Service Area: Public Services
Department: Parks
Division: 26-T-12338
Work Location: Parks, 50 Municipal Street
Work Mode: In Person
Job Type and Duration: Temporary, Full time Vacancy up to 6 months
Position Availability: 3 vacant positions
Salary Range: $30.99 per hour
Affiliation: CUPE Local 241
Posting Period: February 17, 2026 to March 3, 2026 11:59 p.m.

Why Join the City of Guelph?

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.

Applications are being accepted for the temporary position of Equipment Operator, Grass within Parks. Reporting to the Program Manager, Sports and Leisure Grounds, the successful candidate will perform duties related, but not limited to, daily sports field and parks maintenance, and related services within the City’s parks in accordance with established standard operating procedures, departmental and corporate policies, sound construction principles and 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

• Perform duties in the development, maintenance and operation of Parks and Recreation activities while working outdoors in all types of weather conditions.
• Operate various types of maintenance equipment such as large mowers, agricultural tractors, front-end loaders and sports field specific equipment such as Toro procore, large area broadcast fertiliser spreader, turf–co topdresser, charterhouse overseeder, Bobcat toolcat and attachments including auxiliary attachments (i.e. Blecavator, RotaDairon, Bannerman infielder) and waste collection vehicles.
• Utilize tools including line trimmers, brush chippers, post pounders, leaf blowers, sod cutters, rakes, shovels etc. to maintain and renovate parks and sports fields.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Complete daily activity time sheets; Report on variances in daily work plans.
• Immediately report vandalism, mechanical difficulties, damage and hazardous conditions.
• Perform various duties relating to winter control including operating relevant equipment, manual snow and ice clearing, salting and sanding as needed.
• 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 Grade 12 diploma and 6 – 12 months related experience in the operation of relevant parks and sports field maintenance equipment in a relevant setting. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a Class G 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 licence 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.
• Experience and knowledge relevant to turf and sports field maintenance and landscape maintenance/construction activities.
• Proficient time management skills and flexibility in adjusting between a variety of duties.
• A reliable self-starter, able to make decisions, function with minimal supervision, and work as part of a team.
• Possess effective 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 shoveling and be able to actively participate in daily activities, work within live traffic conditions and in all types of weather conditions.
• Possess an understanding of the OTM’s Book 7 for Temporary Conditions, and knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other applicable legislation.

Hours of work
Any five (5) consecutive days, eight (8) consecutive hours, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The anticipated start date will be Spring 2026.

Special or Seasonal Events employees in the Parks Department may be required to work shifts in order to accommodate special or seasonal events but shall not be scheduled for more than five (5) days per week, eight (8) hours per day. Shifts may be scheduled as day, afternoon, or night shifts.

How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by March 3, 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 Transparency
The 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 & Accessibility
The 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.