Manager, Concessions Operations - CZ

Join our team at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo and help create lasting memories through food, beverages, and smiles! Our Concessions team is seeking a full-time permanent Manager, Concessions Operations who will primarily be responsible for ensuring the operations for all concession related food and beverage items are managed on a year-round basis across all concessions venues!

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

Concessions Operations

• Provides timely information and direction to the food/beverage staff in fashion contributing to the effective support and delivery of all concession activities.
• Directly responsible for providing superior service to all customers both internal as well as external.
• Provide leadership through the implementation and management of our Health and Safety program to safeguard the wellbeing of employees and customers at the Calgary Zoo.
• Review, develop, and implement policies and procedures to maintain productivity within organizational guidelines.
• Supervise the opening and closing of daily operations in the areas over which functional authority and responsibility is exercised by ensuring:
  • Concessions staff are provided with training, professional development, leadership and motivation
  • Clear, concise directions are provided to the staff regarding operational requirements
  • Effective and efficient staffing in all revenue centers, as business dictates.
  • Established cash handling procedures are followed.
  • Establish and ensure proper work habits and safety procedures are followed.
  • Ensuring proper storage and handling of all food related products.
  • Maximum utilization of revenue generating facilities.
  • Communicating promptly with management and staff to meet and maintain expected operating standards.
• Assist with purchasing and delivery of all food/beverage in accordance with the strategies developed, approved budgets, and organizational policies. Including:
  • Performing, where necessary, physical inventories, ensuring are executed, and ensuring that inventory levels are conducive to maximizing sales.
  • Ensuring the inventories are received and stored in a secure manner and that merchandise is protected from theft and pilferage.
  • Ensuring that all locations are well stocked and displayed in ways most conducive to drive sales.
• Ensure all Wilder Institute policies and procedures are followed, including compliance with the health and safety program.
• Build customer loyalty and optimize revenues.
• Support the goals and objectives and protect the image of the Wilder Institute.
• To ensure business plans and long-term goals are achieved by:
  • The protection of all inventories in accordance with security policies and procedures.
  • Preservation of equipment and facilities through proper maintenance and cleaning.
  • Analyzing sales information provided for decisions regarding sales and product changes.
  • Ensuring that products sold are competitively priced.

People Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive training programs, including customer service training, cash handling, and cross training.
• Produce schedules in a timely fashion. And verify payroll and labour reports to ensure budgetary objectives are met.
• Work with Human Resources to ensure that the hiring, disciplining and dismissing of staff are performed in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Lead the Performance Evaluation Program to ensure that all goals and objectives of the Concessions department are aligned with the Organizational Goals and Objectives.

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What you will bring

• Minimum 5 years’ related experience in food/beverage, catering, accommodation or retail services.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience ideally related to food/beverage, accommodation, catering or retail operations.
• College Diploma in related field, including business management and/or Tourism and Hospitality is preferred
• Red Seal Training is preferred
• Demonstrated abilities related to business planning, budgeting, training/staff development, and human resource management.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement while contributing and participating in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to operate and manage with minimum supervision within defined guidelines

Working Conditions

• Able to work in high-volume concessions environment
• Heavy lifting, walking and standing for long periods of time required
• Some periods of time at a desk completing computer based administrative tasks
• Position requires working evenings, weekends and holidays

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. (  

• Submit your resume with an optional cover letter via our online application system.

• Fill in the Application questions:
  • Confirm eligibility to work in Canada
  • If hired, when would you be available to start?
  • If hired, what are your salary expectations?

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: August 25, 2026 at 10:00pm MT.

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.