Frequently Asked Questions

At Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we’re creating a future where people and wildlife thrive together, and we are excited that you would like to join our team! As a conservation organization, we know that our work is urgent; and we respond with boldness and driven by collaboration, because we know that saving species takes all of us. Together, as volunteers and staff, we hold ourselves accountable, support one another, and turn big ideas into real action. While the challenges are complex and evolving, we approach them with hope, care, and even a sense of fun and invite others to join us in achieving our goals. Our culture is relentless and caring in everything we do.

Whether you are looking for volunteer or employment opportunities, we offer a wide variety of opportunities.

Explore our different teams and roles

Everyone who joins us, whether as a staff member or volunteer, receives a staff/volunteer pass and parking privileges. Beyond that, there is a wide variety of perks including onsite and partnership discounts.

If you didn’t apply for a position or request information, the message is not from us. For your security, do not click on any links or share personal information until you verify the source. Communications will always come from an official, branded email address or phone number. If you’re unsure, please contact us directly through the contact information listed on the Contact Us page.

All applicants must be at least 15 years old. If a position requires you to be at least 18 years old, this will be clearly noted in the job posting.

We encourage you to apply online to any opportunities that match your skills and interests as they are posted, as we do not retain resumes on file.

If you are interested in a role at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo but do not see a job posting at this time, you can join our online Talent Community. We use this Talent Community to share details about upcoming recruitment cycles, such as summer hiring and ZOOLIGHTS, presented by Olympia Trust Company, and provide targeted updates for some of our more unique roles!

Yes! Many of our seasonal positions are entry-level opportunities where staff can gain valuable work experience. If you have been a part of a group project at school, played on a sports team, or volunteered before, you may already have some of the skills we are seeking!

Great question! Start by reviewing the current job posting for roles that interest you—they outline key responsibilities, qualifications, and skills. You can also explore Our Teams page to learn more about the different departments and how they contribute to our organization. This will give you insight into the paths available and what’s typically required for each.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, don’t hesitate to apply! Many skills are transferable, and we value diverse experiences that bring fresh perspectives to our teams.

Yes – please feel free to apply! We don’t expect every candidate to meet every single requirement. If the role excites you and you think your experience or perspective could be a good fit, we’d love to hear from you. Great candidates come from many different backgrounds, and you might bring something unique to the team.

After you submit your application, here’s what you can expect from our process:

1. You’ll receive an acknowledgment that your application has been received.
2. After the closing date for the posting, our team carefully reviews each application to assess fit based on the role’s requirements.
3. If selected to move forward, you may be contacted for a phone or virtual screening to learn more about your experience and goals.
4. If successful through the review process, you may meet with one or more team members for interviews. See the “What Can I Expect during the Screening and Interview Phase?” section to learn more.
5. After interviews, we’ll keep you informed about next steps and decisions.

We appreciate your interest and aim to make the process as smooth, time effective, and respectful as possible. We strive to update every candidate about their application once a position is filled.

We encourage applicants to take a moment before they hit submit to review their application for correctness as your resume and application questions will not be editable in the system once you submit. Once your application is submitted, you will be able to add further details about yourself, which will be visible to our team – these are optional to add!

If you are running into issues with submitting your application, we would love to help you! Please reach out to our team by contacting us at hr@calgaryzoo.com and let us know a little about what is happening. We will get back to you as soon as possible to help troubleshoot the situation.

Thanks so much for your interest! Unfortunately, we’re not able to accept applications after a posting has closed. That said, we’re always excited to meet great candidates, and new roles open often – we’d love for you to keep an eye out for future opportunities.

If you would like to stay connected, consider joining the Talent Community! We use it to share details about upcoming recruitment cycles, such as summer hiring and ZOOLIGHTS, presented by Olympia Trust Company and provide targeted updates for some of our more unique roles!

Our interview process may vary depending on the role, but our goal is always the same: to get to know each candidate, learning about their skills and experiences, and finding the best fit for the role and our team. Here is an overview of what you could expect:

Initial screening: You may be invited to a brief phone or virtual screening to discuss your background, interests, and the position.

Interview format: Interviews may take place virtually or in person, depending on the position and location.

Who you’ll meet: For entry-level or seasonal roles, you’ll typically meet with 1–2 hiring managers. For full-time or permanent roles, expect to meet with 2–3 team members or leaders.

What we’ll ask: We use a mix of technical, situational, and behavioral questions—like “How do you approach ___?” or “Tell me about a time when…”

Your questions matter too: Every interview includes time for you to ask questions. We want you to feel informed and confident about your next steps.

Depending on the position, you may be asked to complete an assignment (for example, a brief presentation or case study) to demonstrate your capabilities/skills, or you may be invited to attend additional interviews. We believe in communication throughout the process, so we will let you know what the next steps are so that you can prepare and present your best self!

We want you to feel confident and comfortable when you come in for your interview. While our workplace is business casual, there’s no need to overthink it—clean, neat, and presentable is perfect.  If you’d like ideas, options could include a button-down shirt, a blouse, or a knitted sweater – whatever helps you feel your best.

The hiring process typically takes about 2 to 5 weeks from the time a posting closes. Timelines can vary depending on the role and number of applicants, but we’ll keep you informed along the way, especially if there are any delays. We appreciate your patience and your interest in joining our team!

Yes. We appreciate the time and effort you put into your application, so we make it a priority to follow up with all applicants, even if they are not selected for the role. You can expect to hear from us once the posting has closed and a final decision has been made.

We offer a variety of benefits and perks for our staff including competitive compensation, parking, optional guest pass benefits, and discounts on concessions, retail, and events. We are also very fortunate to partner with a several businesses to offer exclusive discounts to our staff.

Permanent positions also offer vacation and flex days entitlement, flexible health benefits including a health spending account, and employer matched RRSP.

We actively work with candidates to reduce barriers, so every candidate is able to best showcase their skills and experience. If you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at hr@calgaryzoo.com or reply to your recruiter through our ADP system. Some examples of accommodations we have previously provided include virtual interviews, providing questions in writing or ahead of time, and having an employment support worker present at the interview.

We have two volunteer streams:

Adult Volunteers (18+) & Junior Zoo Guides (ages 14-17).

Volunteer Opportunities

Adult volunteers commit to volunteering a minimum of 50 hours per year.  This can be spread across the year, or you can volunteer extra during our large events such as ZOOLIGHTS, presented by Olympia Trust Company.

Youth volunteers (Junior Zoo Guides) have a specific year-long commitment and volunteer 60-hours in the summer, and 20-hours for special events.

Those interested in volunteering, must start by submitting an application during our recruitment periods, recruitment dates are posted on the volunteer webpage.

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has a standard volunteer application and screening process for all applicants to the volunteer program:

1. Fill out an online application. All applicants will receive an email letting them know the outcome of their application.
2. If accepted, the volunteer applicant will be contacted to attend a group interview.
3. If accepted after the group interview, the volunteer applicant will be asked to attend a group orientation & training session.
4. Complete training as required, including a 20-hour probationary period.
5. Commit to the yearly hour requirements. Volunteer shifts are offered daily during Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo opening hours only. Evening opportunities are limited to special event support (i.e., ZOOLIGHTS).

There are some opportunities that require a vulnerable sector check and/or police check. Additionally, there are some opportunities that require a second interview with the relevant department (ex. Animal care roles).

Yes!  Daily volunteer shifts are available throughout the week and weekend, with a variety of shifts available for special events.  Better Impact allows volunteers to pick up posted volunteer shifts that work best for them and their schedule.

Advanced volunteer opportunities are less flexible and typically have a set schedule.

Better Impact is a user-friendly online system designed to make volunteering for shifts and learning about new volunteer opportunities quick and easy. Better Impact allows you to apply to be a volunteer and then is your one-stop shop for information once you are accepted as a volunteer. You can look for opportunities, sign up for shifts, see your schedule, complete training, and much more!

Yes! We require that you provide closed-toe shoes and black pants. We will provide a branded polo shirt for you to wear for your uniform. We also have a shared pool of branded vests that can be worn over a jacket or sweater and parkas that can be worn in winter outdoor roles.

We provide a significant amount of training for our volunteers including:

• New volunteer orientation which includes health and safety training.
• Mandatory online training including: WHMIS, Respect in the Workplace, and more.
• Familiarization – this is where you meet in person with one of the Volunteer Relations staff to learn more specifics about where to go and what to expect when volunteering. This is a great opportunity to ask questions.
• Additional training both online and in person for different volunteer opportunities. Depending on what area you are interested in, you may or may not require this training.
• Volunteers are often invited to webinars, lectures, workshops, and other training opportunities that are made available.
• Shadowing – this is required for certain opportunities and allows you to shadow a shift with a more experienced volunteer before signing up to work independently.

We reserve all group and corporate volunteer opportunities for our partners and sponsors and unfortunately do not have the capacity currently to provide opportunities to companies that are not in an active agreement with us.

Volunteers do not handle animals at any time when volunteering. Animals are only handled on an as-needed basis by Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo staff.

While we do offer a limited number of advanced volunteer roles that support the Animal Care, Health & Welfare team, these positions  have an additional application process once someone becomes a volunteer and require the following criteria to be met before consideration: completion of 20-hour probation in visitor engagement volunteer roles, demonstrate an active and consistent commitment to volunteering while waiting for advanced roles to become available, advanced roles require a separate internal volunteer application and screening process which may include interviews or other assessments.

Volunteers start their journey by applying to our general volunteer program, where volunteering is primarily focused on visitor engagement, special events and conservation education roles.  These opportunities are strongly focused on engaging with the public and interacting with visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Advanced volunteer opportunities such as Animal Care, Health & Welfare, Horticulture and Conservation & Science become available on an as needed basis and are filled from our pool of internal active volunteers who have completed a 20-hour probation in general volunteer roles and demonstrated an active and consistent commitment to volunteering while waiting for advanced opportunities to open.

Yes, we do!

Internships: We offer paid internship opportunities. These roles will be posted on our Careers Page, so we encourage you to check regularly for openings.

Placements & Practicums: Some teams occasionally provide opportunities for short-term placements or practicum experiences, depending on their needs and capacity. If you’re interested or would like to learn more, feel free to reach out to us at hr@calgaryzoo.com.

We value students and emerging professionals and look forward to exploring how the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo may add to your learning journey!

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has a Veterinary Intern position that runs from July to the following July each year. We recommend you keep an eye on our website for the posting to go live in February each year.

As a note, candidates must possess a Doctor of Medicine (or equivalent) degree and be eligible for licensure in Alberta. Preference will be given to candidates that have at least one year of post-graduate clinical experience. Previous zoological or wildlife experience is desirable. Candidates should have strong written and verbal communication skills, be able to work in a team environment, and be open to varied working hours, including late nights, weekends, and holidays.

The successful candidate must also be eligible to work in Canada for the duration of the internship.

Further details about the position and the requirements will be provided when the opportunity is posted to our career page.