JOB TITLE: Pesticide Specialist (6-Month Contract)

DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 2
JOB STATUS & DURATION: Temporary 6-months
HOURS OF WORK: 40 hour workweek / variable hours
LOCATION: Undefined
HOURLY RATE: $33.28 per hour
JOB TYPE: Union
POSTING DATE: December 22, 2023
CLOSING DATE: July 1, 2024

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Reporting to the Supervisor, Horticulture, assists in the administration of the contracted weed spray program and uses various means to control insects, diseases, weeds and rodents in parks and on turf, trees and shrubs.

• Assists with the administration of the contracted weed spray program; informs contractors of areas to be sprayed, oversees work performed; contributes to specifications and variances in conjunction with Foreperson.
• Schedules City staff to monitor contracted sprays and to post warning signs; records and verifies hours worked.
• Performs Pest Management i.e. insect and disease control for trees and shrubs, turf weed control and parkland rodent control.
• Acts on public complaints, recommendations from supervisory and other parks staff.
• Inspects site, determines ownership, recommends, selects and implements application/control methods and equipment. Informs initiator of follow-up action.
• Trains employees in safe, effective use of pesticides; prepares course materials, schedules classes; conducts sessions.
• Fertilizes trees and maintains list of trees requiring fertilizing, calculates rates and amounts to apply, operates sprayer, mixes and injects fertilizer.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of pest management developments, and recommends changes in policies, procedures, or products/equipment.
• Participates in Chemical Review Committee; provides input regarding chemical-related legislation, recommendations, etc.
• Assists in the co-ordination of pesticide projects: maintains adequate inventory of pesticides and distributes to staff; schedules projects and estimates requirements for upcoming season. Co-ordinates pesticide exposure testing for staff.
• Performs snow removal and maintenance; plows, salts and sands, walkways, parking lots, etc.
• Performs additional similar and related duties as assigned.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent
• Over two (2) years and up to four (4) years experience in an urban forestry or horticulture environment
• Landscape Exterminator Licence from the Ministry of Environment
• Industrial Vegetation Exterminator Licence for pesticides from the Ministry of Environment
• A valid non-probationary Ontario class DZ licence
• Knowledge of common plant diseases, pests and agricultural chemicals.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team

**Preference will be given to students that have a permanent residency in Brampton. 

**Various tests and/or exams may be administered as part of the selection criteria.

Alternate formats will be provided upon request.

Interview: Our recruitment process will be completed with video conference technology.

If this opportunity matches your interest and experience, please apply online by clicking the button above by July 1, 2024 and complete the attached questionnaire. We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The successful candidate(s) will be required, as a condition of employment, to execute a written employment agreement. A criminal record search will be required of the successful candidate to verify the absence of a criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted.

As part of the application process, applicants will be invited to complete a self identification survey. The survey is voluntary. Participation in the survey will have no impact on hiring decisions. Should you wish to opt out of completing the survey, please select “prefer not to answer” as a response to each question. All information collected is confidential and will not be shared with the hiring manager. The surveys will be anonymized and will be kept separate from applicant or employee files, such that the individuals who completed the surveys will not be identifiable. The results of the survey will assist in the analysis of disaggregated metrics for organizational planning purposes and our commitment to advance and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City may use anonymized data to produce aggregate reports for internal or external use.

Please be advised, the City of Brampton uses email to communicate with their applicants for open job competitions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time sensitive correspondence via email (i.e. testing bookings, interview dates), it is imperative that applicants check their email regularly. If we do not hear back from applicants, we will assume that you are no longer interested in the Job Competition and your application will be removed from the Competition.

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