Urban Forester - Full-Time

The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay

has a rewarding opportunity for a

Full-Time Urban Forester!

Work Location: Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is the largest community on Lake Superior. With a census metropolitan area population of 123,258 (Census 2021), it is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario. Deeply rooted with European and Indigenous cultures, Thunder Bay is the sixth most culturally diverse community of its size in North America. The community values a high quality of life and promotes a clean, green, beautiful and healthy community that provides economic opportunity, respects diversity and provides affordable and safe neighborhoods that are accessible to all.

Thunder Bay is a vibrant community and is the region's commercial, administrative, and medical hub. From trees to transportation to the new frontier for research, health and life sciences, the community stands for hard work and innovation. The City by the Bay is home to 38 elementary schools, three middle schools, eight secondary schools, two private schools, an adult education facility, a post-secondary college and a university institution that provides a medical school and a law school.

As a four-season outdoor paradise Thunder Bay is the sunniest city in eastern Canada with an average of 2121 hours of bright sunshine each year. It is also one of the most dynamic "Cultural Capitals of Canada". Residents and visitors of Thunder Bay enjoy the harmony of a city rich in wide-open green spaces, parks and wilderness - and a major centre for visual and performing arts, and culture.

If you truly enjoy the advantages of work life balance that a smaller city provides in a large organizational setting, then come join us!

If you already live here, we can’t wait for you to join our team!

The Opportunity

As the Urban Forester, you will be responsible for the overall management strategy of the City’s public urban forest including arboriculture policies and programs, invasive species strategies, and horticulture programs.

The role reports to the Manager- Parks & Open Spaces and has the following accountabilities:

• Participates as a member of the Parks & Open Spaces management team in operational reviews, human resource management, staff recruitment, budget preparation, program delivery, technical matters, and liability/issues management.
• Coordinates and works closely with the Supervisor – Forestry and Horticulture to ensure forestry planning is integrated and aligned with operational capacity and capital/operating budgets.
• Plans, develops, coordinates, and oversees the delivery of the forestry maintenance work program for the Forestry and Horticulture work unit including training materials, routine inspections, systematic pruning, tree planting, and strategic removals.
• Develops Sectional policies and procedures related to arboriculture standards, invasive species strategies, and horticultural services including Centennial Botanical Conservatory administration and programming.
• Prepares, develops, updates, and oversees administration of the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan including strategic initiatives, projects, priorities, and delivery of annual written work plans directing the annual tree planting and maintenance programs.
• Advises on site plan, rezoning, development, Planning & Building applications, and development plans for City parks and public spaces where City trees are involved.
• Manages and oversees the Forestry customer service request, driveway permit application, and utility permit application processes administered by the Forestry Technician. Conducts professional tree assessments to inform decision making and support Forestry operations as required.
• Responds to Council and the public regarding City trees. Provides professional advice and education, in the interest of staff/public safety and tree health, on tree planting, entomology, pathology, and pest control in accordance with arboriculture standards and City policies, procedures, and By-law’s.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Degree in Forestry or a related program together with at least five (5) years of experience in urban forestry or related areas; and
• Membership with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) as a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.), or as an Associate Member with confirmation of eligibility for R.P.F. status within one (1) year.
• Knowledge of arboricultural practices, including safety equipment, tree trimming and planting methods, tree identification, insect and disease management is required
• Demonstrated ability in planning, research, and policy analysis
• Ability to work with GIS and GPS technologies to update tree inventory

For a full detailed job description, click here

Why Work for the City of Thunder Bay (CTB)?

When you work for the City of Thunder Bay, you are part of our team, and here you can:

• Experience your importance   
• Unleash your potential
• Know your work matters
• Embrace diversity
• Make a difference
• Join a dedicated team
• Build community

Learn more about the top reasons to work at the CTB:  https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/jobs.aspx

Great Tangible Benefits

As an employee with the Corporation you will be in receipt of the following benefits:

• Amazing team environment, built on respect & inclusivity
• Great competitive salary
• Fantastic matching pension plan
• Great paid vacation and holidays
• Strong health benefits coverage – employer paid health, vision, & dental benefits
• Strong life insurance & accidental death & dismemberment insurance (2 times your annual salary)
• Supportive employee family assistance program (EFAP)
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• Fantastic corporate training & leadership development programs
• Great tuition reimbursement program (continuous learning)
• Advantageous voluntary leave purchase plan

Beautiful Thunder Bay

Learn why Thunder Bay is such great place to live and work:  https://gotothunderbay.ca/why-thunder-bay/

General Information:

As an equal opportunity employer, the City of Thunder Bay encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority groups, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS CODE:  It is a contravention of the Human Rights Code of Ontario to discriminate on the basis of: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, age, record of offences, gender identity or gender expression.  Therefore, a resume submitted to the City must not include references to any of the above characteristics.  Do not include: 

• Photos
• Any certificates that have photo identification
• Driver’s licences
• Police records checks

Note: The above documentation will be requested by the Human Resources & Division should you be the successful applicant.  If a Criminal Record Check is required, it will be requested by Human Resources should you be the successful applicant.  Please do not submit your Criminal Record Check with your application.

ACCOMMODATION:  Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for all parts of the recruitment process.

PRIVACY: Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, c. 302, as amended, and will be used to determine eligibility for employment. Questions about this collection of personal information should be directed to the Human Resources & Corporate Safety Division, 125 Syndicate Ave Suite 42, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7E 6H8, Telephone: 625-3866

The City of Thunder Bay is a place where art, culture and nature come together!

Watch this video to learn more about our City: