Trails Technician

Job Summary

Service Area: Public Services Department: Parks Work Location: Parks, 50 Municipal Street Work Mode: In Person Job Type and Duration: Permanent, Full Time Vacancy Position Availability: 1 existing vacant position Salary Range: $34.49 per hourAffiliation: CUPE Local 241 Posting Period: October 23, 2026 to November 8, 2026 11:59 p.m.

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

Applications are being accepted for the position of Trails Technician within Parks. The successful candidate will perform duties related, but not limited to trails maintenance, parks events, and related services within the City’s parks in accordance with established standard operating procedures, departmental and corporate policies, sound construction principles, practices, and applicable codes with a focus on quality customer service and continuous improvement processes. Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Corporate Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Organize labour, tools and resources required to carry out assigned duties.
• Inform the Lead hand of workplace requirements and adjust maintenance schedules to efficiently perform assigned duties.
• Lead part-time staff and instruct all support staff in the safe and efficient use, care and maintenance of tools and equipment, and maintenance practices.
• Perform duties related to trails maintenance, parks events, and related services within the City’s parks while working outdoors in all types of weather conditions.
• Groom trails within the City and perform daily inspections on trails; make repairs to trails and cut back encroaching vegetation and other material that may pose a hazard or restrict park user access.
• Installation of new trails, ensure culverts and ditches and bridges are clear to ensure proper drainage.
• Posting for and application of herbicides to control noxious weeds and invasive species as directed, in accordance with the Ontario Pesticides Act.
• Perform stretch assignments related to ecological restoration and natural area stewardship.
• Perform litter, brush and garbage pick up.
• Operate various types of maintenance equipment such as large mowers, agricultural tractors, front-end loaders, waste collection vehicles, DZ vehicles, Bobcat tool cat and attachments including auxiliary attachments (i.e. Blechavator, and Trail Pro), pickup truck with trailer, rototiller, blowers, shovels, rakes, string trimmer, chainsaw, chipper, and power washers in a safe and efficient manner.
• Perform various duties relating to winter maintenance including operating relevant equipment, manual snow and ice clearing, salting and sanding as needed.
• Carry out all necessary maintenance and adjustments while keeping the equipment in a safe, clean and tidy condition, and perform daily circle checks and report defects and, if necessary, small repairs in a prescribed manner.
• Comply with requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, The Highway Traffic Act, all Federal, Provincial and City regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Remove and/or flag obstacles hazardous to employees or the public or that interfere with the safe operation of vehicles or equipment, and duly note and report such conditions to a Lead hand or Supervisor.
• Maintain daily written records of work related activities.
• Complete daily activity time sheets; Report on variances in daily work plans.
• Immediately report vandalism, mechanical difficulties, damage, and hazardous conditions.
• Actively participate in a team environment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications and requirements

• Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a two (2) year degree or diploma in Parks Management, Outdoor Recreation or closely related field and 1-2 years’ experience performing trail maintenance activities and operating related trail maintenance equipment in a relevant setting. Candidates with equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess current Forestry and Landscape Exterminator class applicators license from the Ministry of the Environment.
• Must possess a Class D-Z licence with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm their license is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
• Knowledge relevant to trail/park maintenance and landscape maintenance/construction activities.
• Knowledge of all maintenance aspects of relevant equipment, including the attachments.
• Completion of the Trails Specialist Workshop through the Ontario Parks Association is an asset.
• Chainsaw certification is considered an asset or the ability to obtain within 45 days of the start date.
• Excellent time management skills and flexibility in adjusting between a variety of duties.
• A reliable self-starter, able to make decisions and function with minimal supervision, as well, work as part of a team and undertake all aspects of the job thoroughly and willingly.
• Good communication skills; able to deal with the public in a cordial manner.
• Able to perform the physical demands of the job including lifting, kneeling and shovelling and be able to actively participate in daily activities, work within live traffic conditions and in all types of weather conditions.
• Knowledge of the OTM’s Book 7 for Temporary Conditions, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Pesticide Act, and other applicable legislation.

NotesApplicants are required to demonstrate in their application how their qualifications match those specified above. Assessments based on all of the objectives and qualifications listed above will be a part of the interview, written and/or practical test and reference checking

Hours of workFive (5) consecutive days, eight (8) consecutive hours, Monday to Friday between the hours of 7:00 am and 4:00 pm. Shift work and stand-by will be a requirement of this position. Winter maintenance on-call and winter shifts are a requirement of this position.

How to applyQualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by November 8, 2026. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered.

Hiring Process TransparencyThe City of Guelph is committed to fair and transparent recruitment practices. Candidates who participate in an interview for this position will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their interview. Notifications will be provided in writing, or through technology.

Commitment to Diversity & AccessibilityThe City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Privacy Notice Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.