City of San José
Zoo Keeper FT - Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Ser
City of San José, San Jose, California, United States, 95199
Zoo Keeper FT - Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS)
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Pay found in job post
Salary: $53,311.44 - $64,711.92 per year (includes an approximate 5% ongoing non‑pensionable compensation)
Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees plays a key role in the success of San José, the heart of Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. The City of San José is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation, please contact 408‑535‑1285 (711 TTY) or CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.
About the Department San José’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn. The department manages 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 200+ neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds, and over 60 miles of trails.
About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (HHPZ) HHPZ is a 16‑acre amusement park and Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo located in San José, California. It is open year‑round and features nine amusement park rides, displays of endangered species, and one of the oldest classical puppet theaters in California.
Position Duties The Department is recruiting to fill one full‑time benefited Zoo Keeper position at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, personable individual with strong leadership skills and innovative ideas. Responsibilities include care and feeding of zoo, domestic farm, and non‑domestic animals; maintenance of enclosures, grounds, and service areas; animal preparation for presentations; training, capture, and restraint; basic husbandry; behavioral enrichment; and responding to public inquiries about animals. Positions may require work on weekends, evenings, holidays, on‑call shifts, and through all climatic conditions. Physical work, including lifting objects up to 50 lbs., is required.
Minimum Qualifications Education: Completion of high school, GED, or California Proficiency Certificate.
Experience: One (1) year experience in the care of non‑domestic animals.
Acceptable Substitutions: College coursework in zoology, biology, or a related field can substitute for experience on a year‑for‑year basis.
Other Qualifications The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.
Job Expertise
Knowledge of modern zoo operating practices, safety, and principles for working with domestic and/or non‑domestic animals.
Understanding of animal behavior and ability to recognize abnormal behavior.
Experience with species‑specific behavioral enrichment and training programs.
Basic veterinary procedures, handling, and restraint of a wide variety of animals.
Basic construction and maintenance of animal habitats and displays, including plant maintenance.
Communication Skills Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas.
Problem Solving Approaches a situation or problem by defining the issue; determines significance; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions.
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills Develops effective relationships with co‑workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Social Awareness Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people's emotions and how they influence the situation of interest; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
Meeting Ethical Standards When confronted with ethical dilemmas, acts in a way that reflects relevant law, policy, and agency values.
Analytical Thinking Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to problem solving.
Selection Process The selection process includes evaluation of training and experience based on application and responses to all job‑specific questions. Only candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited forward. Additional phases may include one or more interviews.
Additional Information Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. The City of San Jose will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications for H1‑B or other visa types.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third‑party job board application system.
Contact: Jaine Davies, PRNS Employee Services Analyst – jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Pay found in job post
Salary: $53,311.44 - $64,711.92 per year (includes an approximate 5% ongoing non‑pensionable compensation)
Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees plays a key role in the success of San José, the heart of Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. The City of San José is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation, please contact 408‑535‑1285 (711 TTY) or CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.
About the Department San José’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn. The department manages 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 200+ neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds, and over 60 miles of trails.
About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (HHPZ) HHPZ is a 16‑acre amusement park and Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo located in San José, California. It is open year‑round and features nine amusement park rides, displays of endangered species, and one of the oldest classical puppet theaters in California.
Position Duties The Department is recruiting to fill one full‑time benefited Zoo Keeper position at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, personable individual with strong leadership skills and innovative ideas. Responsibilities include care and feeding of zoo, domestic farm, and non‑domestic animals; maintenance of enclosures, grounds, and service areas; animal preparation for presentations; training, capture, and restraint; basic husbandry; behavioral enrichment; and responding to public inquiries about animals. Positions may require work on weekends, evenings, holidays, on‑call shifts, and through all climatic conditions. Physical work, including lifting objects up to 50 lbs., is required.
Minimum Qualifications Education: Completion of high school, GED, or California Proficiency Certificate.
Experience: One (1) year experience in the care of non‑domestic animals.
Acceptable Substitutions: College coursework in zoology, biology, or a related field can substitute for experience on a year‑for‑year basis.
Other Qualifications The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.
Job Expertise
Knowledge of modern zoo operating practices, safety, and principles for working with domestic and/or non‑domestic animals.
Understanding of animal behavior and ability to recognize abnormal behavior.
Experience with species‑specific behavioral enrichment and training programs.
Basic veterinary procedures, handling, and restraint of a wide variety of animals.
Basic construction and maintenance of animal habitats and displays, including plant maintenance.
Communication Skills Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas.
Problem Solving Approaches a situation or problem by defining the issue; determines significance; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions.
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills Develops effective relationships with co‑workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Social Awareness Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people's emotions and how they influence the situation of interest; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
Meeting Ethical Standards When confronted with ethical dilemmas, acts in a way that reflects relevant law, policy, and agency values.
Analytical Thinking Uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to problem solving.
Selection Process The selection process includes evaluation of training and experience based on application and responses to all job‑specific questions. Only candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited forward. Additional phases may include one or more interviews.
Additional Information Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. The City of San Jose will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications for H1‑B or other visa types.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third‑party job board application system.
Contact: Jaine Davies, PRNS Employee Services Analyst – jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov
#J-18808-Ljbffr