Urban Parks Naturalist

City of Regina•Regina, SK

1d•CA$82,442 - CA$102,938•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Manager of Parks Technical Services, the Urban Parks Naturalist leads collaborative efforts across departments and community partners to advance naturalization initiatives, strengthen urban forest management best practices, and deliver engaging ecological and wildlife programming throughout Regina’s parks and open spaces. The role additionally provides subject matter expertise to ensure tactical implementation aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan, the City’s Indigenous Framework including the principle of Kâ‑nâsihcikêwin, Parks Masterplan and Urban Forest Management Plan and other master plans to support Regina’s environmental and operational resiliency in the community’s Parks and Open Space system.

Requirements

Skill in providing leadership and coordination of activities for a defined cross functional team.
Knowledge of prairie environment and native plant species in the Regina region.
Knowledge of plant protection, planting standards, and green infrastructure practices.
Must possess Analytical skills, including performance tracking and data interpretation.
Knowledge of “Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action” and the ability to build trust into relationships with indigenous community, elders and knowledge keepers required for kâ‑nâsihcikêwin stewardship of community open space.
Knowledge of environmental planning principles and sustainability practices.
Knowledge of municipal governance, development processes, and regulatory frameworks.
Knowledge of asset management and infrastructure planning (asset).
Ability to translate high-level strategies into actionable plans and deliverables.
Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to review technical plans and provide practical recommendations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective, harmonious working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Ability to negotiate competing needs at a subject matter expert level when competing (inter &/or intra)-department priorities collide.
Ability to express ideas effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
Knowledge of equipment, materials and methods used in the management of open space environments.
Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety Act and requirements and ability to implement and monitor safe working practices.
University degree in one of the following disciplines: Environmental Sciences – with a focus on the relationship between urban and natural interactions is preferred. Environmental Planning. Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Geography or other related fields would be considered.
Minimum 3–7 years of progressive experience in environmental planning, sustainability, or parks program implementation.
Experience working within a municipal or public-sector environment is preferred.
Experience with development review, regulatory processes, or construction-related environmental considerations is an asset.
Valid Class 5 Driver’s License

Nice To Haves

Master’s level within Environmental Sciences focus is an asset.
Designation as a P.BIO (preferred) or CSLA would be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the implementation of naturalization processes, urban forestry best practice, and wildlife programming to fulfill the City’s Strategic Principle of Environmental Sustainability. This includes aligning day‑to‑day Parks and Open Space service delivery with Council approved master plans that guide Environment and Sustainability initiatives.
Translate strategic environmental objectives, particularly those related to park naturalization, into tactical, operational work plans with clear deliverables, timelines, and performance indicators that guide branch‑level execution across Parks Maintenance Branch and Parks Technical Services branch programming.
Work with department leadership to facilitate the development of measurable service standards enabling best practice environmental stewardship.
Lead naturalization and biodiversity initiatives that is sustainable in urban environments including but not limited to reintroduction of indigenous plant material related to the Canadian Great Plains Ecosystem.
Conducts program measurement and planning for urban forest management relating to canopy growth, planting diversity, and maintenance standards.
Report and measure wildlife interactions within an urban environment.
Work collaboratively with indigenous partners and environmental stakeholders to align parks and open space programming with the City’s Reconciliation Framework to support kâ‑nâsihcikêwin and Treaty Principles.
Collaborate with internal departments and external partners to ensure coordinated implementation of naturalization, forestry, and wildlife initiatives, supporting consistent standards, shared outcomes through data driven decision making.
Provide input into development application reviews, plans, and construction projects to ensure alignment with masterplans governing parks and open space operations.
Develop and maintain performance measures, indicators, and tracking systems for environmental programs.
Monitor implementation of stewardship progress; and evaluate outcomes against corporate and program objectives.
Prepare reports, briefing notes, and presentations for leadership, council and stakeholders. Translate environmental benchmarking results into clear, user‑friendly information for audiences without technical expertise.
Support engagement initiatives which promote kâ‑nâsihcikêwin influenced stewardship awareness and participation in environmental programs.