Facility

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services

Closing Date

Description

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 San José.

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.

Using guiding principles from our 20-year strategic plan, ActivateSJ, we create and activate quality places where people want to live, work, play, and learn: 51 community centers, 210 parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and more. 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.

To learn more about the PRNS Department, click here.

Position Duties
The Department is currently recruiting to fill (2) full-time benefited vacancies and multiple part-time vacancies for Zookeeper positions at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. The Department is 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 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 $26.66 hourly for full-time benefited and $28.04 hourly for part-time unbenefited Zookeeper positions. This hourly rate consists of a base amount and an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing compensation pay.

Salary range: $49,030.80- $ 59,535.84 annually.

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

About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (HHPZ): This is a 16-acre amusement park and Association of Zoo’s & 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.

About Zookeeper Full Time/Part Time: 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.).

Education and Pre-requisites

Minimum Qualifications
Education

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

Experiences

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: 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.

Compensation and benefits

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 $26.66 hourly for full-time benefited and $28.04 hourly for part-time unbenefited Zookeeper positions. This hourly rate consists of a base amount and an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing compensation pay.

Salary range: $49,030.80- $ 59,535.84 annually.

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

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 benefits page 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 website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks site 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.
Agency
City of San Jose
Address
200 E Santa Clara St

San Jose, California, 95113
Phone
(408) 535-1285
Website
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/

Application instructions

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.

Agency
City of San Jose
Address
200 E Santa Clara St

San Jose, California, 95113
Phone
(408) 535-1285
Website
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/

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.

01) What is the highest level of education you have completed?
High School Diploma or the equivalent (GED)
College (1 to 29 semester units/ 1 to 44 quarter units)
College (30 to 59 semester units/ 45 to 89 quarter units)
College (60 to 89 semester units/ 90 to 134 quarter units)
College (90 to 119 semester units/ 135 to 179 quarter units)
College (120 or more semester units/ 180 or more quarter units)
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctoral Degree
Other
None of the above

02) An acceptable experience substitution for the Zoo Keeper 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.

03) How many years of experience in the care of non-domestic animals, do you have? Please note: One year of experience equals 2,080 hours
Fewer than One (1) year
One (1) year or more

04) This position requires 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.
State of CA, Class A Driver’s License
State of CA, Class B Driver’s License
State of CA, Class C Driver’s License
I do not possess a State of California Driver’s License but, I can obtain one.
I do not possess a State of California Driver’s License and I cannot obtain one

05) Please describe your experience with veterinary procedures. In your response, specify any professional level achieved in a veterinary program, level of experience with all major groups (birds, reptiles, mammals), and ability to assist with the following: blood draw; chemical capture; anesthesia; x-rays; dentistry; administration of vaccines and IM injections; vital sign monitoring; capture and restraint; medical treatment plans and; ability to administer oral, sub Q, and topical medications. Please include the number of years and employer where you obtained your experience.

06) Describe your experience in zoo operations, husbandry, and training. In your response, please specify your experience in operant conditioning, classical conditioning, enrichment, veterinary procedures, exhibit maintenance, record keeping, and animal nutrition

07) 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.

If you have questions regarding the duties of the positions, please contact Heather Vrzal, Zoo Curator, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo at heather.vrzal@sanjoseca.gov.

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.