Gardener

Position Details:

Number of Vacancies: 2

Current Rate of Pay: Min = $26.36/hr, Max = $30.56/hr

Employment type: Seasonal

Duration of employment: April - November

Hours of work: up to 35 hrs/week

Work location: The Village at Black Creek

Division: Conservation Parks and Lands

Business unit: Conservation Lands

Travel: 70%

Remote Work: None

Seasonal Hire TRCA – 2025

Seasonal job opportunities are plentiful at TRCA. If you are looking for seasonal job openings, we can provide great opportunities and seasonal perks. To apply to this posting, click on the “Apply” icon.

Please submit your resume and cover letter in one file (PDF or Word) prior to midnight on March 9, 2025.

By working at TRCA you will:

• Work outdoors during the spring and summer in beautiful natural areas.
• Gain valuable experience working at a conservation authority.
• Get a free Conservation Ontario annual pass.
• Get access to TRCA’s Reciprocal Program (discounts across various Ontario attractions).

How you will contribute as part of the TRCA team:

The Gardener is responsible for maintaining, enhancing, and establishing gardens on TRCA lands by providing horticultural expertise to support the maintenance, design, planning and implementation of high-profile ornamental display and native plant gardens at TRCA lands and municipal partner sites.

Major Responsibilities:

• Implement and provide on-going maintenance and enhancements for ornamental display gardens, naturalized and native plant gardens, monitoring health and performance of the gardens.
• Maintain associated garden infrastructure including the maintenance of habitat structures, and keeping paths, walkways, lawns and service areas clean and clear.
• Conduct landscape monitoring and analyze conditions to determine site recommendations and best practices, maintaining native species plan inventories.
• Assist with planning and design support for the development of garden concepts and designs, including costing as required.
• Volunteer management (Occasionally train and direct TRCA field staff and volunteers to assist with gardening initiatives)
• Share garden knowledge and information with the public and volunteers, assist with educational initiatives, and develop related interpretive materials or presentations as required.
• Provide a brief tour of the garden for visiting groups.
• Liaise and collaborate with municipal partners to achieve garden objectives.
• Coordinate procurement of all materials and supplies.
• Assist with the creation of funding applications for native plant garden initiatives.
• Incumbents may be assigned other duties.

What will you need to succeed:

Education

• Post-secondary degree/diploma landscape design, horticulture, or related discipline.
• Valid Ontario Driver’s License (Class G).

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience related to the major tasks; garden maintenance, garden design/implementation, native plant gardening and design, and plant identification skills.
• Experience working in public settings and with volunteers.

Knowledge/Skill/Ability - Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of Ontario native plant communities and commonly cultivated plants, as well as horticultural maintenance procedures.
• Proven ability to plan, develop, implement, and maintain native plant garden projects with an understanding of environmental restoration and regeneration practices.
• Knowledge of plant health care and integrated sustainable pest management principles and practices.
• Ability to interpret and produce planting plans.
• Ability to safely operate powered landscape equipment (push mower, grass trimmer).
• Ability to work independently with limited on-site supervision.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Computer word processing/spreadsheet/AutoCAD/GIS (ArcView) literacy.
• Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.

While the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) thanks all applicants for their interest, only those under consideration will be contacted for interviews. Please be advised that successful incumbent(s) may be required to undergo a vulnerable sector screening and/or driver’s abstract check as a part of the final step in the hiring process.

TRCA is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and TRCA Policies, accommodation will be provided at any point throughout the hiring process, provided the candidate makes their accommodation needs known to the TRCA. We welcome applications from all qualified persons.

Personal information you provide through the TRCA recruitment, selection, and onboarding process is collected under the authority of the Conservation Authorities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.27. Collection of this personal information is necessary for the proper administration of this recruitment process for employment and volunteer positions with TRCA. Personal information is protected from disclosure pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Any questions regarding this collection activity should be directed to the Manager of Records and Information, 101 Exchange Avenue, Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 5R6, (437) 880 2308.