Zoo Keeper PT Unbenefited @ Happy Hollow Park & Zoo - Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Salary
$25.63 - $31.11 Hourly
Location
San Jose
Job Type
Part-Time
Job Number
202601782
DEPART
Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
Opening Date
09/15/2026
Closing Date
10/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
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?
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 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 Department is currently recruiting staff 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 Part-Time Unbenefited: The position performs work involving the care and feeding of zoo, domestic farm, and/or non-domestic animals and the maintenance of enclosures, grounds, and service areas. Responsibilities include working with animals under all types of climatic conditions and supporting daily animal care, including basic husbandry, behavioral observation, enrichment, training, and safe animal handling and restraint. Staff support animal training and behavioral management as assigned and are responsible for maintaining accurate animal records in alignment with established protocols. In addition, the position responds to general questions from the public regarding domestic and non-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 Zoo Keeper classification is subject to the City's pay floor rate $30.48 hourly for part-time unbenefited Zoo Keeper positions.
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 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.
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:
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.
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
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.
Social Awareness: Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other peoples 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 applicants 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.
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 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.
AI and the Hiring Process
We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.
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 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.
01
Do you have a High School diploma or GED?
02
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
03
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.
04
This position may require a State of California Drivers License. Please select the applicable option that best describes your drivers license, or your ability to possess a valid drivers license.
05
Please describe your experience observing animal behavior and identifying changes in health or condition. In your response, include the types of species you have worked with, examples of normal versus abnormal behaviors or conditions you have identified, and the actions you took when concerns arose, such as communication, documentation, or follow-up. Please also describe your role in this process and include the number of years of experience and the employer or employers where this experience was obtained.
06
Please describe your experience in zoo or wildlife care facility operations. In your response, include your daily husbandry responsibilities such as cleaning, feeding, and habitat maintenance, as well as your experience with animal training, including operant and/or classical conditioning, with specific examples of behaviors you have trained. Describe how you have used enrichment and how you evaluated its effectiveness. Include the record keeping systems you have used, such as ZIMS or similar platforms, and your involvement in animal nutrition or diet preparation. Please also include the number of years of experience and the employer or employers where this experience was obtained.
07
Please describe your experience working with others in a team setting. This may include coworkers, volunteers, classmates, or other group environments. In your response, describe your role within the team, how you communicated and collaborated to complete tasks, and how you handled any challenges or differences in approach. If you have experience working with or supporting volunteers, you may include that as part of your response. Please also include the number of years of experience and the employer or setting where this experience was obtained.
Required Question
Employer City of San Jose
Address 200 E Santa Clara St
San Jose, California, 95113
Phone (408) 535-1285
Website https://www.sanjoseca.gov/
| Location | San Jose, CA |
| Salary | $25.63–$31.11 Per Hour |
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