City of Kitchener Careers

Parks Maintainer - Downtown

Job Status:  Permanent Full-Time

Pay & Grade: $31.47 to $33.32  Hourly Grade/Band: 6 (Under Review)

Hours of Work:40 Hours per week

Initial location: Kitchener Operations Facility

Posting period:September 23 to October 1, 2025 (at 6:00pm)

Overview

The Downtown Parks Maintainer will be part of a highly visible operational team in Downtown Kitchener (DTK). The Parks Maintainer, along with other members of the team will be expected to be an ambassador for DTK, while undertaking daily tasks and duties 7 days a week.  It is anticipated that frequent interactions with the public, business owners and downtown community members will occur during which the Parks Maintainer will be expected to be an engaging and positive ambassador for the DTK environment. They will be responsible for identifying, coordinating, and performing day-to-day operation and maintenance activities in a collaborative and timely manner in the downtown, Carl Zehr Square and Kitchener Market. The position is a dedicated year-round function with a specific and defined seasonal roles that will focus on supporting seasonal events and when required support Park Operations winter control efforts in DTK and City wide as capacity permits and overall winter control needs dictate.

Responsibilities

• Be an ambassador for DTK; be able to engage in positive communication with a wide range of members of the public and business communities, provide supportive and helpful communication, such as offering directions and help to the public. Recognize the need for visible activity to reflect the high standards of care and maintenance that the City strives to provide downtown.
• Daily inspections and documentation of furniture condition, wading pool , Gaukel playground, weather, and maintenance activities.
• Ensure downtown streetscapes, venues, parks, laneways, and related assets are in a state of good repair, clean, presentable and in a safe condition, working with other City staff and external resources when necessary to ensure so.
• Inventory, catalogue and continuously monitor DTK spaces and assets on an appropriate cycle to ensure that the spatial/asset database is kept current, accurate and reflective of the changing dynamic of DTK.  Assets to be included are: all streetscape furniture (benches, bike racks), waste receptacles, bollards, horticultural pots, banners, hanging baskets, fixed planters, event infrastructure (electrical pedestals, electrical outlets, stages/platforms, performance spaces), decorative lighting (planter and tree pit up-lights), decorative string lights (streetscape/parks/lane), street lights, shade umbrellas,irrigation infrastructure, tree related infrastructure (tree grates, protective cage), signage (permanent/temporary), patio spaces and other related infrastructure.
• Parks Maintainer works with Turf and Sports field specialists when required for all irrigation needs to ensure proper operation of irrigation systems in accordance with specifications and industry standards.
• Daily inspection, reporting and initiation of any required corrective action which may include cleanliness, bio hazards, graffiti, potential hazards, rodents/weeds, or other issues specific to the aesthetic and experience quality of the downtown.
• Seasonal coordination and/or delivery/execution of the following: banners, holiday decorations, outdoor patio spaces, streetscape furniture, seasonal switchovers (bike racks, bollards, benches, movable pots), rodent control measures, irrigation/water network (startup/winterization) and power-washing.
• Operational support for the set-up and execution of activations, and preparation of the venue spaces before and after events.
• Comfortable and demonstrated competency to address challenging social and mental health situations in a compassionate manner.  Engage Supervisor and other support resources for assistance when required to achieve a positive resolution.
• Inspect and monitor for rodents downtown and coordinate appropriate control measures to mitigate or eliminate local population.
• Respond to incidents and accidents and refer to Supervisor for assistance when required.
• Ability to perform basic landscaping and gardening requirements.  Detailed outdoor grounds keeping includes picking up litter, removing graffiti, removing unwanted weeds and volunteer vegetation, power washing and ensuring general site cleanliness.
• Hold the necessary permits to operate a wide-range of equipment as required in the performance of position.  
• Maintain and clean various required tools and equipment to perform all job activities.
• Perform dedicated winter maintenance responsibilities downtown including snow/ice clearing at dedicated venues in DTK and support Park Operations winter control efforts in DTK and City wide as capacity permits and overall winter control needs dictate.
• Recommend changes and/or improvements to equipment, facilities and procedures, and report found problems to the area Supervisor.
• Aid other City staff groups, as assigned by the Downtown Supervisor, including support of downtown waste collection and debris removal, pavement repairs, events, horticulture plant installation/maintenance, streetscape asset repairs and snow/ice clearing.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of a 2-year diploma from an accredited post-secondary institution in a field of study that supports the operating and maintenance responsibilities of the position. Field of study may include but not limited to landscape management/design/maintenance and construction, social and community services, hospitality and tourism, recreation, and leisure services.
• Minimum of 1-year relevant experience in municipal/ commercial/ institutional operating & maintenance environments and venues.
• Experience in a unionized municipal environment.
• Valid Ministry of Environment Exterminator License – Land Extermination or obtain license within 18 months of hire.  Experience and knowledge in developing and carrying out rodent and vegetation control plans. 
• Valid Class DZ license in good standing or a Class G license in good standing with the ability to obtain a DZ license within 6 months of hire.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that will be applied in daily interaction with staff, downtown visitors, local residents and business owners and key stakeholders such as the Downtown BIA and broad cross-section of City staff that support the Downtown in some capacity.
• Experience in operation and maintenance of outdoor landscape environments and performance venues, landscaping grounds keeping, gardening and construction maintenance.
• Ability to work on own initiative to resolve issues with focus on outstanding customer service.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that support a strong team environment and build strong working relationships with key downtown stakeholders (internal staff groups, external resources, and businesses (including BIA). 
• Ability to work various shift structures on a seasonal basis as needed to support specific operational needs and events.  Shift structure will involve working weekends, defined holidays. 
• Advanced computer skills to support use of laptops/tablets in tracking/delivery of daily work activities, accessing mapping resources (OnPoint & Field Maps) and work order system (Cityworks) and ability to generate/edit spreadsheets/documents. Will be required to access, respond, and generate service requests and work orders within Cityworks to track and manage daily work activities.
• Advanced smartphone skills to support communication and work activities.
• Ability to maintain, operate, troubleshoot, read plans, and repair complete irrigation systems comprised of computer software, computer-controlled field satellites, zone and control valves, electric sprinkler heads, in ground piping and multi-zone stations. 
• Ability to accurately follow verbal and written instructions and sketches, read plans, and estimate quantities.
• Must have an exceptional work ethic.
• Must be physically capable of performing required duties.
• Able to lift, push or pull up to 50lbs.
• Familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to the position and the related work activities (including working in the public right of way).
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Department/Division:Infrastructure Services, Parks and Cemeteries

Group: CUPE 68

Competition Number: 2025-331

Job Code: 5154

Number of positions: 1

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