Job Description

Description

Parks Maintainer Downtown Specialist

Competition Number

2023-084

Job Code

5154

Posting Date

September 22, 2023

Closing Date

October 8, 2023 (at 6:00pm)

Job Status

Permanent Full-Time

The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 270,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.

The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:

Position Overview:

The Downtown Specialist will be part of a highly visible operational team in DTK. The Specialist, along with other members of the team will be expected to be an ambassador for DTK, while undertaking daily tasks and duties 7 days a week. It is anticipated that frequent interactions with the public, business owners and downtown community members will occur during which the Specialist will be expected to be an engaging and positive ambassador for the DTK environment. They will be responsible for identifying, coordinating, and performing day to day operation and maintenance activities in a collaborative and timely manner in the downtown and Carl Zehr Square. The position is a dedicated year-round function with specific and defined seasonal roles that will focus on supporting seasonal events wading pool supervision and when required support Park Operations winter control efforts in DTK and City wide as capacity permits and overall winter control needs dictate.

Responsibilities:

• Be an ambassador for DTK and Carl Zehr Square; be able to engage in positive communication with a wide range of members of the public and business communities, provide supportive and helpful communication, such as offering directions and help to the public. Recognize the need for visible activity to reflect the high standards of care and maintenance that the City strives to provide downtown.
• Provides attendant supervision of wading pool and splash pad, ensuring a safe aquatic environment, accident prevention, public education, and public relations.
• Daily inspections and documentation of furniture condition, wading pool use, weather, and maintenance activities.
• Ensure downtown streetscapes, venues, parks, laneways, and related assets are in a state of good repair, clean, presentable and in a safe condition, working with other City staff and external resources when necessary to ensure so.

• Inventory, catalogue and continuously monitor DTK spaces and assets on an appropriate cycle to ensure that the spatial/asset database is kept current, accurate and reflective of the changing dynamic of DTK. Assets to be included are: all streetscape furniture (benches, bike racks), waste receptacles, bollards, horticultural pots, banners, hanging baskets, fixed planters, event infrastructure (electrical pedestals, electrical outlets, stages/platforms, performance spaces), decorative lighting (planter and tree pit up-lights), decorative string lights (streetscape/parks/lane), street lights, irrigation infrastructure, tree related infrastructure (tree grates, protective cage), signage (permanent/temporary), patio spaces and other related infrastructure.
• Monitors, programs, and maintains irrigation systems downtown. DT specialist works with Turf and Sports field specialists for all irrigation needs to ensure it operates in accordance with specifications and industry standards.
• Daily inspection, reporting and initiation of any required corrective action which may include cleanliness, graffiti, potential hazards, rodents/weeds, or other issues specific to the aesthetic and experience quality of the downtown.
• Seasonal coordination and/or delivery/execution of the following: banners, holiday decorations, outdoor patio spaces, streetscape furniture, seasonal switchovers (bike racks, bollards, benches, movable pots), rodent control measures, irrigation/water network (startup/winterization) and power-washing.
• Operational support for the set-up and execution of activations, and preparation of the venue spaces before and after events.
• Comfortable and demonstrated competency to address challenging social and mental health situations in a compassionate manner. Engage Supervisor and other support resources for assistance when required to achieve a positive resolution.
• Inspect and monitor for rodents downtown and coordinate appropriate control measures to mitigate or eliminate local population.
• Respond to incidents and accidents and refer to Supervisor for assistance when required.
• Ability to perform basic landscaping and gardening requirements. Detailed outdoor grounds keeping includes picking up litter, removing graffiti, removing unwanted weeds and volunteer vegetation, power washing and ensuring general site cleanliness.
• Hold the necessary permits to operate required equipment required in the performance of position.
• Maintain and clean various required tools and equipment to perform all job activities.
• Perform dedicated winter maintenance responsibilities downtown including snow/ice clearing at dedicated venues in DTK and support Park Operations winter control efforts in DTK and City wide as capacity permits and overall winter control needs dictate.
• Recommend changes and/or improvements to equipment, facilities and procedures, and report problems to the Supervisor.
• Aid other City staff groups as assigned by the Downtown Supervisor, including support of downtown waste collection and debris removal, pavement repairs, events, horticulture plant installation/maintenance, streetscape asset repairs and snow/ice clearing.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Minimum of a 2-year diploma from an accredited post-secondary institution in a field of study that supports the operating and maintenance responsibilities of the position. Field of study may include but not limited to landscape management/design/maintenance and construction, social and community services, hospitality and tourism, recreation, and leisure services.

• Minimum of 1-year relevant experience in municipal/ commercial/ institutional operating & maintenance environments and venues.
• Experience in a unionized municipal environment is beneficial.

• Valid Ministry of Environment Exterminator License - Land Extermination or obtain license within 18 months of hire. Experience and knowledge in developing and carrying out rodent and vegetation control plans.
• Valid Class DZ license in good standing or a Class G license in good standing with the ability to obtain a DZ license within 6 months of hire.
• Must be willing to obtain Standard First Aid with CPR-C and Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion or Lifesaving Society Wading Pool Attendant Certificate.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that will be applied in daily interaction with staff, downtown visitors, local residents and business owners and key stakeholders such as the Downtown BIA and broad cross-section of City staff that support the Downtown in some capacity.
• Experience in operation and maintenance of outdoor landscape environments and performance venues, landscaping grounds keeping, gardening and construction maintenance.
• Ability to work on own initiative to resolve issues with focus on outstanding customer service.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that support a strong team environment and build strong working relationships with key downtown stakeholders (internal staff groups, external resources, and businesses (including BIA).
• Ability to work various shift structures on a seasonal basis as needed to support specific operational needs and events. Shift structure will involve working weekends, defined holidays.
• Advanced computer skills to support use of laptops/tablets in tracking/delivery of daily work activities, accessing mapping resources (OnPoint & Field Maps) and work order system (Cityworks) and ability to generate/edit spreadsheets/documents. Will be required to access, respond, and generate service requests and work orders within Cityworks to track and manage daily work activities.
• Advanced smartphone skills to support communication and work activities.
• Ability to maintain, operate, troubleshoot, read plans, and repair complete irrigation systems comprised of computer software, computer-controlled field satellites, zone and control valves, electric sprinkler heads, in ground piping and multi-zone stations.
• Ability to accurately follow verbal and written instructions and sketches, read plans, and estimate quantities.
• Must have an exceptional work ethic.
• Must be physically capable of performing required duties.
• Able to lift, push or pull up to 50lbs.
• Familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to the position and the related work activities (including working in the public right of way).

• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

The City of Kitchener is committed to an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and to ensuring our workforce reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity deserving groups.

We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please contact Human Resources at , or 519-741-2200 ext. 7261 to make your needs known, so that we can support your full and equal participation throughout the hiring process.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.

Please note that as per Human Resources Policy HUM-HIR-110, "Employment of Relatives of Staff Members and Elected Officials":

"The immediate relatives of staff of the Human Resources Division, all Directors, General Managers, or the Chief Administrative Officer and Elected Officials shall not be employed by the City in any capacity.

The immediate relatives of all other Management personnel shall not be employed where such employment would be:

1. within the same Department in the case of permanent full-time, temporary full-time and part-time classifications.

2. within the same Division in the case of students."

Department

Infrastructure Services

Division

Parks and Cemeteries

Union Affiliation

CUPE 68

Number of Positions

2

Hours of Work

40 hours per week - Shift structure will involve working weekends and defined holidays.

Location

Initial Location

Kitchener Operations Facility and City Hall

City

Kitchener

Compensation

Salary Range

$30.09 - $31.86 per hour

Grade/Band

6 (under review)

City of Kitchener