Supervisor, Forestry Operations

Overview

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 above position in the Community Services Commission. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume online by February 2, 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

• 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.
• Winter operations supervision including inspection and assessment of pavement surface conditions, snow plowing / removal and sanding / salting / deicing on roads, sidewalks, pathways and municipal facility parking lots, etc.
• Provide assistance to community related events including coordination of setup, takedown of road closures and associated signage, barricades and fencing, garbage containers, portable washrooms, forestry information and public education.
• Lead with preparation and evaluation of tenders, coordinating contract start-up upon bid award, inspecting and supervising contracted and project work and materials / supplies delivery in the field, tracking contractor / supplier performance, coordinating stake-outs and necessary permits, trouble-shooting with contractors / suppliers / staff in the field, coordinating the timing and delivery of large-scale capital projects, completing necessary reports / documentation related to contracted services and ensuring health & safety and legislative / regulatory compliance.
• Staff supervision, coaching and development.
• Assisting with budget preparation and administering assigned budgets including reconciliation / authorization of accounts.
• Contributing to the Operations Department work / business planning.
• Championing the corporate, commission and departmental vision, mission and values.
• Supervises assigned staff including scheduling of work, staff training / development, health & safety and other regulatory compliance, performance management / review, coaching / mentoring, collective agreement administration, payroll submissions, progressive discipline and termination recommendations.
• 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.
• Assesses staffing needs; makes recommendations for new and / or seasonal complement or temporary secondments; participates in recruitment processes; ensures appropriate orientation of new / assigned staff.
• 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.
• Oversee forestry operations, citywide maintenance and repairs and city facility for Forestry Operations.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with departmental or commission / corporate objectives.

Minimum Requirements

Core Behaviours

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

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