Natural Areas Specialist

Req ID: 28215
Vacancy Type: Permanent 
Number of Positions: 1  
Closing Date: 05/29/2026

Job Summary

As a Natural Areas Specialist, you’ll be at the heart of Mississauga’s mission to protect and enhance its natural heritage system. This role offers the opportunity to lead the city's Invasive Species Management program and restore natural areas into thriving ecosystems for the future.

You’ll oversee the full lifecycle of environmental initiatives, from strategic planning to hands-on implementation, maintenance and monitoring. Whether managing contracts, coordinating teams, or ensuring ecological standards and safety, you’ll bring technical expertise and leadership to every step. Collaboration is key: you’ll forge strong partnerships across city departments and with external stakeholders to drive sustainable outcomes.

This is more than a job—it’s a chance to shape the future of Mississauga’s urban environment. If you’re passionate about biodiversity, resilient landscapes, and making a tangible impact, this role puts you where it matters most.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and deliver all phases of Invasive species management projects related to Mississauga’s natural areas.

• Oversee contractors and consultants, ensuring work meets specifications, budgets, and timelines.

• Develop project work plans, designs, and technical documents to support implementation.

• Administer and monitor contracts, including procurement, budgeting, invoicing, and performance evaluation.

• Provide functional guidance, training, and leadership support to team members.

• Write and administer grants for natural areas projects.
• Integrate and maintain natural area data related to invasive species management and restoration needs within City platforms such as ArcGIS and Infor/IFI to support operational efficiency. 

• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, corporate policies, and environmental standards.

• Prepare project reports, correspondence, presentations, and updates for leadership and stakeholders.

• Respond to public and Council inquiries, fostering positive relationships. 

• Represent the City at meetings, working groups, and community events to advance natural areas initiatives.

Skills and Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in ecology, biology, environmental sicence, or related discipline.
• Must be eligible to become a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) or a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) or Professional Biologist (P.Biol.)
• Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certification in Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario, and the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System would be an asset
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in natural areas management or ecosystem restoration
• Experience in ecosystem restoration, naturalization, invasive species management, habitat restoration, and stewardship in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• Demonstrated experience overseeing projects and contractors, including developing procurement documents, budget control, meeting deadlines and deliverables, contractor quality control, working with/on project teams and working groups
• Experience in writing and administering grants for natural areas projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with residents, stakeholders and elected officials effectively
• Sound knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, and policies (i.e. Occupational Health and Safety Act, Municipal Act, Planning Act, Provincial Policy Statement, Conservation Authorities Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, etc.)
• Must be able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends
• Must hold a valid Ontario Class G Driver’s License or higher with an acceptable driving record
• Must be willing to obtain a recent driver's abstract at your own expense
• Primarily office environment. Occasional field work in varying environments, terrain and weather conditions

Hourly Rate/Salary: $ 80,567.00 - $ 107,426.00
Grade: E
Hours of Work: 40
Work Location: 3240 Mavis Rd. Mississauga ON, L5V 0C4 

Work Structure: On-site
Organization Unit: CMS/Natural Areas Management
Department/Division/Section: CMS/Community Services Dept , CMS/Parks, Forestry & Environment , Forestry
Non-Union/Union: Non Union

The City of Mississauga may use artificial intelligence (AI) technology in sourcing candidates for some positions, however, it is not being used for screening, assessing, or selecting candidates.

Applicants applying to this posting may be considered for the same position(s) should another vacancy occur within six months from the date of this posting, unless the requirement to repost is expressed differently in a Collective Agreement.

If you are selected for an interview and your proposed transfer or promotion results in a real or perceived conflict of interest in relation to the Employment of Relatives Corporate Policy and Procedure, you must notify the Human Resources Representative as soon as possible.

If you are selected for an interview you are expected to disclose all current positions held in the City, whether full time or part time.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The City of Mississauga is committed to creating a respectful and supportive workplace that fosters a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion which broadly reflects the communities and residents we serve. Throughout the employee life cycle, the City is working to include an EDI lens to attract, retain and support the growth of diverse talent.

Learn more about the City’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Accommodations
The City of Mississauga is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to removing barriers in our selection process for people with visible and invisible disabilities. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code, the City of Mississauga will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please complete the following Accommodation Request Form and have it emailed to recruitment.accommodation@mississauga.ca citing the Job ID and Job Title. This will inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.