The Parks Labourer is responsible for the care, maintenance, and enhancement of RDCO parks, trails and natural landscapes. Duties may include pruning, mowing, aerating, fertilizing, turf maintenance and repair, irrigation system operation and maintenance, tree and shrub care, mulching, and other groundskeeping tasks. You will also operate small equipment and machinery commonly used in landscaping and horticultural work, including mowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, and similar tools to support horticultural, turf, and landscaping operations. This position will have primary interaction with the public and requires a friendly, helpful demeanor coupled with an interest in working in a parks environment in order to assist in achieving the departmental strategic goals.

1. Operations and Maintenance

• Perform landscaping duties including mow, trim, prune, plant, fertilize, weed and maintain lawns, shrubs and trees.
• Maintain and repair irrigation including valves, pipes and sprinkler heads.
• Maintain parks, trails, beaches and playgrounds by picking up litter, empty garbage bins, removing leaves, cleaning washrooms, brush cutting trails and conducting seasonal cleanups.
• Perform minor facility and construction work such as painting, basic plumbing and carpentry, graffiti removal, brick/stone work, fence and boardwalk repairs.
• Support waterfront and seasonal programs to include the install/removal of buoys, docks, swim lines and assist with equipment changeovers.
• Snow and ice control during winter months such as shovelling, plowing, applying sand and clearing snow using hand tools and equipment.
• Performing general labour tasks such as shovelling, raking, sweeping, loading/unloading materials, moving lumber and preparing work areas.
• Maintain vehicles and equipment with inspecting, fueling, lubricating, changing attachments and keeping tools and vehicles clean.
• Ensuring record keeping and inventory is conducted utilizing GIS software to include tracking time, haulage and service work orders that update asset inventories and computer records.
• Assist Team Leads and Park Rangers in providing input on daily priorities and recommend maintenance and annual program demands or changes.

2. Customer Service and Communications

• Provide public information by providing information, bylaw education, problem‑solving and explain park and facility usage types.
• Deliver frontline service by acting as first contact with the public and handling inquiries courteously and tactfully.
• Report and inform the Team Lead and Park Rangers of public concerns and provide feedback on operations and infrastructure.
• Assist the Team Lead with monitoring and communicating with approved contractors supporting service delivery to the public.
• Support daily operations by participating in planning daily Parks activities.
• Handle sensitive tasks such as the removal of dead animals

3. Risk Management and Health & Safety

• Follow safety regulations meeting WorkSafeBC and District policies and established safe work procedures.
• Identify, report and correct hazards by conducting park and trail hazard inspections and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain safe assets including playgrounds, swimming equipment and trails through inspection and repair.
• Operate safely all vehicles, equipment and tools responsibly and report mechanical issues promptly.
• Assist in emergency responses such as flooding, fires and landslides, reporting injuries or damage and notify management as required.
• Participate in safety culture by attending safety meetings, keeping accurate operational records and applying risk management principles in daily duties.

4. Other related duties as assigned.

Training and Experience Required:

• Grade 11
• Minimum of 6 months of job related experience in parks, landscaping, irrigation, or other related field, and including experience with small tools and equipment and snow removal and techniques.
• Carpentry and construction experience is an asset.
• Valid BC Driver’s Licence (Class 5)
• Heavy Trailer Endorsement Licence (Code 20) or equivalent
• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check (PIC-VS)
• Basic First Aid

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Understanding of general facility and infrastructure maintenance and cleaning.
• Basic knowledge of construction techniques.
• Working knowledge in the safe operation of maintenance equipment such as trucks, trailers, skid steers, tractors, UTV’s, ATV’s, ride‑on and push mowers, small cranes and beach cleaners, chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, drills, saws, jackhammers, compactors, pressure washers and related tools.
• Time management and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to keep neat and tidy records.
• Physical ability to perform job duties.

Casual

Physical Effort: Standing and walking for long periods of the day. Hiking trails as needed. Daily physical labour of short to intermediate duration. Sitting in a vehicle to drive between site locations.

Physical Environment: Majority outside field work, exposed to all weather conditions.

Mental Stress: Respond and answer public enquires within the parks; Occasional confrontational situations.

Sensory Attention: Consistent requirement to be aware of safety when performing maintenance duties and operating equipment. Be watchful for wildlife and public on park trails.

This is a relief position that is scheduled strictly on an on-call, as needed basis. This posting will remain open until the position is filled.