TREE PLANTING

Hiring: Seasonal Forestry Worker
Company: Bartram Woodlands Ltd.
Location: Guelph, Waterloo Region, Ontario

Full-Time Fixed-Term Position – 9-10 week Contract

Start Date: April 26, 2023
Completion Date: June 30, 2023
Note: Contract will end when seasonal forestry work is complete. Option to extend the contract in July if additional work is available.

***Applications will not be considered without a Cover Letter and Resume***

Job Description – Seasonal Forestry Worker/Assistant Crew Supervisor

Outdoor manual labour in all-weather conditions on rural and urban forested properties in Southern Ontario. Position will involve planting tree seedlings by hand and machine, as well as backpack herbicide application for tending of seedlings and invasive species control. May also include some invasive brush chipping, watering trees and manual weed control. All work requires excellent fitness and mental stamina and will give workers valuable practical experience in typical southern Ontario forestry operations. This is an excellent opportunity Forestry Technician students/recent graduates who are seeking experience in multiple areas of forestry. Suitable candidates will also receive training to assist with the supervision of machine planting work crews.

NOTE: This position requires maturity, physical stamina and leadership skills as well mechanical aptitude and/or previous experience with machinery operation and driving ability.

To succeed you will need to work to the full extent of your capacity for the duration of our planting season. We will provide thorough training to assist you in maximizing your potential earnings as quickly as possible. Many tasks will be paid by piecework with opportunity for additional reward for hard work.

Work is based from Guelph, and all staff must have their own accommodation in the Guelph area for the duration of the contract period. Frequent out-of-town projects will also require accommodation in hotels on most weeknights and occasionally on weekends. All hotel accommodation and transport are supplied at no cost to employees, but you must supply and prepare your own food each day. Board and accommodation in the Guelph area is not provided.

Job Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors while completing repetitive tasks, crouching/bending down, and standing and walking all day in various off-trail terrain while carrying heavy planting bags/backpack herbicide tank
• G-class driver’s license with no more than 2 demerit points in the past two years.
• Successful candidates must sign an Employment Contract to work a 9-10 week period from April 26, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
• Able to travel and stay in hotels out-of-town for 4-5 nights per week during employment contract.
• Applicants must also have accommodation in the Guelph area for weekends, training days, and occasional local work.

Any of the following skills/ training will be considered strong assets:

• Forestry Technician diploma
• Leadership skills and supervisory potential
• Farm tractor and machinery operation or similar
• Mechanical aptitude: repairs, trouble shooting, and maintenance
• Experience driving work vehicles
• Demanding outdoor labour experience
• High-performance fitness training or organized sports training
• 1st Aid Certification
• Forestry Pesticide Applicator License (Technician or Exterminator

Timing and Payment Details

Daily Hours: 6:30AM to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday with occasional work on weekends.

3-Day Training Period: All new staff must complete this training and orientation to Southern Ontario hand and machine planting techniques, and herbicide application. All work during training period will be paid hourly at $17.50/hr for new/inexperienced planters, and $20.00/hr for experienced treeplanters with at least 1 previous season of experience.

SAMPLE Piecework and Hourly Rates:

• Machine Planting: Paid per 1000 trees planted as a team. Personal rate paid based on experience and qualifications. Average daily pay range: $200-$300+/day
• Backpack Herbicide Application:
• Piecework: Spot spray work is paid on a piecework basis, averaging $0.10-$0.15 paid per tree. Average daily pay range: $200-$300+/day
  • Hourly Work: Invasive species control is paid on an hourly basis starting at $22.50/hour for unlicensed trainees.
• Hand Planting:
  • Bare Root Seedlings: $0.30-$0.40 per tree
  • Potted Nursery Stock:
    • 1-gal pots $1.00-$1.50 per tree
    • 2-gal pots $2.00-$2.50 per tree
  • Mulching (large bin): $1.00-$1.50 per bin
  • Average daily piecework pay range: $200-300/day.
  • Hourly Work: Occasional hourly field work is paid at $20 per hour (new planters) or $22.50 per hour (experienced planters) once workers are trained and can maintain piecework production.

*Higher piecework rates may be paid on selected projects based on difficulty of work.

Travel Time and Down Time: Expect 1-4 hour per day for all travel. Travel is often included in the piecework rates shown above. Special circumstances may require hourly pay for travel, which will be paid at a rate of $16.00/hour. This may occur when equipment must be relocated longer distances or during any prolonged equipment breakdown. “Down Time” will be paid at a rate of $16.00/hour.

Bonuses: Workers will be eligible for the following:

1. Contract Completion Bonus (5%): Receive an additional 5% bonus paid for the successful completion of the entire contract period.

Statutory Holiday pay and Overtime: Employees will be paid for all Statutory holidays and regular “time-and-a-half” overtime after 44 hours per week.

Average Daily Pay (all payments and bonuses): $200.00-$300.00 per day

COVID-19

Current provincial and federal regulations are followed as directed by public health units. Handwash stations and hand sanitizer are available in all vehicles and the work yard. Employees are welcome to wear masks in shared vehicles, but it is not required at this time (subject to change).

How to Apply:

Contact Kyla Boltz ( kyla.boltz@bartramwoodlands.ca )to request an Information Sheet that will provide a detailed description of the job experience and further instruction on where to upload your resume and cover letter to receive consideration for an online video interview.

Interviews

Date 1: February 16, 2023

Date 2: March 23, 2023

We will contact you if selected for an interview. Thank you for applying!

***Applications will not be considered without a Cover Letter and Resume***

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