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 DepartmentThe 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. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. Activate SJ, PRNS’ latest strategic work plan, is committed to establishing 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 places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 207 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds and almost 63 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.orgPosition DutiesAbout Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: 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.
The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Zoo Curator vacancy in the Parks Division at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- Knowledge of the care, nutrition, breeding, behavior, and safety precautions required for a wide variety of zoo and domestic animals.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision.
- Knowledge of the maintenance of zoo habitats and facilities.
- Knowledge of zoo safety rules and regulations.
- Skill in detecting illness, injury, and other disorders in various species.
- Skill in the handling and restraint of a wide variety of zoo and domestic animals.
- Ability to train and supervise others.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to enter animal areas and perform physical work (including lifting objects up to 50 lbs).
- Ability to work weekends, evenings and holidays during all climatic conditions.
Competency Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- Knowledge of animal training theory and applications.
- Knowledge of pertinent government regulations for maintenance of animals in human care.
- Ability to prepare and present reports,
- Ability to repair and maintain zoo equipment, animal habitats, and facilities.
- Ability to coordinate animal transportation using airlines, trucks, trailers, and other vehicles.
- Ability to set-up and maintain inventory control systems.
TYPICAL CLASS ESSENTIAL DUTIES(This is a single position classification and the examples given may not represent all the duties which may be performed.)- Directs and coordinates veterinary health program, including records maintenance, preventive medicine, animal handling, capture, restraint, testing, and medication administration.
- Trains, assigns, and schedules zoo staff in the care of zoo animals.
- Assists Zoo Manager in supervising daily animal care operations.
- Oversees maintenance of animal records, animal transport, construction, repair, and maintenance of animal displays and habitats, including horticultural collection maintenance.
- Coordinates maintenance, improvements, and repairs using zoo staff, vendors, City staff, volunteers, and grounds workers/park maintenance staff.
- Provides staff training on animal handling, capture, restraint, testing, and medication administration to maintain animal health and well being.
- Supervises the ordering and maintenance of animal food, equipment, and other supply inventories.
- Makes recommendations on animal acquisition, disposition, habitat construction/reconstruction, and general zoo operations.
- Provides regularly scheduled reports on health, behavior, and changes in the zoo collection.
- Assesses, reports, and corrects animal maintenance issues and potential hazards for staff, visitors, and animal/plant collection.
- Complies with and enforces zoo safety standards.
- May provide support for zoo education program, and volunteer programs.
- Provides information and responds to public inquiries regarding the animal collection.
- Interacts with the public and zoo volunteers answering questions and providing support, information, and direction as needed to maintain positive public relations.
- Responsible for daily operations in the absence of the Zoo Manager.
- Works weekends, evenings, and holidays during all climatic conditions as assigned.
Typical End Results Include
Ensures that proper animal care husbandry and wellbeing standards are provided to maintain the health of the animal collection; ensures proper maintenance of zoo facilities and habitats ensures the safe handling and care of zoo animals; ensures the health and safety of zoo animals.
Salary InformationThe salary range for this classification is: $81,768.96 - $99,415.68.
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 QualificationsEducation: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Biology, Zoology or a related field.
Experience: Two (2) years of experience in the care of zoo animals and working with public exhibits of diverse exotic animals, including one year of experience in a supervisory or lead capacity.
Acceptable Substitutions: Experience in the care of zoo animals can substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. There is no substitution for the required year of supervision or lead experience.
Certifications: Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license may be required.
Other Qualifications Competencies 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.
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.
Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision- making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Planning - Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.
Collaboration - Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
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.
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 will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jaine Davies 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.
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.
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 pagefor 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 siteto 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.
Closing Date/Time: 9/26/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
