Project Leader, Forestry

Guided by our vision that together we will protect, enhance, restore, expand and connect Mississauga’s Natural Heritage System and Urban Forest to sustain a healthy community for present and future generations, the Forestry Section is a progressive and interdisciplinary team of professional and technical experts that plans, sustains, and manages Mississauga’s trees, forests, and natural areas in an effective, efficient and equitable manner.

Reporting to the Manager, Forestry the successful candidate will lead the initiation, planning, and execution of the Forestry and Natural Heritage Master Plan and its related policies, studies and projects. They will bring together a multi-disciplinary project team from across the corporation and engage key stakeholders from across Mississauga. They will provide strategic advice, project management, and technical expertise and analysis to the Forestry Leadership Team, and foster a strategic approach and culture to urban forest management that is evidence-based and data-driven.

• Lead the initiation, planning, and execution of the Forestry and Natural Heritage Master Plan and related studies and projects. This includes defining the project scope, identifying key stakeholders, developing a project charter, supervising a project-based technical team (City staff/contractors/consultants) in the preparation of technical analysis, research, public consultation, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring alignment with the Official Plan, City policies, and corporate priorities;
• Prepare request for quotations, terms of reference, specifications, proposal calls for consultants/contractor services relating to forestry projects and services;
• Administer contracts to ensure compliance with established City standards, specifications, contract terms, conditions and budgets;
• Provides direction to consultants to ensure projects are completed on time, within the approved budget and specifications;
• Liaise and build positive working relationships with other business units, divisions, departments, conservation authorities, stakeholders, and the general public;
• Represent the section and/or department on inter-departmental and inter-agency projects, attending public meetings, giving presentations and answering questions;
• Prepare presentations, briefing memos, corporate reports and other correspondence for senior City staff and members of City Council and Committees of Council on forestry matters;
• Support data-driven and evidence-based decision-making by analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on strategic, operational, and financial information;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in forestry, arboriculture, ecology, environmental studies, planning, or related discipline;
• Must be a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture and/or a Registered Professional Forester with the Ontario Professional Foresters Association, or able to obtain within 6 months of hire;
• Project Management Professional certification with the Project Management Institute would be an asset;
• Minimum of 7 years of related work experience in urban forestry in a municipal setting;
• Demonstrated experience overseeing projects and contractors, including developing procurement documents, budget control, meeting deadlines and deliverables, contractor quality control, working with/on project teams and working groups;
• Demonstrated experience managing forest management planning projects (i.e. management plans, canopy cover assessments, significant woodland studies, i-Tree Eco studies, asset management plans, etc.);
• Demonstrated experience analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on strategic, operational, and/or financial information in an urban forestry context to support management and decision-making;
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience with various software applications (i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, Infor or comparable work management systems);
• Demonstrated working knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to urban forestry (i.e. Municipal Act, Planning Act, Provincial Policy Statement, Conservation Authorities Act, etc.);
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, and proven political acumen;
• Valid class ‘G” Ontario driver’s license with access to a vehicle is required;
• May be required to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.