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Job Description
Description
The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is a children’s museum and zoo dedicated to engaging children’s curiosity in science and nature. It is a place where children and their caregivers come to explore, discover, create, play, and get curious about science and nature. Animals at the JMZ provide children with age-appropriate examples of interesting adaptations, habitats, or wildlife conservation programs. Special installations bring children nose-to-nose with some animals, while other elements encourage imaginative play, support whole body movement, and stimulate multiple senses.
The JMZ houses over 600 animals representing more than 60 species. Educational experiences at the JMZ include in-class and outdoor science programs for schools and families, and summer camps-many of which incorporate ambassador animals that Animal Care Specialists care for.
The Palo Alto Community Services Department is looking for a full-time Animal Care Specialist for the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo to help manage the care and husbandry of its live animal collection, which includes mammals, birds, arthropods, reptiles, amphibians, fresh-water fish, and arthropods.
About the position
This full-time position serves as a mentor on the Zoo team at the Junior Museum & Zoo and helps coordinate the Zoological Assistants in group-oriented tasks. An Animal Care Specialist is responsible for one section of the Zoo, though is expected to maintain experience in all areas. The primary assignment is based on demonstrated knowledge and experience with the respective species, individual animals, and the facility and volunteers.
This position is represented by the Service Employee International Union (SEIU). The position is budgeted to not exceed 2080 hours per fiscal year (July - June).
Essential Duties- Actively works to engage each child’s curiosity in science and nature by facilitating interactions between guests and animals using inquiry-based teaching methods.
- Provides for the husbandry of animals, including but not limited to, preparing diets, feeding, cleaning; and maintaining habitats, related structures, and surrounding areas (including landscape).
- Performs daily observations of animals to identify, record, and communicate husbandry or health issues to zoo leadership and veterinary staff.
- Enhances the well-being of the animals by coordinating specific enrichment programs that encourage natural behaviors.
- Manages and facilitates the training and enrichment of animals in their care.
- Services and maintains tools and equipment, including aquatic and terrestrial life support systems, while following all safety rules, regulations and procedures.
- Assists with the training of new Zoo staff, including Zoological Assistants, Technicians, Interns and Volunteers.
- Assists with veterinary procedures, as needed and appropriate.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:- A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, OR a combination of applicable education and experience.
- Applicable education and experience would consist of a certain number of years performing a similar job at a similar institution, and (potentially) educational pursuits that have supported that work.
Specialized Experience:
For this position, specialized experience is defined as applying biological facts, principles, methods, techniques and procedures necessary for the care, study and management of living, exotic animals in managed care. Specifically, specialized experience refers to knowledge and experience in animal training, maintenance of water quality and aquatic life support systems, and/or horticultural practices.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work completed through service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Credit will be received for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The incumbent must receive immunizations to guard against human and zoonotic diseases.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements
Physical Demands: The work includes long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, crouching, reaching, and lifting items up to 35 pounds.
Working Conditions: Much of the work is outdoors or within support buildings, under a variety of weather conditions, and there may be exposure to temperature and humidity extremes, animal pathogens, and irritants.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 1/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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