Parks Foreperson 2 - Horticulture

About Red Deer: 
Red Deer sits at the heart of Central Alberta along the QEII corridor, perfectly positioned between Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 100,000 residents and a regional reach of over 300,000, it’s a growing hub for business, services, and opportunity.

Here, big-city amenities meet small-city ease. Enjoy abundant parks and trails, vibrant arts and culture, excellent recreation and education, and a strong sense of community.

With easy access to lakes, outdoor adventures, and the mountains, plus a thriving economy and high quality of life, Red Deer is an inviting place to live, work, and grow.

About The City of Red Deer Municipal Government:
The City of Red Deer is a dynamic municipal organization with a $480M operating budget, a $60M capital program, and a workforce of nearly 1,700 employees. It is focused on growing with purpose by attracting talented, community-minded people who want to make a difference.

Guided by the vision “Our City, One Voice,” Red Deer is building a thriving, inclusive, and connected community, with priorities centered on a vibrant economy, community wellbeing, and strong engagement.

At its core, the City values its people, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

The Opportunity:
The City of Red Deer is currently recruiting for a Parks Foreperson 2 - Horticulture to fill a regular (permanent) full-time position. The Parks Foreperson 2 position will be assigned a specific portfolio to execute direction from the appropriate Parks Supervisor and provide support with operational planning and budgeting. This position will also oversee the operational direction of their assigned area with the support of Parks Foreperson 1.

Common Duties to all 3 Areas

• Schedule and supervise City employees and contractors.
• Implement the City of Red Deer safety and training requirements.
• Manage materials and equipment to efficiently achieve a wide range of services.
• Coordinate fleet and equipment maintenance and procurement.
• Assist with new subdivision development inspections.
• Facilitate various utility locates and marking to assist construction development.
• Provide customer service and manage 3rd party agreements and obligations set within.

Horticulture Sports Fields & Cemetery Services

Supervise, implement work schedules, and participate in various Horticultural, Downtown Operations, Cemetery Services, Sports Fields, Permit and Utility repairs, Turf Maintenance, Snow and Ice Control, and Fleet and Equipment maintenance and operational programs.

Top Key Responsibilities

• Supervision, Leadership & Workforce Coordination - Lead and supervise staff and contractors, including hiring input, scheduling work, assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and ensuring productivity. Coordinate resources, equipment, and cross-department collaboration while fostering team communication and adherence to organizational values and standards.
• Operations, Projects & Contract Management - Plan and manage parks maintenance including estimating, scheduling, coordinating crews and turf contractor, interpreting plans/specifications, and ensuring work is completed on time, on budget, and to required standards.
• Health, Safety & Risk Management - Implement and enforce health and safety programs, conduct inspections, provide training and site orientations, identify and mitigate risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain safe work environments for staff, contractors, and the public.
• Budgeting, Administration & Reporting - Monitor and manage budgets, track labour/material costs, approve invoices and time entries, prepare estimates and reports, and recommend cost efficiencies and operational improvements, complete variance reporting.
• Stakeholder Communication & Public Relations - Act as a liaison with internal departments, contractors, community groups, and the public; respond to inquiries, coordinate activities, and provide updates on projects and park operations.
• Fleet, Equipment & Materials Oversight - Manage fleet and equipment usage, maintenance, procurement, and material supply to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations. 
• Oversee daily operations of service trucks, and small engine repair shop. Manage inspection, maintenance, and repair schedules for parks equipment. Ensure fleet and equipment meet safety, compliance, and municipal standards. Coordinate preventative maintenance programs to reduce downtime.

As our preferred candidate, you will have:

• Grade 12 Diploma.
• Four (4) years of progressive experience in one or more of the following areas:

- Landscape Maintenance and Construction

• Two years of demonstrated leadership experience (including project management and leadership courses).
• Standard First Aid course is required.
• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Additional Education (considered an asset):

- Parks and Sports Fields Level 1 and 2

- Leadership for Safety Excellence certificate

- AMHSA Supervisor’s Role certificate

- Management Skills for Supervisors certificate

- Mental Health First Aid certificate

- OHS Awareness for Supervisors certificate

- Understanding Addiction course

- WHMIS certificate

Competencies

• General knowledge of survey procedures.
• General knowledge of current environmental and ecological practices.
• General knowledge of municipal policies, procedures, and bylaws is an asset.
• Basic knowledge of construction and maintenance practices and principles.
• Ability to read plans and specifications.
• Ability to exert moderate levels of physical effort and to work in fatiguing positions
• Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with employees and members of the public, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work outside in all types of weather conditions.
• Ability to exercise care and to follow all safety policies and procedures, particularly in high public-use areas.

**Equivalent combinations of education and experience may also be considered.

Affiliation:   Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 417 
Status:   Regular Full-time
Remuneration:   $42.22 to $44.45 per hour 
Hours of Work:   80 hours biweekly; Monday to Friday, some evening and weekend work may be required.

The City of Red Deer does not permit the use of unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools  (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT or any other form of AI) during interviews or any supervised or timed assessments.  Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

We thank you for your application. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.