Irrigation Technician

City of Salmon Arm

Irrigation Technician

Full Time Permanent

Welcome to Salmon Arm , a vibrant city where a combination of beauty and forward thinking attracts adventurers, entrepreneurs and families of all ages. A place that’s open to innovative ways to do more, live more and make more of a difference.
We're looking for a skilled, safety-minded, and service-focused Irrigation Technician to join our Parks team in a full-time permanent capacity. This hands-on role designs, installs, maintains, operates, starts up, and winterizes the City's manual and automated underground irrigation systems, while helping keep parks, sports fields, boulevards, water parks, and landscaped areas healthy, efficient, and ready for public use.

Why Work For Us?
This position plays an important role in supporting the care and operation of City parks and public spaces. Working within the Parks team, you will use your irrigation knowledge, technical judgment, equipment-operating skills, and respectful communication style to maintain reliable irrigation systems, support water-efficient operations, and minimize interruptions to public use of City facilities.

If you have recent experience with automated underground irrigation systems, enjoy practical problem solving, and take pride in maintaining high-quality outdoor spaces for the community, we'd love to hear from you. The position's core duties include, but are not limited to:

Responsibilities

• Design, install, maintain, operate, start up, and winterize manual and automated irrigation systems.
• Program computerized irrigation systems, weather stations, and water park controls.
• Maintain and repair irrigation heads, lines, time clocks, valves, and related parts.
• Assess turf, trees, shrubs, flowers, soil, and moisture needs to support healthy growing conditions.
• Plan materials, equipment, contractor support, and Public Works support for irrigation projects.
• Provide on-site directions to contractors, labourers, and Parks crew members.
• Support project estimates, site preparation, clean-up, restoration, and repairs.
• Follow City sprinkling regulations and support efficient irrigation scheduling.
• Operate Parks equipment and assist with snow, ice, and other seasonal work as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Grade 12 graduation or equivalent.
• Formal training in irrigation system design and repair, or equivalent.
• At least three years of recent experience with automated underground irrigation systems.
• Experience with irrigation system design, installation, operation, maintenance, start-up, and winterization.
• Ability to obtain Certified Irrigation Technician Level II within one year.
• Valid BC Class 3 Driver's License with Air Endorsement, or ability to obtain it within 90 days.
• Strong knowledge of underground irrigation systems, including Rain Bird and Toro products.
• Knowledge of turf, parks, soil, flowers, shrubs, trees, and moisture needs.
• Ability to use sound judgment on complex irrigation maintenance tasks.
• Ability to operate light and heavy equipment and meet the physical demands of the work.
• Respectful communication skills.
• Working knowledge of computers and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Irrigation maintenance course approved by the Irrigation Industry Association of B.C.
• Irrigation Technician I Certification through the Irrigation Industry Association of B.C.
• Low voltage certification, backflow prevention, WHMIS, and Level 1 First Aid.
• Experience with computerized irrigation controls; Toro Sentinel experience is an asset.
• Ability to read and maintain records, maps, blueprints, and maintenance manuals.

For more information, we encourage you to check out our full Job Description on the Careers page of our website

The rate for this union position is $37.46 per hour and in accordance with the CUPE Local 1908 Collective Agreement. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to join the union and pay union dues via payroll deduction.

The City also offers a supportive workplace and a strong total rewards package, including:

• Employer-paid extended health and dental coverage
• Municipal Pension Plan
• Overtime banking
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Paid sick leave
• Opportunities to build irrigation and technical skills
• Team-based Parks and Public Works environment
• Work that supports community recreation and public spaces

We look forward to you submitting your resume and cover letter should your experience and qualifications align with the job description. Please submit your resume and cover letter to our Human Resources department at View email address on civicjobs.ca This position will only remain open until filled.

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Description