Join our team at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo and grow your experience at one of the most unique sites in Calgary! The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo is seeking a full time Development Officer, Partnerships who will be responsible for cultivating, securing, and stewarding corporate partnerships that generate significant annual revenue in support of the Wilder Institute’s purpose and vision.
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.
Location: Calgary Zoo
What you will do:
Coordinate the Delivery of Fulfillment Obligations:
- Coordinate with Wilder Institute’s business units to deliver on all contractually obligated partner/sponsor benefits ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness. This includes but is not limited to: coordinating the design and installation of sponsor signage; coordinating the creation and posting of required social media and web content; coordinating the release of press statements; planning and coordinating engagement activities such as corporate volunteer opportunities, curated animal experiences, and conservation field observations;
- Responsible for coordinating the removal of partnership recognition at the conclusion of partner/sponsor agreement terms;
- Collaborate with Regional Development team members to support the delivery of all contractually obligated partner/sponsor benefits in markets across Canada, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness;
- Support the writing and preparation of impact reports, media releases, event invitations, and other special communications in coordination with relevant team members as required;
- Maintain internal coordination documents including cross-departmental Planners and an inventory of named assets
Maintain Strong Relationships with Corporate Partners:
- Safeguard the confidentiality of partner/sponsor information and adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines;
- Act as a key contact for partners/sponsors (in addition to the Key Relationship Manager) regarding contractual deliverables. Able to proactively resolve discrepancies in partner deliverables, with support from Key Relationship Managers and/or the Manager, Partnerships;
- Hosting partners at coordinated engagement activities and stewardship events, acting both as a lead host and as a secondary support to the partner’s Key Relationship Manager (KRM) depending on circumstance;
- Plan and execute partner/sponsor recognition and stewardship events. May also be required to support the coordination and delivery of Development team engagement opportunities/events;
- Prepare, write, and deliver a quarterly partner/sponsor newsletter
Recording Partnership Fundraising and Fulfillment Activities:
- Enter and maintain detailed records of all partner/sponsor contact, relevant history, notes, photos, and delivery of fulfillment obligations in Tessitura and company constituent records;
- Track and report on data relevant to the Partnership Business Unit's performance and delivery of partner/sponsor benefits;
- Coordinate with volunteers to manage bulk Tessitura entries. This includes effectively communicating the required updates to the volunteer, providing support for the data entry as required, and performing regular spot checks to ensure data is being entered correctly.
Provide Administrative Support to the Partnerships Business Unit:
- Support the tracking and collection of all partner/sponsor pledges and funding commitments;
- Create an agenda, take minutes, and provide support to the Sponsorship Working Group and other internal meetings;
- Maintain an up-to-date master sponsorship contact list;
- Manage the partnerships email inbox, ensuring effective and timely replies
Support the Continuous Improvement of the Corporate Partner Experience:
- Work closely with the Manager, Partnerships to advise on budgetary needs to effectively deliver partner/sponsor contractual benefits and stewardship opportunities;
- Identify and, in collaboration with the Manager, Partnerships, lead opportunities for strategic growth within the partnership recognition program, such as developing new corporate engagement opportunities that align with existing standards.
What you will bring:
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to actively listen and build meaningful relationships with a diverse range of people;
- Proficiency in conceptualizing and delivering high-value opportunities for external audiences. Preference given to candidates with experience delivering these opportunities to a corporate-focused audience;
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint;
- Ability to take initiative and work independently in service of established team goals;
- Excellent time and project management skills with a proven ability to meet competing deadlines in an organized manner. Includes the ability to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility to rapidly changing scenarios;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and operate in accordance with the Donor Bill of Rights.
Working Conditions:
- Ability to work some evenings and weekends required. This may include attending networking events, supporting Wilder Institute event delivery, or other similar fundraising-related activities.
- This role sits at a desk or other meeting space for approximately 90% of the time, with the opportunity to integrate more movement as appropriate for certain meetings. The remaining time involves moving across various terrain to support the set up and execution of events and partner hosting opportunities.
- May be asked to work outdoors in various weather conditions in support of Development events and other partner hosting needs.
- Occasional requirement to move objects up to 20kgs.
- This is a hybrid role with the ability to work from home. Role is expected to be flexible with work from home schedule to accommodate partner meetings, hosting requirements, and other meetings and events that cannot be pivoted to a virtual format.
- Ability to commute to participate in in-person meetings and events at locations other than the Wilder Institute headquarters.
- Office environment is open concept with personal cubicles for each team member; there is some natural noise from working in the shared environment.
- Position will occasionally need to interact with animals in close proximity and may be required to wear a mask and gloves, use a foot bath, or use other PPE as required to safely engage in this activity.
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:
- Competitive compensation, vacation and flex days entitlement
- Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account
- Employer matching RRSP program
- Discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise
- Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit plan
- 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:
Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0) Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system. Fill in the Application questions:Describe how you manage a portfolio of donors, prospects, clients, or strategic relationships with performance targets. How do you prioritize opportunities, track progress, and measure success? (Approximately 200-350 words)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: October 2, 2026
The Wilder Institute 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 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.
