Conservation Technician Job – Spring 2026
Organization: Friends of the Rouge Watershed Location: Markham & Scarborough, Ontario
Pay: $19.00/hour Avg 35 hours/week, 5 days (some weekend events)
Contract Length: 8 Weeks (Possible 8-week extension and raise subject to performance and funding)
Equal Opportunity: FRW embraces diversity, inclusivity, and environmental and social justice.
To be Eligible, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; have a valid Social Insurance Number; and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Start Dates (2 Positions each Start Date):
Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Job Description: Technicians will gain practical ecological science knowledge and skills applicable to watershed and ecosystem protection and restoration careers. Technicians will work outside 5 to 5.5 days a week in variable weather.
Job Tasks include:
- Helping FRW plant seedlings and potted trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
- Coordinating school and community volunteers and ensuring planting quality control.
- Watering, weeding, mulching and maintaining planting sites to maximize survival and growth.
- Installing rodent guards, weed blankets and protective fencing around trees.
- Identifying native trees, shrubs, flowers, birds and mammals.
- Monitoring planting success and the use of new habitat by key wildlife species.
- Assisting with public outreach, community events and communications.
- Assisting with virtual and interpretive nature hikes for school and community groups.
- Recording daily activities via photos and approved posts to social media and websites.
- Assisting with other activities related to watershed planning and protection.
To apply, please send a covering letter and resume by Wednesday March 18, 2026, to [email protected]
Please put your application and covering letter in one PDF document with your last name as the document name and provide your earliest available starting date.
Desired Applicant Qualities:
- Love of nature and willingness to work diligently for FRW and mother nature.
- Knowledge of, and proximity to, the Rouge River Watershed (eastern GTA).
- Tree planting and ecological restoration and education experience.
- License and vehicle to travel to planting sites which are difficult to reach by public transit.
- Volunteer, NGO and Educational experience.
- Fitness and endurance for manual and repetitive outdoor work.
- Strong work ethic, punctuality, and ability to meet ambitious planting and maintenance goals.
- Valid First Aid Certificate.
- Ability to obtain vulnerable sector screening police clearance for working with children.
- Reliably work 7-to-9-hour days starting as early as 7:00 am and a few weekend plantings.
- Ability to work comfortably outside in all weather conditions (rain or shine, heat or cold).
- Ability to follow instructions and work safely and independently with minimum supervision.
- Experience with photo and video editing and uploading online educational content.
About Friends of the Rouge Watershed
FRW is a registered Canadian Charity (# 88878 1028 RR 001). We involve thousands of students and community volunteers in practical ecological education, protection and restoration work. FRW helped to generate broad public and political support which led to the creation of Rouge Park, Watershed and Greenbelt Plans, and Rouge National Park. Since 1991, FRW has also:
- Educated and activated 75,000+ school and community volunteers.
- Planted more than 828,000 native trees, shrubs and flowers.
- Restored 3.8 square kilometers of forests, wetlands, meadows and stream buffers.
In 2016, FRW received the J.R. Dymond Award from Ontario Nature for our:
“Tireless and inspirational role in the creation of Rouge National Park”
“Exceptional work on the ground with stewardship and restoration projects.”
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Pay: From $19.00 per hour
Application question(s):
- Are you within a 20 km driving radius from Markham-Unionville?
- Do you have a car or a reliable source of transportation beyond public transportation?
Work Location: On the road
