- Job Title: Communications Strategist (Maternity Leave Coverage)
- Company: Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Job Type: Temporary Full-Time
- Date Posted: May 6, 2025
- Experience Level: 5-10 years
- Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days onsite per week)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing strategic communications plans
- Managing proactive and reactive media relations
- Crafting high-impact, culturally aligned messaging
- Monitoring, measuring, and reporting on communication outcomes
- Collaborating with various internal clients and stakeholders
- Supporting the zoo’s goals and brand reputation
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a professional with strong strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Communications: Develop and implement communications strategies aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities to drive revenue, increase awareness, and strengthen brand reputation.
- Messaging: Craft high-impact, culturally aligned messaging for a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Media Relations: Support media relations including preparing news releases, coordinating interviews, liaising with media onsite, monitoring coverage, and preparing media reports.
- Internal Communications: Provide communications support and advice to internal clients, including a weekly All Staff newsletter, attending internal meetings, and support the promotion of special experiences and events.
- Collaboration: Work closely with the Marketing and Development teams to ensure brand consistency and support donor and member communications.
- Website Management: Support website content management, specifically the notifications banner, “Plan your visit”, news, and bite-sized news.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Foster strong relationships across departments and deliver timely, high-quality service.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong business judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education:
- Diploma in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
Experience:
- Minimum of five years of relevant experience in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field, including work in both internal and external communications
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans
- Proven writing ability in diverse tones, styles, and voices
- Media relations and issues management experience (considered assets)
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and tight timelines
- Strong business judgment, discretion, and professionalism
- Highly collaborative and adept at working with diverse internal clients
- Comfortable using metrics and insights to guide strategies and evaluate impact
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with specific communication tools and platforms used by the organization
- Familiarity with the non-profit sector and wildlife conservation
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong understanding of the non-profit sector and be passionate about wildlife conservation.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000 CAD (based on experience level and industry standards for similar roles in Calgary)
Benefits:
- Competitive compensation and vacation
- Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account
- 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
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible scheduling and occasional evening or weekend support for crises, events, or social media monitoring.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in Calgary. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Non-profit Organizations, specifically Wildlife Conservation
- Company Size: 201-500 employees
- Founded: 2021 (as the Wilder Institute, previously Calgary Zoo)
- Company Description: The Wilder Institute is a global authority on wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve their own natural resources to positively impact both nature and communities.
- Company Specialties: Wildlife conservation, community conservation, conservation research, and wildlife reintroduction & translocation
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-level to senior communications professional
- Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Manager, Communications, and works closely with stakeholders across the organization
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days onsite per week, with flexible scheduling)
- Growth Opportunities: Potential for long-term growth within the organization, as well as opportunities to work on diverse projects and campaigns
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Onsite (with hybrid work arrangement)
- Office Location: 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 7V6, CA
- Geographic Context: Calgary is located in the southern part of Alberta, with a population of approximately 1.3 million people. It offers a mix of urban and outdoor activities, with easy access to the Canadian Rockies.
- Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible scheduling and occasional evening or weekend support for crises, events, or social media monitoring.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Applicants can expect a multi-step interview process, including a phone or video screen, followed by in-person interviews with the hiring manager and other relevant stakeholders.
- Key Assessment Areas: Strategic thinking, communication skills, writing ability, and cultural fit
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to work under pressure
- Research the organization and its mission to demonstrate your enthusiasm and alignment with their values
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Content management systems (CMS) and website platforms (WordPress, Drupal)
- Media monitoring and analytics tools (Mention, Brand24, Hootsuite)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Drive impact, nurture connection, cultivate hope, and be bold.
- Work Style: Collaborative, fast-paced, and mission-driven. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a dynamic environment and can adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with the company's core values, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
- Describe a time when you had to manage multiple priorities under pressure. How did you prioritize your tasks, and what was the outcome?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse stakeholders?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Role-Specific: Balancing multiple priorities and deadlines, especially during crises or high-profile events
- Company-Specific: Working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with frequent changes and new initiatives
- Location-Specific: Occasional evening or weekend support for crises, events, or social media monitoring
- Industry-Specific: Navigating the unique challenges and constraints of working in the non-profit sector and wildlife conservation
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Role Differences: This role focuses more on strategic communications planning and less on day-to-day tactical execution compared to similar roles in other organizations.
- Industry-Specific Context: Wildlife conservation organizations often have unique communication challenges due to their mission-driven nature and reliance on public support.
- Career Path Comparison: This role can serve as a stepping stone to more senior communications roles within the organization or in other non-profit or conservation-focused institutions.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy for a major fundraising campaign
- Managing media relations for a high-profile animal reintroduction or conservation success story
- Crafting impactful content for the monthly donor newsletter, highlighting the organization's conservation efforts and achievements
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most pressing communication challenges facing the organization currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does the organization support the professional development and growth of its communications team members?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does the organization collaborate with other departments and stakeholders to ensure consistent and effective communication across all channels?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Watch this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0) about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.
- Submit your resume with a cover letter via the online application system.
- Fill in the Application questions:
- If hired, when would you be available to start?
- What is your salary expectation for this position?
- While we do offer a hybrid work plan, this role requires onsite presence at least three days per week. Will this be an issue for you?
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
