City of Barrie

Urban Foresty Coop Student

Co-op Student

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Posting Number: COOP-25-01

Job Type: Co-op, Temporary-Full-time, up to 8 Months (May-December), Union

Salary Range: $17.52 to $23.82 per hour

Location: Barrie, ON - Onsite (see below for more details)

Posted: Friday, December 13, 2024

Application Deadline: Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 11:59 pm

The Opportunity

The Operations Department is a customer focused, highly skilled team of employees committed to delivering high quality services to maintain an attractive, safe and livable community that enhances the quality of life for City of Barrie citizens, visitors and businesses. This department is responsible for maintenance and operation of the City of Barrie's roads, parks, stormwater infrastructure, trees, trails, natural areas and corporate fleet of equipment and vehicles.

This position is part of a front-line team directly responsible for the planning and maintenance of a healthy urban forest. A healthy urban forest has direct environmental, social and economic benefits to residents of the City and results in improved quality of life.

This position supports the implementation of the urban forestry program which includes: implementation of the tree planting and maintenance programs, emerald ash borer program and the Urban Forest Strategy and Urban Forest Management Plan. Specifically, this position is responsible for assisting the Parks and Forestry Program Coordinator with the implementation of the various urban forestry programs and contracts.

The successful applicant to this position will perform and/or assist with the following tasks:

1. Inspection and marking of street and park tree planting locations throughout the City of Barrie.
2. Assist the Parks and Forestry Programmer with the inspection of existing trees on City road right-of-ways, parks and natural areas and managing service requests.
3. Updating street and park tree inventories.
4. Using geographic information systems, office software and manual techniques to produce maps, drawings, charts, tables, etc.
5. Assist in young tree care maintenance including pruning, mulching, and watering
6. Assist in Urban Forestry Pest Preparedness Programs and monitoring including LDD Moth infestations, and the Emerald Ash Borer Program as required.
7. Assist the forestry section with day-to-day workloads including the entry of completed work orders into the computerized maintenance management System.
8. Assist Horticulture and Parks when required.
9. Assist with trail inspections for natural areas along with general trail maintenance
10. Other duties as assigned.

Our Culture and Qualifications of the Job

Corporate Culture: Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Equally important to what we do is how we do it - your actions reflect our core accountabilities of Personal Awareness, Teamwork and Collaboration, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Service Excellence, which define how we work together to succeed.

Education (degree/diploma/certifications)

Currently enrolled in or is a student in a recognized College or University*
Have completed a minimum of 1st year at a University or College by the start of the opportunity
Enrolled in a a recognized College or University Co-op program
Be returning to full-time studies in the same program following the completion of the co-op placement OR require the co-op placement to graduate

*Minimum of 16 years of age or turning 16 by the end of the calendar year and must have attended one of the academic establishments listed above the year in which they are applying for employment and/or returning the following year

Experience

Demonstrated field experience in forestry, environmental studies or natural sciences

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

Have training and/or education in the principles of dendrology and be proficient in field identification of various tree species.
Basic computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher) and ArcGIS
Have sound familiarity with geographical information systems and GPS technology
Have an interest in urban forestry, ecology, and/or natural sciences and the ability to work in a natural environment, inclement weather, and rough terrain.
Dependable, reliable, and work well with others

Conditions of Employment

Be currently enrolled in a full-time College or University program in forestry, natural sciences or related environmental studies and available for an 8-month Coop placement (May-December).
Have a valid Class “G” Drivers License.
Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*

*Please note that this is a requirement of the position for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Policy. Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.

Other Important Information

Work Term: May 5, 2025 to December 19, 2025

Location: Operations Centre, 165 Ferndale Drive North, Barrie, ON

Hours: The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

Wage: $17.52 to $23.82 per hour

What We Offer: This position includes optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, prorated paid sick time based on the expected duration of employment and in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program, which provides exclusive access to discounts on a wide range of products and services available to all City employees.

How to Apply: Click the ‘Apply Now’ button at the top and/or bottom of the job posting to start the application process. Please note that emailed applications will not be considered.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Why Barrie?

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year-round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests. We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers. Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great.

The City of Barrie is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices and we will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise if you require Code-protected accommodation and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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