Student Maintenance Worker

About Us!
The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we focus on equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core values emphasize caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

Dish with One Spoon Wampum:
Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

• Recognizing our shared humanity and land
• Taking only what we need
• Leaving some for others
• Keeping the dish clean

This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core values, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Maintains grounds and gardens surrounding Sunnyside Home, including grounds/landscape maintenance, operation of grounds equipment, tending to resident flower boxes, and assisting in display set up and other duties in the home to aid in resident enjoyment.
• Digs up and turns over garden plots. Tends and waters plants and flowers.
• Prepares beds, adding soil nutrients, lightens soil, trims vegetation, and transplants perennials. Seeds and waters the lawns.
• Uses riding or hand mower, trimmer, and hand tools to mow, weed, trim and rake lawns.
• Rakes and disposes of leaves, trims and prunes hedges and shrubs.
• Assists other maintenance staff with minor building maintenance such as changing light bulbs, painting, plumbing maintenance, and in setting up tents and sun shelters for special events.
• Uses patience and empathy when interacting with residents with physical and mental impairments. Responds to general inquiries or redirects residents to appropriate staff.
• Works outside approximately 70% of the time. Range of movement, including bending and stooping are required when performing work. Walks and sits for prolonged periods when using the riding mower.
• Frequently lifts bags of salt, moves outdoor furniture, carries trimmer, and lifts and carries other equipment weighing between 20 and 50 pounds; and up to 80 pounds with assistance as required.
• Takes precautions to mitigate risks associated with working with/around noise and vibration from the lawn mower, weather, dust/dirt, and odors. Some residents have responsive behaviors.
• Receives direction and guidance from the supervisor and other on-site staff.
• Performs related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of landscaping, gardening, and horticulture and experience working in the field.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and related legislation.
• Communication and human relations skills to interact appropriately with the geriatric population and have a basic understanding of their needs; and to participate as an effective team member.
• Skill in the operation of lawn mowers, tractors, powered hedge trimmers, other landscaping equipment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to read written directions from manuals, policies and procedures, and material safety data sheets.
• A tuberculosis (TB) test is required.
• Must provide an acceptable Police Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3).
• Must have a valid G driver's license (or G2 with 3 years of driving experience) and acceptable driving record to operate corporate vehicles.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Additional Information

To be considered for employment as a student, a person must be: registered as a full-time secondary or post-secondary student in an accredited institution, or currently recognized as having full-time status by the academic institution but applying for a school vacation, practicum or work term, or returning to full-time studies in the next academic term. Students who are in their final year of academic study and who are not intending to return to full-time studies are eligible for student employment up until the time they convocate. Students participating in education and retraining programs at the post-secondary level, though not full-time students, are eligible for related student employment opportunities, where appropriate.

The Region of Waterloo is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. The Region of Waterloo invites applications from all qualified individuals. We are strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourage applications from Black, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

The Region of Waterloo is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. Alternate formats of this document are available upon request. Please contact the Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400, TTY number (519-575-4608) to request an alternate format.

Please note: candidates will be provided an update on their application. Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).