Lend your leadership skills and passion for education to build community connections and inspire curiosity for wildlife conservation! The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo is seeking a full time, permanent Manager, Experience and Outreach Education who will works on zoo grounds and in the community, to build ecological literacy and engage individuals and their communities in wildlife conservation.
This role will oversee a team of coordinators responsible for the creation, delivery and evaluation of multiple streams of programming: youth programs including summer camps, corporate education experiences including team building, and multiple outreach and engagement events such as Alberta Biodiversity Festival, Conservation Champions Club and Conservation Champions Festival. This role leverages skills and expertise in nonformal education, leadership, project management, partnership development, and science communication. Some travel to events, festivals, and partner meetings is required.
Our Purpose | We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.
Our Core Values | Drive impact, nurture connection, cultivate hope, and be bold.
What you will do:
Operational Leadership
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Support education coordinators in program planning; including guidance and advice on program design, indicators of success, milestone setting, effective monitoring and evaluation, and frontline staff supervision.
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Work closely with the Development team to ensure appropriate support in donor relations and a clear view of the programs and plans for fundraising proposals, and providing content and reporting for grants and agreements as required.
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Collaborate with Conservation Education leadership to achieve departmental priorities.
Staff Management
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Oversee a team of permanent education staff and indirectly support their respective seasonal teams. This includes long-term workforce planning in alignment with organizational goals, hiring, setting pay, directing, mentoring, workflow management, professional development, and evaluation of direct reports within their team.
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May work with/supervise volunteers.
Program Management
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Supports the creation of an annual slate of outcomes-based, nonformal programs for Conservation Education, including key performance indicators
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Supports the creation and maintenance of logic models, monitoring and evaluation plans for each program area
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Integrate and evaluate innovative social mobilization strategies
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Oversee team communication pieces including advertising, website content and client communication, often in direct collaboration with communication and marketing.
Internal and External Partnerships
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Represent the WI/CZ on external committees as strategically appropriate and approved
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Cultivate and steward community partnerships for nonformal and outreach program portfolios, building dynamic networks of like-minded organizations.
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Work with Animal Care Health and Welfare to create/maintain animal experience opportunities to enhance program offerings/impact.
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Actively contributes to social mobilization campaigns and efficacy evaluation.
Administrative
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In conjunction with a department senior manager, monitor and track budget across related portfolios.
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Compile information and statistics for internal and external reporting.
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Support logistics for related programming elements.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
What you will bring:
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A bachelor’s degree is required, with a preference for degrees in Project Management, Business Administration, or Education.
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Five to seven years experience overseeing strategic plans in an educational setting is required
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Experience working with diverse community partners is required
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Exceptional budget, program pricing and financial planning acumen is required
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A valid standard first aid is required
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A valid driver’s license is required.
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Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
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Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft suite
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Effectively build rapport and maintain strong relationships with diverse range of collaborators
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Innovative thinker who can articulate shared vision that inspires and motivates others
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Ability to pivot and model flexibility in fast-moving environment
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Strong background in performance coaching and management is preferred
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Innovative and resourceful with exceptional written and verbal communication skills is preferred
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Team oriented with a willingness to work with staff and volunteers from across the organization is preferred
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Knowledge of conservation, natural history and/or zoology is preferred
Additional Requirements:
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Successful candidates must provide a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search prior to their first day of work.
Working Conditions:
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Seasonal fluctuations on amount spent working indoors/outdoors. Average 50% of the time moving across zoo grounds, 50% sitting at workstation.
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Moving program supplies up to 30lbs including lifting up to 30lbs from the ground to waist height.
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Onsite workstation is in an open office environment shared by multiple departments.
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Ability to work hybrid schedule seasonally. Occasional evening and weekend work, including travel requirements by vehicle or air.
The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo is an outdoor facility and all staff working at the zoo must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo follows the advice of Environment Canada when responding to temperature and air quality issues.
What the Zoo Offers:
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Competitive compensation, vacation and flex days entitlement
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Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account
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Employer matching RRSP program
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Discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise
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Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit plan
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A fun, rewarding work environment and the opportunity to work in a park full of wild animals
Are you ready to join one of Canada’s leaders in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you.
Apply by doing the following:
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Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0)
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Submit your resume with an optional cover letter via our online application system.
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Fill in the Application questions:
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Confirm eligibility to work in Canada
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If hired, when are you available to start?
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Do you have first aid certification?
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Do you have a valid driver’s license?
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If hired, what are your salary expectations?
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
If this position is a fit for you, we encourage you to apply with a resume and cover letter online by our application deadline: July 14, 2026.
The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. As a conservation organization, we respect and value the diversity of all life and come together as individuals and teammates to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work to advance our culture to ensure diverse viewpoints are heard, and everyone has an equitable chance to succeed and thrive.
This position is an existing vacancy within our organization. The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo uses basic knockout questions in application to support screening; applications are otherwise assessed and selected by real humans.
All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that they will be contacted once applications have been reviewed, and a final decision has been made.
