Supervisor, Parks Operations

The City of Markham is proud to be recognized for the 4^thconsecutive year as one of Canada's Best Employers by Forbes and Statista Inc. In 2024, the City of Markham is ranked the top city in Ontario and in the top 10 for Government Services. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as well as our fiscal accountability. More than 357,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life.

Applications are now being received for the above position in the Operations Department within the Community Services Commission. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume by December 15, 2024

Join us and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Parks, Horticulture and Forestry, you will be responsible for the coordination, supervision and administration of parks maintenance functions within and assigned geographic area of the City as well as maintenance oversight of the Markham trail and pathway network Citywide.

Key responsibilities include:

• Staff deployment and field supervision for: Maintenance and repair work related to parks/trails/sports fields, municipal boulevards, municipal facilities, City's landscape features, natural areas, etc. Including, grass-cutting, litter/debris pick-up, sports field maintenance, tennis courts, basketball courts, playground equipment, water play features, parks signs, parks structures, skateboard parks, fencing.
• Winter maintenance operations including supervision, patrol, inspection and assessment of pavement and concrete surface conditions, snow plowing/removal and sanding/salting/de-icing on roads, municipal sidewalks, pathways and municipal facility parking lots, outdoor natural ice rink maintenance
• Provide planning and oversight for the maintenance and inspections of trails and pathways Citywide inclusive of leading an annual internal audit.
• Lead with preparation and evaluation of tenders for capital projects, coordinating contract start-up upon bid award, inspecting and supervising contracted and project work and materials/supplies delivery in the field, tracking contractor/supplier performance, coordinating stake-outs and necessary permits, trouble-shooting with contractors/suppliers in the field, coordinating the timing and delivery of bulk materials supplies, completing necessary reports/documentation related to contracted services and ensuring health & safety and legislative/regulatory compliance.
• Staff supervision, allocation, deployment, development and health and safety training and compliance
• Assisting with budget preparation and administering assigned budgets including reconciliation/authorization of accounts.
• Contributing to the Operations Department work/business planning.
• Championing the corporate, commission and departmental vision, mission and values.

Job Requirements

• Supervises assigned staff including scheduling of work, staff training/development, health & safety and other regulatory compliance, performance management/review, coaching/mentoring, collective agreement administration, payroll submissions, progressive discipline and termination recommendations.
• Responds to inquiries from and/or liaises with residents, Councilors, businesses, contractors/suppliers, internal departments, etc. on contracts, equipment/materials needs, maintenance programs/policies/procedures, contract administration and customer service issues, and other Operations related matters, as required. Professional courtesy and good oral & written communication skills are necessary.
• Respond to Emergency situations on behalf of the Corporation both during and after hours as part of a shared rotation.
• Assesses staffing and resource needs; makes recommendations for new and/or seasonal complement or temporary secondments; lead recruitment processes; ensures appropriate orientation and training of new/assigned staff.
• Prepares and/or assists with the preparation of tender specifications and bid evaluations for Parks maintenance projects, services and related materials/supplies to be performed/supplied by external contracted services; liaises with successful proponent and coordinates contract start-up upon bid award; coordinates stake-outs and necessary permits.
• Administers assigned contracts including conducting field inspections and monitoring/tracking contractor performance to ensure compliance with tender specifications, health and safety, and other applicable legislation/regulations; trouble-shooting in the field where issues/problems arise; reviewing and authorizing progress draws and making recommendations on change orders where necessary; prepares necessary follow-up reports/documentation.
• Oversee daily parks operations and maintenance activities for a specific geographic area of the City in addition to Citywide maintenance, inspection and replacement of City's infrastructures such as playgrounds and shade structures.
• Conducts parks infrastructure assessment audits & inspections. Participates in reviews of in-house/contracted services mix; contributes to Operations business/work planning.
• Participates in the preparation of the department operating and capital budgets; administers approved budgets including reconciliation of assigned accounts and authorization of expenditures; participates in reviews of in-house/contracted services mix; contributes to Operations business/work planning.
• Benchmarks productivity, streamlining/updating for best practices, assuring compliance with standards/procedures and health & safety, and assuring contractor performance and value-for-money for the municipality.
• Assists with City-wide Operations maintenance programs, provides back-up support and acts in the absence of other Operations Supervisors, participates in rotational standby coverage, and acts in the absence of the Sr. Manager Parks, Horticulture and Forestry as assigned.
• Participates as a member of the Operations Department management team; leads and/or participates on project teams, committees, as assigned; and champions the corporate/commission/departmental vision, mission and values within Operations and among colleagues and co-workers.
• Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with departmental or commission/corporate objectives.

Qualifications

• Community College Diploma, Degree or equivalent experience in parks maintenance, horticulture, or another landscape field
• Ten years progressive experience in parks maintenance including at least five years) in parks maintenance including experience in parks construction, capital projects in a high-volume municipal parks maintenance environment, including supervisory experience in a unionized environment.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership experience with diverse teams
• Strong customer service orientation, interpersonal, collaborative, organizational, project management, problem solving, analytical and presentation skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of budget preparation and management with both Operating and Capital.
• Proficient use of MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point) and ability to use programs to track inventory and work activity.
• Practical working knowledge of all aspects of parks maintenance inclusive of turf maintenance, athletic fields, courts, trail maintenance, waste collection, structures and amenities, lighting, fences, etc.
• Knowledge and experience gained from certification as a Playground Practitioner, Book 7 of the Highway Traffic Act, DZ license holder and ability to inspect, train and operate both small and large equipment and insure health and safety compliance.
• Knowledge and experience operating plow truck, tractor and salt trucks for winter operations.
• Knowledge and experience working with legislation such as Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Employment Standards Act and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) as it relates to parks amenities and equipment.
• Knowledge and experience with asset management and life expectancy inspections related to capital replacement projects.
• Ability to build strong and enthusiastic staff teams and internal alliances; to align Operations contract administration field operations with Operations goals and objectives; to champion the vision, mission and values of the municipality; to foster and contribute to a positive, productive, service-oriented work environment; and to deal courteously and effectively with all contacts.
• Thorough working knowledge of project management/contract administration principles, practices and procedures, the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Construction regulations,, the Highway Traffic Act and related pertinent legislation/regulations/guidelines, maintenance/operations standards and preventative maintenance/quality assurance practices, labour relations principles and collective agreement administration, and contemporary management practices.
• Certification as a qualified playground practitioner would be considered an asset.
• Class G Drivers license in good standing; DZ preferred. As a condition of employment, you will be required to provide a satisfactory drivers abstract.
• Willingness and availability to participate in rotational standby and for emergency response.

The City of Markham is committed to inclusive, accessible, and barrier free employment practices and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of the community we serve. Please let us know if you require an accommodation and we will work with you to ensure a barrier free hiring process.

We thank all applicants who have applied. However, only those applications selected for an interview will be contacted.