Parks Labourer

About Red Deer: 

Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:

The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success

The Opportunity:

The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting a Parks Labourer 2 - Biodiversity to fill a full-time seasonal position. This position performs a variety of labour, construction, horticultural, snow and ice control, and fleet and equipment maintenance duties in support of the City of Red Deer Parks system as directed. During the winter months, the Parks Labourer 2 contributes to the section's snow removal program. The role requires the operation of motorized equipment as needed and ensures all work is completed in accordance with City Design Guidelines, Contract Specifications, and applicable industry standards using best practice landscape and horticultural techniques. 

The Parks Labourer 2 also maintains and participates in programs related to tree maintenance and planting, urban forestry, urban encampment and biohazard control, as well as ecological and environmental services. Preference will be given to candidates that have experience in Urban encampment cleanups, including crew on-site leadership and skid steer operations.

Top Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and Support Parks Maintenance Operations - Provide guidance, training, and direction to Parks Labourers while overseeing routine and specialized parks maintenance and clean up activities.
• Perform all duties and procedures directly relating to all UEBC camp requirements - Complete labour and maintenance work using industry best practices, ensuring parks, and green spaces are maintained to City standards.
• Ensure Quality and Compliance of Work - Complete all work according to City Design Guidelines, contract specifications, landscape plans, safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Operate, Inspect, and Maintain Fleet and Equipment - Safely operate vehicles, equipment, and tools; perform inspections, minor maintenance, and recommend repairs or replacement as required.
• Train Staff on Equipment and Safe Work Practices - Provide equipment operation training, safety orientations, and ensure team members follow approved procedures and regulations.
• Promote and Maintain Workplace Health and Safety - Conduct hazard assessments, site inspections, safety training, incident reporting, and ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
• Coordinate Worksite Activities and Communications - Communicate effectively with staff, contractors, suppliers, and the public while minimizing disruptions and resolving or de-escalating concerns.
• Provide Leadership and Continuous Improvement - Support team performance, report staff issues and successes, uphold organizational values, and recommend process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Complete Reporting Functions - Maintain daily reports, time entry and work orders.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 10 combined with a minimum of 1-1/2 years’ related experience in horticulture, landscaping, construction, or parks related activities.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver's License, air brake “Q” endorsement will be considered an asset.
• Standard First Aid course.
• Ability to operate and complete routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment used within Parks department operations.
• Ability to exert continuous physical effort and work in fatiguing positions. 
• Ability to work outside in all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to exercise care and to follow all safety policies and procedures, particularly in high public-use areas.
• Knowledge and experience in working with Parks and Public Works procedures and City policies, or equivalent.
• Basic understanding of design guidelines, contract specifications and other applicable industry standards.
• Experience mentoring staff and working as a team.
• Ability to understand, follow and provide instructions.
• Ability to use computers, electronic devices and tablets for email, time entry and daily work and safety documents.

Additional requirements for this job:

• UEBC Experience: Minimum of 12 months of combined, hands-on UEBC experience, including consecutive and consistent participation in encampment operations across all four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Experience must demonstrate regular attendance at encampment cleanups throughout the seasonal cycle, with exposure to varying camp sizes, terrain and weather conditions, biohazard-related work, and differing levels of site complexity.
• Skid Steer Operation: Demonstrated proficiency operating a skid steer equipped with a grapple during UEBC encampment cleanups, with a minimum of six months of accumulated operating experience across multiple seasons, including higher-volume spring and fall cleanup periods. Must have operated the skid steer during at least four cleanup operations at the Safe Harbour/Hope Mission site. Experience must include handling large, awkward and irregular loads; loading dump trucks with tents, debris and other encampment materials; operating in tight or congested areas; and safely navigating uneven, soft, sloped or otherwise difficult terrain.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to take a leadership role when directed by the Foreperson 2, including leading crews into encampment sites, assigning and coordinating tasks, communicating hazards and expectations, monitoring crew safety, and ensuring established policies and safe work procedures are followed.
• Independent UEBC Operations: Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a UEBC environment, including locating encampments from provided pins, assessing site conditions and hazards, completing assigned cleanups, safely handling and transporting materials, and recognizing when changing conditions or safety concerns require consultation with the Foreperson 2.
   

Affiliation:   Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417 

Status:   Seasonal Full-Time

Remuneration:   $30.97 to $32.79 per hour 

Hours of Work:   80 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required when needed.

Additional Information:   This is a seasonal position with an anticipated term of 11 months per year.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools  (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments.  Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are a municipal government, eager to meet tomorrow's challenges. Our employees are the cornerstone of our organization. We are always seeking creative and skilled individuals with the ability and desire to lead in our dynamic workplace. Each of our employees brings diverse experiences and perspectives, as well as unique skills and talents to the job. Our diverse employee base ensures an environment where individual, team, and organizational successes are embraced and celebrated. We strive to ensure a supportive and respectful work environment for all. Employees are treated fairly and have equal opportunity within the organization to thrive and attain their highest potential. We welcome your application and look forward to discussing how The City of Red Deer can become your next career choice.