Zoo Keeper Part-Time Unbenefited - Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS)

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 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 status or 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 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 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.

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 activatesj.org.

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 Zoo Keeper classification is covered by the Pay Floor Rate and hourly pay is at $30.48 for part-time unbenefited employees. This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation.

The Department is currently recruiting to fill multiple part time unbenefited Zoo Keeper positions 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.

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.).

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.

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

If you have questions regarding selection or hiring process, please contact Jaine Davies PRNS Employee Services Analyst at jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov.

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 CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

Part-time positions(less than 40 hours per week) are required to participate in the City’s PTC 457 Deferred Compensation Plan per Federal regulations. Employees are required to contribute 3.75% of gross earning and the City contributes a matching amount of 3.75%. The funds contributed by the City are 100% vested upon initial deferral and will be held in in a stability of principal investment. This plan is in lieu of social security and does not include any healthcare benefits or contributions.

Part-time employees may elect to contribute additional retirement savings through the City’s Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Additional Information on both plans can be found on the City’s website.

Closing Date/Time: 10/1/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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