Zoo Keeper FT Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS)

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7000 employees play a key role in the success of San José the heart of the 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. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation disability veteran statusor any other consideration made unlawful under any federal state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability please contact us at 711 (TTY) or via email at .

About the Department

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

San Josés 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.

The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live work play and learn which include 48 community centers 10 regional parks 200 plus neighborhood parks Happy Hollow Park & Zoo 290 playgrounds and over 60 miles of trails programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service and value the publics trust. Our team is collaborative supportive and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

For more information please visit

About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (HHPZ) : This is a 16-acre amusement park and Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo located in San José California. HHPZ is open year-round catering to families with children. It operates nine 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.

Position Duties

The Department is currently recruiting to fill one full-time benefited Zoo Keeper position at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. We are seeking a highly motivated personable individual 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 position performs work involving the care and feeding of zoo domestic farm and / or non-domestic animals and maintenance of enclosures grounds and service areas; working with animals under all types of climatic conditions to prepare them for presentations training capture and restraint basic husbandry and behavioral addition responding to general questions from the public regarding non-domestic and / or domestic animals.

Please note that schedulescanvary every weekorbe on anon callbasisdepending on knowledge trainingand experience with specific animal routines . 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.).

Salary range : $53311.44 - $64711.92 Annually

This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates qualifications and experience.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Completion of high school General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience

One (1) year 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.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

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 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 species specific 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 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 peoples ideas and thoughts.

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.

Social Awareness : Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other peoples emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.

Meeting Ethical Standards : When confronted with ethical dilemmas acts in a way that reflects relevant law policy and procedures agency values and personal values.

Analytical Thinking : Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical systematic sequential approach.

Selection Process :

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicants training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those 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.

If you have questions regarding selection or hiring process please contact Jaine Davies PRNS Employee Services Analyst at .

Additional Information :

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.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays / responses.

Please note that applications are currently not acceptedthrough CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

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.

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 and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be avaluable tool for learning research and professional growth. We encouragecandidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials liveassessments and interviews. However we value authenticity accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your ownknowledge skills and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation it cannotreplace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairnesstransparency and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

Key Skills

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Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Yearly Salary Salary : 53311 - 64711