What are the responsibilities and job description for the Zoo Keeper FT Benefited and PT Unbenefited - Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, Parks Recreation (PRNS) position at City of San Jose, CA?
Salary : $51,498.72 - $62,527.92 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type : Full-Time
Job Number : 202500908
Department : Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Opening Date : 02 / 19 / 2025
Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San Jos, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San Jos employees work together as one team to make San Jos a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San Jos.
The City of San Jos 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 status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San Jos 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 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.
About the Department
Are you ready to join a team that is "Building Community Through Fun?" Are you ready to make a difference?
San Jos's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San Jos 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 public's 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 Jos, 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 multiple Zoo Keeper positions including full-time benefited, and part time unbenefited vacancies at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. We are 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.
About Zoo Keeper Full Time / Part Time Unbenefited : 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 enrichment. In addition, responding to general questions from the public regarding non-domestic and / or domestic animals.
Please note that schedules can vary every week or be on an "on call" basis depending on knowledge, training, and 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.).
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 $28.01 hourly for full-timeand $29.45 hourly for part-time unbenefited Zookeeper positions.
Salary range : $ 51,498.72- $ 62,527.92 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.
Licenses / Certificates
Possession of a valid State of California driver's license may be required.
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 people's 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 : Demonstratestheability toreadorsenseother people's emotions andhow they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
Meeting Ethical Standards : Whenconfronted withethical dilemmas, actsinaway thatreflects relevant law,policy and procedures, agency values, and personal values.
AnalyticalThinking : Approachesaproblemorsituation byusingalogical, systematic,sequentialapproach.
Selection Process :
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's 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.
This position will remain open until filled and the first application review date will be in mid-March. Thereafter, applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
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 be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through 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.
The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's for detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.
For information on the City's Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services You will be able to view information based on different Sworn / Federated job classification.
In additional to the benefits above, there is an to explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
How many years of experience in the care of non-domestic animals, do you have? Please Note : One year of Full-Time experience = 2,080 hours.
An acceptable experience substitution for the Zookeeper position is college coursework in zoology, biology or related field on a year-for-year basis. If you meet the acceptable substitution for the position, please state the field of study and the issuing accredited college or university.
This position may require a State of California Driver's License. Please select the applicable option that best describes your driver's license, or your ability to possess a valid driver's license.
Please describe your experience in zoo / wildlife care facility operations. In your response, please specify your experience in habitat maintenance, record keeping, and animal nutrition. Please include number of years and employer where you obtained this experience.
Describe your experience in the zoo / wildlife care operations with training : operant conditioning, choice and control, and classical conditioning. Please explain which you have the most experience with and where you most recently used this type of training.
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.
Please indicate what schedule you are interested in.
Required Question
Salary : $51,499 - $62,528
