The City of Markham is consistently ranked among Canada’s top municipal employers. In 2026, the City received its sixth consecutive Canada’s Best Employers recognition from Forbes and Statista Inc., placing third among municipalities and 15th overall in Government Services. An award winning municipality, Markham is recognized for its leadership in sustainability, innovative urban planning, and strong fiscal management. Serving a diverse and growing community of more than 370,000 residents, Markham combines rich heritage with a vibrant local economy and offers employees the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, impactful work that helps strengthen the community we serve.
Applications are now being accepted for the regular full time position of the Supervisor, Forestry Operations in the Community Services Commission. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume online by July 5th, 2026.
Join us and make a lasting difference!
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Parks Horticulture and Forestry, you will be responsible for the coordination, supervision and administration of forestry maintenance functions for the City of Markham.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
More specifically, your accountabilities as Forestry Supervisor will include:
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Staff deployment and field supervision for: maintenance and repair work related to City-owned trees, both in parks and on municipal boulevards, storm water management ponds natural areas and forest woodlots.
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Supervises assigned staff including scheduling of work, staff training/development, health & safety and other regulatory compliance, performance management/review, coaching/mentoring, payroll submissions, progressive discipline and termination
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Support and assess staffing needs; makes recommendations for new and/or seasonal complement or temporary secondments; participates in recruitment processes; ensures appropriate orientation of new/assigned staff.
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Adhere to all safety requirements, ensuring staff are working safely and efficiently, are trained and competent in their duties, use of equipment/tools and promote a safe working environment.
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Responsible for winter operations supervision including; inspection and assessment of surface conditions, snow plowing/removal and sanding/salting/deicing operations on Parks related roads, sidewalks, pathways and municipal facility parking lots.
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Provide assistance community related events including; coordination of setup of all forestry information and public education.
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Lead the preparation and evaluation of tenders, coordinating contract start-up upon bid award, inspecting and supervising contracted and project work, coordinating the timing and delivery large scale capital projects, completing necessary reports/documentation related to contracted services and ensuring health & safety and legislative/regulatory compliance.
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Provide assistance with budget preparation and administering assigned budgets including reconciliation/authorization of accounts for operating and capital budgets;
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Contribute to the Operations Department work/business planning processes.
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Championing the corporate, commission and departmental vision, mission and values.
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Responds to inquiries from and/or liaises with residents, Councillors, 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.
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Prepares and/or assists with the preparation of tender specifications and bid evaluations for tree maintenance, 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.
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Oversee forestry operations, citywide maintenance and repairs and city facility for Forestry Operations
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Participates as a member of the Operations Department management team; leads and/or participates on project teams, as assigned; and champions the corporate/commission/departmental vision, mission and values within Operations and among colleagues and co-workers.
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Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with departmental or commission/corporate objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
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Community College Diploma or degree in Arboriculture or related field.
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Eligibility for or holder of International Society of Arboriculture (ISA )Certification
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Eligibility for or holder of Ontario Professional Forestry Association (OPFA)
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Significant experience (minimum five years) in contract/project administration in a high-volume municipal environment, including supervisory experience in a unionized environment.
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Excellent interpersonal, time/project management, organizational, contract administration, analytical, recordkeeping, work prioritization, problem-solving, and staff development/supervisory skills.
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Thorough working knowledge of project management/contract administration principles, practices and procedures, the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Construction regulations, tree maintenance/operations standards and preventative maintenance/quality assurance practices, labour relations principles and collective agreement administration, and contemporary management practices.
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Computer literacy utilizing word-processing, spreadsheet, and contract administration/project management-related software, email and the Internet; experience with ArcGIS and related inventory software an asset.
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Class G Drivers license in good standing; DZ preferred. As a condition of employment, you will be required to provide a satisfactory drivers abstract.
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As a condition of employment, you will be required to provide a satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters check
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Willingness and availability to participate in rotational standby and for emergency response.
CORE BEHAVIOURS
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Service Excellence: Leads and supports staff in meeting or exceeding service standards when interacting with customers.
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Change & Innovation: Effectively implements change and supports and involves staff through change transitions.
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Teamwork & Relationship Building: Leads and supports staff in working together collaboratively, fosters teamwork and inclusion, and cultivates relationships.
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Communication: Models active listening and clear communication, and supports staff members in communicating effectively.
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Accountable Results Oriented: Role models ethical behaviour and accountability; clarifies expectations, policies and legislation and supports staff in meeting them.
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Management & Leadership: Supports a positive work environment, develops and enables staff, sets clear expectations, provides regular feedback, and addresses performance.
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.
AI Disclosure
At the City of Markham, we value transparency and fairness in recruitment. While our system (ADP Workforce Now) includes AI-powered features, we do not use AI to screen, assess, or select applicants. All evaluations are conducted by people.
Vacancy:
Replacement Vacancy
