<h5>Facility</h5>
San Joaquin County-Micke Grove Zoo
<h5>Closing Date</h5>
[jobclosingdate]
<h6>Description</h6>
This recruitment is being held to fill one part-time and temporary vacancy in the Parks and Recreation division and to create an eligible list to fill future full time vacancies. The recruitment will also be used to fill part-time positions as needed. The position which is located at Micke Grove Zoo, will be responsible for maintaining the care, feeding, and cleaning of zoo animals. Candidates will need to be available days, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Monitors the health and well-being of living animal collections by noting physical or behavioral changes, and takes appropriate action; observes for signs of illness or injury, including diet consumption and other variables used to assess animal condition; records and reports problems and consults with supervisory staff and veterinarian as necessary; captures, moves or isolates animals as circumstances require, ensuring safety of the animals, staff and the public.
• Prepares and distributes animal diets; prepares meals according to prescribed needs of animals; adds dietary supplements; maintains safe and sanitary food preparation and storage areas; monitors food and supplies inventory; prepares lists and orders food and supplemental items; rotates stock to ensure fresh food supply.
• Cleans, disinfects and maintains animal exhibits and veterinary facilities; removes waste; cleans and disinfects water bowls and water areas; rakes and disposes of leaves and litter; makes minor repairs to maintain integrity of enclosures; monitors for pests and predators; checks operating systems and makes seasonal adjustments as conditions require.
• Provides animal enrichment to simulate natural conditions; researches natural behavior and habitats; plans and implements training projects; documents effectiveness of enrichment provided; identifies and installs appropriate exhibit furnishings, such as perching, nest sites, foraging areas, resting platforms, landscape materials.
• Prepares, distributes, and documents medications, and provides health care under veterinary direction; may calculate and measure restraint drugs; captures or restrains animals for veterinary care procedures and animal management needs; monitors animals during post-operative recovery period.
• Maintains exhibits, grounds, service areas, and support facilities to provide a safe, attractive and healthy environment for animals, and the public; maintains operations of aquatic systems; monitors equipment to maintain required safety standards for zoo species and the public; assists in planning or design to update or create new exhibits.
• Supervises and inspects volunteer staff work; trains volunteer staff.
• Interacts with zoo visitors and general public; explains and enforces zoo regulations and policies; provides information on animal natural history, care and conservation; answers routine questions by zoo visitors; makes presentations to community groups; communicates with professional peers on questions affecting species management and care.
• Provides safe transport of zoo specimens for acquisition, disposition and/or veterinary medical needs and provides species-appropriate temporary housing as required.
• Prepares records and reports regarding zoo activities, as required.
<h6>Education and Pre-requisites</h6>
Education: Graduation from a four year accredited college or university with major coursework in biology, zoology, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, animal behavior, or a closely related field.
Experience: One year paid experience caring for zoo animals and/or exotic species in a zoo or similar setting.
Substitution: Additional qualifying paid experience caring for zoo animals and/or exotic species in a zoo or similar setting may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
AND
Special requirements: 1) Upon job offer, incumbents must successfully pass a tuberculosis test and maintain a negative tuberculosis test for duration of employment; 2) receive inoculation for rabies within six months of employment.
Certifications: 1) Obtain First Aid/CPR certificate within six month of employment; and 2) obtain firearm safety training certificate within six months of employment.
License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Note: Supplemental application must be submitted with employment application.
<h6>Compensation and benefits</h6>
Health Insurance: San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.
Dental Insurance: The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and Pacific Union Dental. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
Vision Insurance: The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.
For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits.
Life Insurance: The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:
1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000
Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
125 Flexible Benefits Plan: This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2080 annual limit); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).
Retirement Plan: Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.
Deferred Compensation: The county maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $17,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $23,000.
Vacation: Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.
Holiday: For current Civil Service employees: 14 paid holidays per year. For new employees: 10 paid holidays per year.
Sick Leave: 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation. Sick leave incentive: An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.
Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.
Merit Salary Increase: New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
Job Sharing: Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.
Educational Reimbursement Program: Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.
Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.
School Activities: Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.
<h6>Application instructions</h6>
Apply Online:
www.sjgov.org/hr

By mail or in person:
San Joaquin County Human Resources
44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330
Stockton, Ca 95202
Office hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.
Phone: (209) 468-3370
Job Line:
For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377.
When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).
San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer: San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. For more information go to www.sjgov.org/eeo.