Join the team at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo and be part of our response to Canada’s call to conservation action! The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is seeking permanent full-time Grant Manager, Wilder Canada Action Plan who will help the Wilder Institute with a visionary 10-year biodiversity action plan to initiate targeted conservation translocations for imperiled animals and plants. The Wilder Canada Action Plan (WCAP) will deliver species-specific solutions guided by the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Global Species Action Plan to achieve measurable species recovery and help us lead the world in meeting biodiversity recovery targets.

The Wilder Canada Action Plan (WCAP) provides a coordinated, inclusive, and science-driven approach to taking targeted conservation translocation actions for the restoration of Canada’s imperiled species. WCAP aims to transform both the pace and scale of species recovery in Canada, while making significant contributions to global biodiversity goals and targets.

A key component of WCAP is a new competitive grant process aimed at enabling diverse actors, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, smaller conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs), grassroots groups and others to implement effective, evidence-based conservation reintroduction and translocation programs by providing financial support, conservation mentorship, training, and other capacity-strengthening/sharing initiatives (e.g. training and technical support in species monitoring, data management or GIS, conservation planning tools, animal care and horticulture expertise).

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Wilder Canada Action Plan and working collaboratively across Departments and with external contributors, this new position is responsible for administering the WCAP grant program and supporting applicants and grantees to drive forward program objectives. The Manager will their grantmaking experience so support in the context of strategic philanthropy and leverage knowledge and experience in conservation action.

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: Grant Program Development & Administration

• Contribute to the creation and refinement of internal policies, procedures, and guidelines for grant administration and delivery.
• Support the development and maintenance of digital systems for grant tracking, documentation, and administrative workflows to ensure long-term efficiency and accuracy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and ensure alignment with WCAP goals.
• Recruit and coordinate a group of volunteer Expert Advisory Committee members.
• Integrate best practices in conservation grantmaking, drawing on lessons from the philanthropic field and direct experience to continuously improve program delivery.

Community Engagement & Capacity Strengthening

• Proactively identify and engage Indigenous Nations, local communities, and grassroots organizations to promote grant opportunities and support equitable access.
• Coordinate outreach efforts, monitor key engagement indicators, and assess capacity needs to inform training and mentorship strategies.
• Recruit and manage training staff; provide support and advice on co-development of training workshops and other capacity-strengthening/sharing initiatives in collaboration with target groups, internal and external experts.
• Foster collaborative relationships across the organization to support knowledge- and capacity-sharing.

Grant Management & Communications

• Lead the full lifecycle of grantmaking, including screening applicants, supporting proposal development, preparing funding documents, and managing the grant portfolio.
• Ensure proposals meet Fund requirements before submission to the Expert Advisory Committee; coordinate constructive feedback and technical assistance to applicants
• Monitor grantee progress through regular communication, site visits, and assistance with and review of financial and progress reports; ensure timely payments and completed reporting expectations.
• Support WCAP communications and fundraising efforts by gathering stories of impact, meaningful content, and indicators of progress for funder reports and outreach.

Relationship Stewardship

• Build and maintain authentic, productive relationships with grant seekers, grantees, mentors, and advisory committee members to foster trust and collaboration.
• Support the development of a mentorship program, recruit mentors, and align needs with departmental work plans.
• Facilitate connections between grantees and internal/external networks to enhance learning, capacity, and impact.

What you will bring :

• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to Conservation Biology and/or Public Administration, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, International Development or similar is required
• An advanced degree, such as a Master’s degree is an asset
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience would be considered
• At least 5 years direct grantmaking and/or foundation management experience
• Experience managing staff is preferred
• Knowledge of conservation, conservation planning processes and inclusive conservation an asset
• Experience involved in capacity strengthening programs an asset
• Project Management skills and ability to work independently as well as collaboratively to achieve results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfort with and the ability to work effectively and communicate with communities, including appreciating historical contexts, discerning nuances of relationships and power dynamics, particularly with Indigenous Nations, an asset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with internal and external contributors
• Willingness to travel regularly across the country as needed to build/maintain relationships and manage the grant program

Working Conditions:

• Although primarily Monday to Friday, occasional evening and weekend work may be required
• Travel regularly across the country as needed to promote the grant program and maintain relationships with grant seekers and grantees.
• Field visits to project sites which may involve hazards such as dangerous animals, insects, heat exhaustion, sunburn or frostbite, working with field equipment such as trucks or ATVs, heavy lifting of field equipment, exposure to wildlife diseases and/or wildfire smoke, and working in rural areas and/or remote communities
• Driving on highways, dirt roads, or occasional air travel.

The Wilder Institute/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/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 support drive conservation impact!

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.

• Fill in the Application questions:

• If hired, when would you be available to start?

• If hired, what are your salary expectations for this position?

• Please describe your experience with managing grant programs along with building and maintaining associated relationships.

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 October 9, 2025 at 4PM MST. The Wilder Institute/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.

All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that only those selected for interviews will be contacted.