Posting number: 202601817
Department: Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Job classification: Zoo Keeper
Posting type: Open
Categories: Parks and Recreation, Zoo
Are you ready to join a team that is "Building Community Through Fun?" Are you ready to make a difference?
The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live and visit. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. ActivateSJ, PRNS’s strategic plan, envisions healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of stewardship, nature, equity & access, identity, and public life. The Department creates and activates thriving public places, including over 40 community centers, 10 regional parks, over 200 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and over 65 miles of trail. We also offer diverse programming for all ages and abilities. 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 sanjoseca.gov/prns.
About Emma Prusch Farm Park: Emma Prusch Farm Park is a unique 43-acre agricultural and educational park located in East San José. The park preserves the area's farming heritage while providing hands-on educational experiences for the community. Features include a historic barn, livestock facilities, orchards, demonstration gardens, community gardens, educational classrooms, and open parkland. Through environmental education, animal care, recreation programs, school field trips, preschool programs, camps, and community partnerships, Emma Prusch Farm Park connects visitors of all ages with agriculture, nature, and local history.
The Department is currently recruiting for one (1) Full-Time Zookeeper at Emma Prusch Farm Park in the Parks Division. 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.
Salary range for this classification is $ 53,311.44- $ 64,711.92 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
About Zookeeper Full-Time:The position performs work involving the care and feeding of 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.
This position 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.).
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 domestic and/or non-domestic animals.
Acceptable Substitution: 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
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:
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: Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people's 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 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.
If you have questions regarding selection or hiring process, please contact Jaine Davies PRNS Employee Services Analyst at jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov.
From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San José has been a leader driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San José stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world's leading center of technology innovation. San José is the 10th largest in the U.S., and is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, work, live, play and learn.
San José is located in Santa Clara County at the southern edge of the San Francisco Bay, about 50 miles south of San Francisco, 390 miles north of Los Angeles. The local weather is hard to beat with moderate year-round temperatures. Residents enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year and an average annual temperature of 70 degrees.
The City of San José operates under the council-manager form of government, a system that combines the policy leadership of elected officials in the form of a city council, with the managerial expertise of an appointed city manager.
