, preparation and interpretation of financial reports; and reporting on key performance indicators.

Considerable experience in contract management and compliance skills, including the ability to understand contract terms and hold vendors accountable to express terms of contracts.

Highly developed interpersonal skills, human relations, political acumen negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, oral/written communication skills.

Knowledge of Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Ontario Traffic Manual, and familiarity with Ontario Statutes, municipal legislations including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Collective Agreements and City of Toronto People, Equity & Human Rights policies.

Ability to foster an organizational culture that emphasizes innovation, collaboration, transparency, accountability and trust while promoting a strong code of ethics and integrity to support public service excellence.

Must possess and be able to maintain a valid Province of Ontario Class "G" Driver's License and the ability to obtain a City equipment operators permit.

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