This posting is for 1 temporary full-time position up to 11 months

The Weed Inspector II is responsible for inspecting private properties for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds and enforcing compliance with the Alberta Weed Control Act and Regulations. This position is relied upon to make complex on-site decisions, manage challenging stakeholder interactions, oversee the work of third-party contractors, as well as assist with hiring, training, supervising and assigning duties to seasonal Weed Inspectors.

This position may work individually, in a team, or as the supervisor of a crew and will troubleshoot issues and perform physical work with variable hours depending upon weather conditions and staff.

The work of this position is critical to meeting the municipalities responsibility under the Weed Control Act as a regulator of provincially designated invasive plant species. The successful incumbent will apply in-depth knowledge of plant biology, herbicide action, injury and ecological restoration to assess and mitigate risk to agriculture and environment within the County.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Invasive Plant Specialist with planning, reviewing and delivering programs and projects
• Anticipate and mitigate major issues by providing expertise and recommendations relating to Weed Management
• Inspect public and private properties for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds as per the Weed Control Act and Regulations
• Monitor and enforce compliance with the Weed Control Act on challenging/sensitive Weed Inspection cases
• Assist with the recruitment, training, coaching, and supervision of seasonal staff for the Invasive Plant Management team
• Research invasive plant biology, range expansion, control methods and recommend improvements to respond to incoming invasive plant threats to the municipality
• Provide information and customer services including accurate technical information to the public, other jurisdictions, consultants/contractors/developers and other departments
• Develop communications materials, community education programs and conduct community and stakeholder engagement to support program initiatives and address community needs, issues, and trends

Qualifications and Skills:

• Post-secondary certificate/diploma in an agricultural or environmental field and 4 years experience in a related field
• Alberta Pesticide Applicator License with Agricultural or Industrial class or ability to obtain license within 3 months
• Drone Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations or ability to obtain within 3 months
• Knowledge of municipal, provincial and federal policies and legislation
• Strong plant identification skills
• Knowledge of plant ecology/biology and integrated pest management principles and practices
• Knowledge of agricultural practices is an asset
• Ability to balance complex and sensitive issues posed by landowners, complainants, internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing skills are essential to effectively communicate with multidisciplinary teams and the general public
• Effective customer service, public relations and communication skills (verbal and written) to effectively convey technical concepts for all audiences
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as most work occurs on private property in remote rural areas

Conditions of Employment:

• Submission of a Satisfactory Criminal Record Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s license and submission of a 5-year Driver’s Abstract with less than 7 demerits

Who We Are:

Strathcona County is a specialized municipality located in the heart of Alberta. Our vision is to become Canada’s most livable community, where our workplace culture and identity are supported by our people plan and values of integrity, respect, safety, fairness, and cooperation.

Why Join Strathcona County: (depending on position)

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

  • Extended health and dental coverage
  • Health and wellness spending account
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Retirement and pension programs
  • Earned day off program
  • Employee and family assistance program

• Commitment to employee development, through internal and external training and development opportunities

• Well-being programs and a safety culture focused on physical and psychological health in the workplace

Equivalencies of education and experience may be considered. This role may be eligible to participate in our hybrid work program.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies for similar positions within the next 6 months.

Strathcona County is committed to an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace that represents the community we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who can contribute diverse perspectives and experiences.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.