Are you ready to join a team that is "Building Community Through Fun?" Are you ready to make a difference?

San José’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live. Our mission is to build healthy communities through people, parks, and programs, and our vision is to be a national leader in cultivating healthy communities through quality programs and dynamic public spaces. We are guided by the principles of accessibility, inclusiveness, affordability, equity, diversity, sustainability, and flexibility.

Using guiding principles from our 20-year strategic plan, ActivateSJ, we create and activate quality places where people want to live, work, play, and learn: 51 community centers, 210 parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and more. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

To learn more about the PRNS Department, click here.

The Department is currently recruiting to fill part-time unbenefited vacancies for Zoo Keeper positions at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. The Department is seeking highly motivated, personable individuals with strong leadership skills and innovative ideas to become part of a dynamic team of employees with a strong commitment to providing excellent service to our diverse community.

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The Zookeeper classification is subject to the City’s pay floor rate $26.45 hourly for unbenefited Zookeeper positions. This hourly rate consists of a base amount and an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing compensation pay. Interviews will tentatively be held in late January 2023.

Note: These positions will be required to work weekends, evenings, and holidays, during all climactic conditions as assigned and must have the ability to enter animal areas and perform physical work (including lifting objects up to 50 lbs.).

The position performs work involving the care and feeding of zoo, domestic farm, and/or non-domestic animals and maintenance of cages, enclosures, grounds and service areas; working with animals under all types of climatic conditions to prepare them for presentations, capture and restraint, basic husbandry, and behavioral enrichment. In addition, responding to general questions from the public regarding non-domestic and/or domestic animals.

About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (HHPZ): This is a 16-acre amusement park and Association of Zoo's & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo located in San José, California. HHPZ is open year-round catering to families with children. It operates seven amusement park rides, showcases various endangered species, and operates one of the oldest classical puppet theaters in California, as well as offering many other playgrounds and attractions emphasizing play and imagination in a natural conservation setting.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Education: Completion of high school diploma or equivalent General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience: One (1) year (equivalent to 2,080 hours) of experience in the care of non-domestic animals.

Acceptable Substitutions: College coursework in zoology, biology, or related field can substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. One (1) year of coursework is equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units.

Licenses: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. State law requires all employees working with youth to provide medical verification of negative tuberculosis test results within the last year.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, and federal and state rules and regulations. Demonstrated skills and experience with the following:

• Knowledge of and experience with modern zoo operating practices and principles, including safety.
• Knowledge of and experience with principles for working with domestic and/or non-domestic animals as they pertain to park and zoo exhibits and performance of animal husbandry tasks.
• Knowledge of and experience with normal domestic and/or non-domestic animal behavior, with the ability to recognize and report abnormal behavior, attitude, or appearance of animals.
• Knowledge of and experience with behavioral enrichment and animal training programs.
• Knowledge of and experience with performing and/or assisting with basic veterinary procedures, handling and restraint of a wide variety of animals such as reptiles, birds, mammals, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and/or other domestic and non-domestic animals as they pertain to park and zoo exhibits.
• Knowledge of and experience with performing 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 use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.

Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Multi-tasking: Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process may consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces for each text response. You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Your responses should be consistent with your work history as described in your application and resume.

1. If you indicated having completed college coursework in zoology, biology, or a related field from an accredited college or university, please describe your coursework and indicate how many semester or quarter units completed at the time of application.

2. If you indicated having experience in the care of zoo, domestic farm, and/or non-domestic animals, please include your job title, employer, length of time, the average number of hours worked per week at each facility, and the species of animals you cared for.

3. Please describe your experience with veterinary procedures. In your response please specify any professional level achieved in a veterinary program, level of experience with all major groups (birds, reptiles, mammals), and ability to assist with the following: blood draw; chemical capture; anesthesia; x-rays; dentistry; administration of vaccines and IM injections; vital sign monitoring; capture and restraint; medical treatment plans and; ability to administer oral, sub Q, and topical medications. Please include the number of years and employer where you obtained your experience.

4. Please describe your experience in zoo operations, husbandry, and training. In your response please specify your experience in operant conditioning, classical conditioning, enrichment, veterinary procedures, exhibit maintenance, record keeping, and animal nutrition.

5. Please describe your experience working with volunteers. In your response include the number of volunteers, types of training, number of years of experience, and your role with regards to coordination and interaction with volunteers.

6. Please describe your experience and involvement with any specialized animal care programs or techniques, such as SSP’s, ZIMS, training, enrichment or other.

7. What do you believe are the most important responsibilities of an animal care professional in a public institution?

If you have questions regarding the duties of this position, selection or hiring process, please contact Kari Davisson, Recruitment Analyst kari.davisson@sanjoseca.gov.

To learn more about City Benefits, click here.

To learn more about the PRNS Department, click here.

To learn more about the California Equal Pay Act, click here.

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022 to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be “up-to-date” with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that employees are required to be vaccinated with the entire recommended initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine).

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. The application deadline is 11:59PM Friday, January 6, 2023. Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285 or via email at Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.