Cochrane is located in the breathtaking Bow Valley corridor in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta. With a population of over 37,000 people, and growing steadily every year, Cochrane is a thriving town, surrounded by world-famous ranch country. Our western heritage is reflected in the Town’s architecture and our friendly people. The Town of Cochrane welcomes innovative and skilled individuals to join our team of over 250 employees.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a talented individual to join our team as a full-time Parks and Open Spaces Operator. This role is designed for someone who has experience working within a municipal park environment, a golf course, or within a landscaping environment, as well as experience operating and maintaining equipment. We are looking for an operator with a minimum of 3-years’ experience who is ready to proudly maintain over 500 hectares of land as parks and open spaces.

Why should you consider working for us?

This is not a boring municipality. We are growing into an organization with a focus on transparency, critical thinking, curiosity, reflection, and innovation. We are municipal employees, and we are accountable to all the residents of Cochrane. As an organization, Cochrane has a focus on investing in people, and we support experimentation as part of the growth process while striving for continuous improvement.

As a Parks and Open Spaces Operator, your career with us includes:

• The chance to maintain nearly four dozen parks (many with playgrounds), summer fishing in trout ponds, outdoor skating in winter, and over 80 kilometers of pathways all year round for residents and visitors.
• The responsibility of maintaining three cemeteries, many sports fields, and dog off-leash areas.
• A work environment where employees enjoy many benefits including competitive pay and a comprehensive health and dental benefits package.
• Professional learning and development opportunities.
• The opportunity to work with other talented municipal professionals during this exciting time.

What are some of the duties of the Parks and Open Spaces Operator?

• Performs the day-to-day maintenance and operations as per standards and best practices of parks and open spaces, urban forestry, in-ground and potted horticultural displays, outdoor rinks, cemeteries, sports fields, playgrounds, pathways, irrigation systems, historical resource sites, downtown streetscapes, skateboard parks, and river and stream riparian areas.
• Specific duties include, but are not limited to, spring and fall clean up, garbage collection, mowing, line trimming, weeding, flower/perennial planting, litter picking, burial/cremation plot preparation, tree/shrub pruning, sports field marking, fertilizing, overseeding, infrastructure repairs, snow clearing, ice control, and irrigation diagnosis and repairs.
• Perform construction and maintenance tasks; operate chainsaws and brush cutters, plant, prune, and remove small trees as per ISA standards and best practices.
• Performs construction and maintenance tasks pertaining to sport field operations, including ball diamonds, soccer/rugby pitches, and court sports.
• Ensures that scheduled users have access to sports fields, lock and unlock parks, and answers questions from the public and sports players regarding sports field usage and park regulations.
• Provide guidance for day-to-day operations of seasonal staff and contractor services.
• Respond to and investigate citizen inquiries and participate in resolving operational concerns.
• Perform weekly, monthly, and annual park, playground, and skatepark inspections and audits for the purpose of safety, operational efficiencies, asset data collection, life cycling, and inventory control.
• Fiscally responsible for day-to-day expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance of the Town of Cochrane Parks and Open Spaces.
• Maintain equipment and hand tools utilized in daily tasks.
• Participate in the on-call rotation and provide emergency assistance when required.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education and Experience

Required:

• 3 – 5 years of experience in a park or municipal environment.
• Experience operating and maintaining equipment.

Preferred:

• Municipal experience.

Skills and Abilities

Required:

• Mechanical aptitude and basic problem-solving skills.
• Physically able to perform required duties.
• The ability to direct and lead others.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Knowledge of methods, materials and equipment used in performing routine maintenance, landscaping, and construction tasks.

Certifications, Licenses and/or Designations

Required:

• At least one of these certificates: Degree or Diploma in Horticulture, Turfgrass Management Diploma, ISA Arborist Certification, Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship.
• Horticultural/Arborist/Turfgrass/Irrigation/Cemetery/Landscaping certification.
• Requires a valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Clean Criminal Record

Preferred:

• Class 3 with Q endorsement.
• A pesticide applicators certificate or other Green Industry designations.
• Standard First Aid and CPR/AED.
• WHMIS.
• Safe Trenching, Excavation and Ground Disturbance.
• Cargo Securement.
• Fall Protection Comprehensive.
• Alberta Temporary Traffic Control.
• Flag Person.

Health and Safety Commitment

Cochrane is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment for all its employees. As an employee you must take reasonable care to protect your health and safety and that of others present at worksites, perform work safely, follow all relevant health and safety legislation, directives and procedures and attend all identified orientations and training.

Still interested? Here’s how to apply:

• Qualified individuals are encouraged to submit a resume detailing how your qualifications and skills are a good match for this role.
• All candidates will be requested to complete an online suitability survey.
• Applications for this position will be accepted until 9pm MST, May 28, 2026. Please apply at www.cochrane.ca/jobs.
• This personal information is collected in accordance with ATIA.
• The hourly rate for this position is between $35.40 and $36.47 based on a 40 hour work week, and is governed by Pay Grid 5 of the Teamsters Collective Agreement.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All applicants must be legally entitled to live and work in Canada.

Land Acknowledgement

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.