Assistant Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services Full Time NEW

Requisition Number: 1321

Terms of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time

Home Location: Repair Shop

Employment Address: 1523 Warden Ave., Scarborough Ontario M1R4Z8

Hours of Work:

Monday to Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Vacancy: 1

Language: English

Hiring Range: $95,472 to $107,084 annually

About Mount Pleasant Group:

Mount Pleasant Group (MPG) is a not-for-profit organization that has been dedicated to serving families in the Greater Toronto Area since 1826. MPG comprises of two affiliated entities: the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries (MPGC) and Canadian Memorial Services (CMS). Together, they deliver comprehensive death care services with compassion and professionalism. MPGC owns and operates ten cemeteries and four crematoriums across the GTA, while CMS provides funeral services at nine locations, including funeral centres within MPGC cemeteries and standalone facilities known as The Simple Alternative. As a trusted community partner and environmental steward, MPG is committed to innovation, leveraging new trends and advancements in technology while upholding our long-standing values. Our team takes pride in the meaningful work we do every day, helping families navigate life’s most challenging moments with care and respect.

Our Vision: A world where dignified, inclusive, innovative and trustworthy death-related planning and care are accessible to everyone.

Our Mission: MPG will serve the diverse clients and communities of yesterday, today and tomorrow with excellence and compassion to meet all their death care needs.

Our Values: Inclusiveness • Transparency • Innovation • Dependability • Compassion

At Mount Pleasant Group, we believe our strength lies in the passion and diversity of our people, and we deeply value the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences each individual brings to our team. We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to be their authentic selves. By embracing inclusivity, we aim to build a workforce that collaborates meaningfully and reflects the richly diverse communities we are privileged to serve. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including those from underrepresented groups, to apply and join us in advancing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

About the Position:

We are looking for an Assistant Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services to join our team.

Your home location will be at our repair shop, however you will be required to travel to all 10 cemeteries.

What we offer:

Comprehensive benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and a health care spending account
Wellness resources and benefits including a wellness spending account
Defined contribution pension plan with employer match
RRSP & TFSA options
Enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Internal training and development opportunities, including job shadowing and a mentorship program, and access to an Educational Assistance Program
Paid Vacation days plus additional personal paid days off
Annual Employee Engagement Surveys and Annual Employee Townhalls
Salary increases, in accordance with company policy

The successful candidate will be required to:

Landscape Planning and Sustainability

Support the planning and implementation of seasonal planting and tree programs, landscape enhancements, and long‑term horticultural initiatives across all properties.
Contribute to the development and execution of multi‑year horticultural plans, including initiatives such as the conversion of annual gardens to native or perennial plantings to reduce environmental impact, irrigation demands, and lifecycle costs.
Collaborate with landscape architects, designers, and internal stakeholders to support site‑specific planting schemes that enhance biodiversity, pollinator habitats, and local ecosystems.
Assist with coordinating work between contracted arborists and internal operations teams to support safe, efficient, and well‑sequenced completion of arboricultural and horticultural work.
Support collaboration with the Development team on matters related to private tree bylaws, tree surveys for new grave space development, construction or landscaping near trees and ravine areas, and the review, procurement, and implementation of planting plans.

Operations and Maintenance

Provide training, guidance, and technical instruction to Seasonal, Full‑Time, and Part‑Time unionized staff on horticultural tasks such as planting, pruning, fertilization, integrated pest management, and general plant care, in alignment with approved practices and safety standards.
Assist with implementing and monitoring plant health care programs, including soil testing, disease and pest management strategies, and irrigation planning and scheduling.
Support the ongoing care and maintenance of gardens, trees, shrubs, planting beds, and naturalized areas to ensure spaces remain safe, respectful, and visually appropriate for a cemetery environment.
Assist with the development, documentation, and application of standardized operating procedures to promote consistent horticultural best practices across all sites.
Conduct regular site inspections, identify emerging plant or tree health concerns, and support timely responses in coordination with the Manager and operational teams.
Assist with coordinating response and clean‑up activities related to tree damage or landscape impacts resulting from storms or other severe weather events, in collaboration with internal teams and contracted services as required.

Leadership & Team Management

Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to the team, supporting a respectful, inclusive, and service-oriented work environment in alignment with organizational values, policies, and collective agreement provisions.
Support people management activities by participating in recruitment processes, onboarding, orientation, and on-the-job training, under the direction of the Manager.
Reinforce established work standards, service expectations, and behavioural expectations through regular communication, observation, and informal feedback.
Monitor attendance, workload distribution, and operational coverage, and bring forward concerns, risks, or recommendations to the Manager to support effective workforce planning and service continuity.
Assist in planning, assigning, and coordinating daily work activities to ensure operational needs are met and work is allocated fairly and consistently within collective agreement requirements.
Support the Manager in addressing conduct, attendance, or performance-related concerns by documenting observations and escalating issues in accordance with organizational procedures and labour relations protocols.
Help ensure team members have access to appropriate training, information, tools, and resources required to perform their work safely, effectively, and professionally, and identify opportunities for additional support or process improvement.
Model professional, respectful behaviour and promote collaboration and accountability in interactions with staff, contractors, and internal stakeholders.

Budget and Resource Management

Assist the Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services with the preparation of annual and multi‑year horticulture budgets, including labour forecasting, plant material, equipment, and contracted services.
Support the identification of cost‑effective and sustainable approaches to landscape management, including opportunities related to bulk purchasing, native plantings, and operational efficiencies.
Maintain a thorough understanding of documentation processes and requirements related to the duties of indirect reports, providing guidance and oversight as needed.
Review and process receiving slips and purchase orders, ensuring timely submission to the accounts payable team for accurate and efficient payment processing.
Review and approve payroll submissions, ensuring accuracy, compliance with organizational policies, and timely submission to the Payroll Department.
Act as the designated representative for the Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services during periods of absence, ensuring seamless continuity in operations.
Collaborate with the Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services to collect and analyze operational data, providing informed recommendations for operating and capital budgets.

Equipment and Safety

Support the management of horticultural and arboricultural equipment inventories, including lifecycle tracking, maintenance planning, and replacement strategies, with consideration for sustainability initiatives such as transitioning to battery‑powered tools.
Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date records related to equipment usage, inspections, maintenance, repairs, and reported safety incidents, in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Support compliance with applicable health, safety, and environmental standards by reinforcing safe work practices and escalating hazards or risks to appropriate leadership.

Labour Relations

Stay up to date with collective agreements and letters of understanding, ensuring adherence to all outlined policies and procedures.
Document and escalate unresolved issues to the Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services or the Employee & Labour Relations Specialist as appropriate.
Support training and development initiatives aligned with both organizational goals and the requirements of the collective agreement.

Other

Additional duties as assigned that fall within the scope of the role as assigned by the Manager, Arboricultural & Horticultural Services.

Qualifications:

A three (3) ‑year diploma or higher in Horticulture, Arboriculture, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant work experience.
At least one (1) year of experience supporting arboricultural activities or programs; additional experience is considered an asset.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification, or eligibility to obtain certification, is considered an asset.
A valid Ontario Class “G” driver’s licence, where operationally required.
A minimum of two (2) years of leadership or supervisory experience, preferably within a unionized environment, with demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, and supporting employee development.
Experience engaging with diverse communities and a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion are assets.
Ability to interpret horticultural and arboricultural plans, site conditions, and planting specifications to support accurate implementation and maintenance.
Strong observational and problem‑solving skills to identify plant and tree health issues and recommend appropriate responses.
Ability to assess operational challenges (e.g., weather impacts, resourcing constraints) and support practical solutions.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate work across multiple sites, seasons, and teams while supporting consistent and safe service delivery.
Strong organizational skills to assist with work planning, scheduling, tracking activities, and maintaining accurate records.
Ability to manage competing priorities and follow through on assigned initiatives.
Effective verbal and written communication skills to provide clear instruction, guidance, and feedback to staff and contractors.
Ability to collaborate with internal partners and external service providers to support planning, compliance, and operational alignment.
Strong interpersonal skills that support engagement, teamwork, and respectful working relationships.
Ability to provide day‑to‑day guidance, coaching, and technical support to staff in a unionized environment.
Experience contributing to onboarding, training, performance feedback, and employee development.
Capacity to model organizational values and promote an inclusive, respectful, and service‑oriented workplace culture.
Strong awareness of occupational health and safety principles relevant to horticultural and arboricultural work.
Ability to recognize hazards, reinforce safe work practices, and escalate risks or concerns appropriately.
Working knowledge of horticultural practices, including planting, pruning, soil management, fertilization, irrigation, and integrated pest management.
Foundational understanding of arboricultural principles, tree biology, tree protection, and basic tree risk considerations.
Knowledge of native and adaptive plant species suitable for local climate conditions.
Understanding of sustainable landscape practices, including biodiversity enhancement, pollinator support, water conservation, and lifecycle planting strategies.
Familiarity with seasonal programming and multi‑year horticultural planning in a public‑facing environment.
Knowledge of landscape and grounds maintenance practices appropriate to formal and sensitive spaces.
Working knowledge of horticultural and arboricultural tools, equipment maintenance requirements, and safe operation principles.
Awareness of equipment lifecycle management and emerging low‑emission or battery‑powered technologies.
General understanding of applicable health and safety requirements and environmental regulations, including tree and ravine protection considerations.
Familiarity with working within a unionized environment and applying organizational policies and procedures consistently and equitably.
Computer proficiency in a Windows environment, including Office 365, SharePoint, and Teams.

The Mount Pleasant Group is committed to providing equitable opportunities to all applicants and strives to ensure a barrier-free selection process. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please send us an email with your accommodation needs at [email protected], quoting the job requisition ID # and the job title. Any information received related to an accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Transparency in Our Hiring Process: Mount Pleasant Group’s recruitment process may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening and matching of applications to job requirements. These tools are designed to support efficiency and consistency in reviewing applications. All hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team, in conjunction with the respective hiring manager. If you have questions regarding this process or require an alternative review method, please contact us.

The deadline for internal applications is June 1, 2026

Employees must apply through the Internal Career Centre in ADP.