Facility

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

Closing Date

Description

Grow your career as an animal care professional by joining the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo! We are currently recruiting for a full-time permanent Animal Experiences Strategist in our Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) branch. In this role, you will be responsible for internal animal programming needs through stakeholder engagement, evaluation of all current animal programs and experiences (not limited to animal experiences, tours, and events), documented review of all front and back of house areas with a lens on improving internal customer and visitor experience, drafting recommendations for capital planning in existing and new habitats to improve exceptional experiences for a variety of audiences, researching best practices in animal program delivery and animal wellbeing, as well as the recommendation, documentation, and training for new experiences that are approved by Senior Managers in ACHW.

The successful candidate will participate in and have a presence at zoo events, the Animal Health Centre, and off-site conservation centers to ensure that set-up and execution is in alignment with our long-term objective to achieve and be recognized for the highest standards of animal welfare. They will use effective communication within the team as well as to key contacts in other branches within the organization. They take a leading role in the creation of new experiences and activities, resources to support experiences, and they exemplify excellent leadership in staff and volunteer coaching on programming that meets needs of both clients and the animals that may participate. This individual is team-oriented, working with volunteers and staff (within and outside of the department) to organize and to execute programs safely and professionally, and participates in event planning and monitoring with the intent of observing animal behavior and reaction. During peak season (spring/summer), this individual oversees the training and assignment of staff to program delivery within established parameters.

Reporting to the Manager, Operations & Administration – ACHW, this is a new and evolving position which will focus on program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and experience development over the first year, and may evolve into a supervisory position or a maintenance and delivery model ongoing or seasonally once established.

What you will do:

Structured and informal meetings with internal stakeholders with varying levels of authority/decision making with an intent to understand their needs for programs and experiences
Develop and recommend new experiences, test, evaluate, and train for experiences as approved by Senior Managers in ACHW
Evaluate current practices to determine how to make changes, improvements, or new programs to meet the needs of different departments and their audiences
Liaise with other AZA accredited institutions to gather information on programming successes, challenges
Demonstrate and encourage enthusiasm, flexibility and collaborative approaches in an environment with lots of change
Work constructively and collaborate with other departments to ensure programming options align with end user needs and the mission and vision of the organization, informing or escalating to ACHW leadership regularly
Understand the on-grounds amenities, operations, and services to better support the ACHW team in customer interactions
Develop, contribute to, create new experiences with and around animals to better meet the needs of clients while maintaining or improving animal welfare, and engaging/inspiring the target audiences
Train, guide, and direct animal experience and Animal Care staff in exceptional program delivery
Administrative coordination of the program and all components from evaluations and calendar development to booking management (documenting, planning, scheduling meetings and training, communication, reporting, training)
Coordinate daily and weekly plans and schedules for the team considering seasonal events, etc.
Participate in animal husbandry (i.e. animal handling, training, or care) under the direction and leadership of an Animal Care management

Education and Pre-requisites

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. 
A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology (or equivalent) or compensating experience
Valid Driver’s License
At least five (5) years experience working a zoo setting, handling animals, and having a solid understanding of animal welfare
Strong customer and program delivery focus
Demonstrated interest in visitor engagement and/or program delivery to connect, engage, and inspire audiences
Strong communication skills and presentation skills
Keen observation skills

Compensation and benefits

Competitive compensation, vacation, and flex days entitlement
Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account
Employer matching RRSP program
Discounts on food, beverages, and merchandise
Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit Program
A fun, rewarding work environment and the opportunity to work in a park full of animals from around the world

Application instructions

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;  

Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0)
Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system: https://jobs.jobvite.com/calgaryzoo/job/ob0Vlfwb
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 no later than January 8, 2023 @ 4:00pm MST.