Principal Advisor, Indigenous Engagement & Conservation - WI
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- Canada
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- Hybrid
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At Wilder Institute, we are on a journey to ensure we are practicing conservation inclusively and we are looking for an experienced professional to help us strengthen our conservation relationships with Indigenous peoples and organizations. The Wilder Institute’s Conservation & Science team is seeking a permanent full time Principal Advisor, Indigenous Engagement & Conservation who will play a central role in shaping, coordinating, and supporting the Wilder Institute’s Indigenous Engagement strategy and reconciliation efforts with First Nations, Inuit and Métis rights holders.
This position will lead the organization’s efforts to build respectful, collaborative, and lasting relationships with Indigenous communities, in collaboration with other Wilder Institute staff. This role integrates conservation priorities with Indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring that our conservation work aligns with Reconciliation and community values.
The Principle Advisor, Indigenous Engagement & Conservation will be responsible for providing strategic advice and operational guidance on Wilder Institute’s efforts to advance Indigenous engagement, including the development and execution of strategies to ensure policies, programs, and standards reflect our commitments to Reconciliation and inclusive conservation. Working in close collaboration with the rest of the Conservation & Science Team and external and internal networks, this position will provide advice and guidance on Wilder Institute’s conservation activities to improve intercultural competency among employees and strengthen conservation relationships with Indigenous peoples and organizations.
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: Onsite at Wilder Institute’s headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, with opportunity to work from home up to two days per week.
What you will do:
Relationship Building:
- Develop and maintain trusted partnerships with Indigenous governments, communities, and organizations, alongside other Wilder Institute staff.
- Strong intercultural competency and experience navigating nation-to-nation and rights-holder relationships across First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
- Identify key external stakeholders for Wilder Institute to engage, consult and partner with, as part of our Reconciliation journey.
Engagement Strategy:
- Design and support engagement frameworks that respect and include Indigenous rights, treaties, cultural protocols, and worldviews.
- Lead the development of an Indigenous Engagement strategy in consultation with key internal parties.
- Advise and recommend pathways to progress in line with the objectives and priorities of the Indigenous Engagement strategy and assist staff on the implementation of the strategy into processes, policies and procedures, supporting in the identification of gaps and areas for improvement within our conservation activities.
Advisory Role:
- Provide expert guidance to the rest of the Conservation and Science team on Indigenous engagement, Indigenous-led conservation, and local, regional and national reconciliation initiatives to strengthen Wilder Institute’s strategies, policies and programs in its commitment to Reconciliation and inclusive conservation.
- Advise on right practice with respect to internal governance and advisory structures on Indigenous engagement and Reconciliation.
- Conduct and/or support research for benchmarking to advise on Indigenous engagement and Reconciliation best practice, standards, policies, and trends in the ENGO sector.
- Provide support and advice on an as-needed basis, to the rest of the Conservation and Science team and other teams in Wilder Institute to advance Indigenous representation, strengthen inclusion in the workplace, and expand reach to underserved groups.
Policy & Compliance:
- Ensure organizational practices align with Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, UNDRIP, and relevant legislation.
Monitoring & Reporting:
- Track progress on engagement and conservation outcomes, preparing reports for internal and external parties.
- Regular meetings with Chief Conservation Officer
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
What you will bring:
- Lived experience as an Indigenous person is required.
- Minimum of 5-10 years of related experience in Indigenous relations, conservation, and/or environmental policy.
- Practical understanding of Indigenous governance structures, cultural protocols, and traditional ecological knowledge.
- Significant experience working with First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit peoples in an Indigenous relations role.
- Significant experience in building and maintaining effective, collaborative relationships, partnerships, and networks of contacts with internal and external stakeholders and rights holders.
- Experience in the design and delivery of engagement processes with Indigenous groups including special events, workshops, symposia and community/cultural gatherings.
- Demonstrated understanding of, and experience with human rights topics and Truth & Reconciliation in an NGO setting, for example, knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
- Knowledge of Indigenous governance and Indigenous peoples’ challenges and involvement in the conservation landscape.
- Knowledge of other levels of government, non-government organizations and the public and private sectors that may impact Indigenous conservation programs, projects and activities.
- Understanding of the complexities of historic challenges experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada. Knowledge of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, the TRC Final Report, and Calls to Action.
- Significant real-world experience is a priority; however, a Bachelor’s degree in Human Rights, Indigenous Studies, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Social Science, Canadian History, or a related field is an asset.
- Familiarity with research/knowledge gained through traditional Indigenous methodologies and land-based learning and/or Western research methodologies is an asset, openness to learning in this area is a requirement.
- Effective written and verbal communication.
- Facilitation skills, with an ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
- Collaboration and ability to be a contributing member of a team.
- Detail-oriented and organized.
- Project management skills.
- Expertise with the Microsoft Suite (Excel, Powerpoint, Word, etc).
- Ability to work with sensitivity, integrity, and respect in cross-cultural environments.
- Results-oriented and comfortable in an organization that is working at a fast-pace to achieve impact for people and wildlife.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Environmental NGO sector is an asset.
Working Conditions:
- Extensive office work involving long periods of sitting at computer workstations.
- Schedule may vary depending on engagement activities, project needs, and may include occasional evening or weekend work.
- Travel required and may be scheduled with varying notice depending on engagement timelines.
- Flexibility is required to participate in cultural events, ceremonies, meetings, and workshops as guided by community protocols.
- Work priorities and timelines may shift based on relationship-building, consultation processes, and organizational needs.
- Occasional extended hours may be required to support time-sensitive engagement or advisory work.
- Hybrid work schedule (i.e., ability to work 1-2 remote days per week), subject to change.
The Wilder Institute 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 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 (required) 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?
- Are you willing to relocate for this position?
- 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: November 5, 2026 @ 10:00pm MST
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.
