• Job ID: 57160
• Job Category: Parks & Natural Resources
• Division & Section: Parks & Recreation, Urban Forestry
• Work Location: 550 Bayview Ave.
• Job Type & Duration: 1 Temporary Full-Time (12 months) vacancy
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $36.77 - $40.13
• Shift Information: Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm 
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 15-Oct-2025 to 29-Oct-2025
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Job Description

The Parks Program Officer 1 (PPO1) position will report to Urban Forestry's Natural Environment and Community Programs Supervisor working with community members, volunteers, and partners, implementing programs designed to educate and enhance the Natural Environment.

The PPO1 position will provide technical and professional support for environmental outreach programs, with an emphasis on community and volunteer involvement. The primary functions associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

Major Responsibilities:

• Represents Urban Forestry related issues to community groups and stakeholders, educational programs, outreach programs and other related issues.
• Implements and presents programs/workshops with a variety of stakeholders learning about the environment through hands-on applications.
• Participates in planting or stewardship events helping to demonstrate and organize volunteer activities.
• Provides work direction and training to volunteers and assisting staff involved in the planting, maintenance and care of natural plant communities in the City.
• Attends meetings with community special interest groups.
• Organizes and attends displays for relevant environmental outreach events.
• Reads, understands, and communicates planting and stewardship plans as required to coordinate site selection, preparation, maintenance, and access.
• Arranges facility and equipment use; arranges training and other services.
• Provides input in the development of interpretive signage, brochures, fact sheets, web-based information and social media content relating to Urban Forestry and Natural Environment programs and in the development of programs promoting public education and involvement in the protection of Toronto's green assets.
• Inputs, updates, and maintains database information concerning natural environment projects including database information relating to community groups, participants and projects.
• Prepares, maintains and processes documents (e.g., project budget tracking, performance tracking, supplier information, invoicing, packing slips, receipts).
• Compiles and presents data for the preparation of statistical/performance measures reports. Determines and corrects errors.
• Responds to general inquiries relating to funding, urban forestry, and natural environment management issues, and specifically the community programs section. Provides effective customer service.
• Coordinates meeting rooms, bookings and special requirements for meetings and events.
• Monitors, orders, and maintains supplies/resource materials.
• Inspects and evaluates natural area plantings and stewardship sites.
• Ensures that Health & Safety standards are maintained in all aspects of work and reports any work-related incidents.

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

1. Post-Secondary diploma or certificate in Ecology, Forestry, Arboriculture, Environmental Science or equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Experience in delivering educational programs, organizing, and managing volunteers and communicating effectively in a natural environment setting.
3. Experience in the establishment and maintenance of native plant communities common to the Toronto region including planting, monitoring and maintenance techniques.
4. Experience in plant identification common to the Toronto Region, native/non-native plant ecology/biology and monitoring plant response to various environmental stressors and treatments for both desirable and undesirable species.
5. Experience using a variety of office equipment, software and systems, including Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, PowerPoint and Excel), ArcGIS or QGIS.
6. Must possess a valid Province of Ontario G Class driver’s license and must qualify for the City’s equipment operating permits and requirements and be able to maintain same.

You must also have:

• Sound judgment and discretion in handling matters of a confidential/sensitive nature, and good problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently as part of a team and represent the division in a variety of situations.
• Working knowledge of current practices in urban forestry and environmental stewardship, and relevant stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of current practices and policies around granting and the administration of funding in urban forestry to non-profit organizations at the City of Toronto.
• Ability to plan and organize multiple projects/tasks/assignments with competing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to create and maintain effective cooperative working relationships with staff, stakeholders, and the public.
• Certification as an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist or other relevant certifications would be an asset.
• Strong organizational, planning, and administrative skills.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills with the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, and documents.
• Ability to implement work plans to complete assigned work programs.
• Ability to work daytime, evening and/or weekend shifts as required to support community events.
• Familiarity with Occupational Health & Safety Act and the regulations that apply to this work.
• Physical capability to perform required duties and must be able to work in all weather conditions.
• Knowledge of partnerships and not-for-profit issues and trends, including relevant legislation and policies affecting partnership opportunities in Toronto would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work with volunteer organizations and not-for-profit organizations would be considered an asset.

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.