zookeeper

jardinier

building maintenance

administrative assistant

service à la clientèle

Greater Vancouver Zoo

This is a great place to work if you don't mind watching animals not recieving proper care because it is too much hassle to medicate or symptoms only apparantly warrant monitoring because the vet will only come to see his favorite animals when it's not vet day. It's great when your techs are stuck cutting food diets, sorting the donated produce and making sure laundry gets done instead of being an integral part of everyday health monitoring, which they try very hard to be and often don't have much ample time to do so. 
This is a great place to work if your supervisor is keen on keeping you around, as many emplyees are pushed out even if they are hard workers. Instead of being a team that works together, taking up tasks in such a way that compliments eachothers strengths in order to optimize the quality of care of the animals; the unfavoured are talked about behind their backs, not to their faces where they can properly mediate solutions. Some people do accomplish good team work and keep amicable repoires, but more often than not the people not willing to work overtime for free are frowned upon and told that they don't actually care about their job. The turn over is astounding due to shady inner politics, low wages, low standards and an ungodly emphasis on beautifying outer appearances. The actuality of the matter is that the place needs cleaning up from the inside outward.
This place is wonderful if double standards, passive aggression or being ignored if people don't like you isn't on your list of pet peeves. Many stay for the experience, leave because they're pushed or running from the work environment, and some just never leave because they become too attached. If you think you'd regret your decision in the slighest, you should scroll past the constant job postings for this place.

Without this job I never would've gained the skills required for the projects that I was asked to participate in. However, when it came to gaining skills that I was interested in adding to my belt, I had to take initiative instead of asking for training. This was due to tight deadlines that my manager had to meet. Therefore causing him to keep production from slowing down. Only time it did was during the winter when there was a smaller budget to work with.

Currently, there has been a culture shift in how staff is being treated and how they are expected to behave. Any complaint, concern, or request is deemed negative. Essentially asking us to nod along with what we deem demoralizing and toxic. The company has had issues in stabilizing the foundation of work environment and providing opportunities for their worker due to it being privately run. Which is why I can't fault them for the limitations they have. I left because there was opportunity elsewhere. Not because of my indifference to some aspects of the company. There are a lot of great people there that I have learned a lot from. But because of a recent change in management and warped understanding of chain of command, I had to leave before my spirit would be broken.

I loved the zoo! Working there was the utmost best job I've ever had and really wished they they kept me. The staff, animals, and benefits for the zoo are great. You get a wage that any customer service representative would get so no complaining there. Flexible schedule and my supervisors were angels from heaven. Coworkers were great and loved to gossip, which is the main reason why I stayed there for so long. 
HOWEVER, the manager of the zoo is a terrible person who has a stone instead of a heart. She treats her workers as if it's still 14th century feudal Europe with no respect, politeness, or understanding. She doesnt like anyone talking over her and expects all to bow before her as she walks past you. Doesn't care about her staff and she wants are her pockets filled with endless cash that she gets from making the prices so high. 
I love the zoo, except the manager. If you're someone with no life besides  going to a minimum paying job,  then this is the place for you. If you're like me and cant stand being stood upon, then thank you, next!

The poor salary causes a high turnover rate of employees, leading to diminished care for the animals. The animal keepers are expected to have a relevant degree/experience but the salary is not high enough to pay student loans. The long term employees still make below the living wage in the Fraser Valley.
The owner lives in China whilst his son oversees operations when not driving one of his numerous sports cars.
The GVZoo employs many volunteers throughout the week who take hours and money away from the keepers and (under)-paid staff. Many of these volunteers are not aware by volunteering they are simpily padding the owners pockets of this privately owned for-profit business. 
Many issues while dealing with animals may come up throughout the day, causing time constraints and leading many of the keepers forced to work overtime while being unpaid to do so. One employee tried to fight for their rights and was fired for trying to get paid for overtime hours worked.

I worked at the zoo a couple years ago under old management and recently reapplied because I heard good things about the direction the zoo was moving under the new management. I am impressed to say the least. It has been so refreshing to see some momentum picking up. If you are looking for a place where you can work hard for the betterment of the company and your coworkers, you are applying to the right place. If you are looking for a job where you can get paid to play games on your phone all day, I would not recommend the zoo. All in all, I am very happy with the direction operations is moving under solid, new management.

The animals are what draw people to this job. The toxic work culture is what causes the high staff turn over in the animal department.That and the fact that you are expected to work over time with no pay and without complaining. If an animal you care for needs attention you can forget taking your unpaid lunch break. 

Newer staff are pushed out by more senior staff who take a disliking to them and they choose favorites who they don't try to push out. Animal care standards could be improved when compared to other zoo and animal care facilities.

Management is really impatience when training. Instead of training you they send you home. How are you supposed to learn your job if they send you home. They switch their protocols on positions which is confusing and then tell you, you didn't do your job within 8 days of training only. There were no hard parts about the job. The most enjoyable part is the animals. They don't seem to know or have patience dealing with people with learning disabilities. 

Working at the GVZoo is a fantastic experience for anyone wanting to learn more about conservation. The team there is fantastic and is focused on improving education and guest interactions. Easily the best place I've ever worked.

Dedicated staff that love animals make this place run. However, they are being used because of that love. Keepers make a pathetic salary and are over worked. Maintenance workers are heavily over worked and also underpaid. Higher ranking positions require long hours and high levels of commitment and organization  that is not reflected in the salary offered.

The zoo spends a lot on the zoo experience for their patrons but they don't pay fair wages to their employees. The wages are so low that many of them are no where near living wages. They take advantage of their employees at every turn and have zero loyalty towards them. Employees are disposable.

If you love animals and don't need a lot of money or care how you are treated it's a great place to work.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Zookeeper 1 salary reported	$25.00 per hour
Jardinier 4 salaries reported	$22.00 per hour
Building maintenance 2 salaries reported	$34.00 per hour
Administrative assistant 5 salaries reported	$22.98 per hour
Service à la clientèle 4 salaries reported	$20.13 per hour

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