City of Palo Alto

  • Zoological Conservation Assistant (Zoological Assistant - H)

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map

Job Description

Description

The City’s Community Services Department is seeking a part-time Zoological Conservation Assistant (Zoological Assistant - H) to assist with the planning and implementation of its wildlife conservation program at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo.

The Junior Museum and Zoo is a local family destination that serves children, birth to age 8, through its science exhibits and zoo, and children to age 11 through its school programs and summer camps. Approximately 117,000 visitors enjoy the Museum and Zoo each year and 23,000 take part in its science lessons and field trips at the Museum, in local schools, and in local open spaces. The Junior Museum’s mission is to engage a child’s curiosity in science and nature, and its zoo works to support animal conservation efforts in natural spaces.

Animals at the JMZ provide children with age-appropriate examples of interesting adaptations, habitats, or wildlife conservation programs. Special installations bring children nose-to-nose with some animals, while other elements encourage imaginative play, support whole body movement, and stimulate multiple senses.

Zoological Assistants work with a team of colleagues, including Animal Care Specialists under the direction of a Curator and Zoo Director, all of whom are responsible for excellence in the care and wellbeing of the animal collection (60 species and 400 specimens) and associated landscapes and habitats. The animal collection includes, but is not limited to, arthropods, freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The position helps provide all aspects of the daily care of the collection of exotic and domestic animals.

Desired Qualifications: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, OR a combination of applicable education and experience. Applicable education and experience would consist of a certain number of years performing a similar job at a similar institution, and (potentially) educational pursuits that have supported that work.

Specialized Experience: For this position, specialized experience is defined as applying biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures necessary for the care, study, conservation, or management of living animals. Relevant experience may include captive wildlife husbandry; conservation breeding, rearing, recovery, or release programs; animal monitoring and recordkeeping; animal training; maintenance of aquatic life-support systems; and/or horticultural practices. Experience working with native wildlife, threatened or endangered species, or conservation partners is desirable.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work completed through service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Work Schedule: The incumbent will be required to work Fridays, Saturdays and/or Sundays, and some holidays.
This is an SEIU Hourly position with limited benefits. The position is budgeted to not exceed 999 hours per fiscal year (July - June). The number of hours per week and schedule will be determined based on assignment. In lieu of providing a medical plan, the City grants a medical stipend of $3.80 per hour of work.

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Assists with wildlife conservation programs, including animal care, husbandry, monitoring, data collection, recordkeeping, habitat maintenance, and other activities supporting conservation breeding, rearing, recovery, or release efforts, as assigned.
  • Provides routine husbandry for animals in the JMZ collection, including preparing diets, feeding, cleaning, and maintaining habitats, related structures, and surrounding landscape/plants.
  • Performs daily animal observations and promptly communicates husbandry, behavioral, or health concerns to leadership and veterinary staff.
  • Assists in maintaining appropriate animal welfare standards through enrichment, training support, and practices that encourage natural behaviors.
  • Supports the care, maintenance, and operation of conservation-program facilities, equipment, and aquatic or terrestrial life-support systems, following applicable safety rules, regulations, and procedures.
  • Contributes to public education, interpretation, and visitor experiences that foster curiosity about science, nature, wildlife, and conservation.
  • Works closely with volunteers, partner agencies or organizations, and other museum/zoo staff, as assigned.
  • Actively engages children’s curiosity for science and nature.
  • Services and maintains tools and equipment.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.


Supplemental Information

Other requirements:
  • Provide a negative TB Test result.
  • Receive immunizations to guard against zoonotic diseases.
  • Possess a valid California driver’s license.
  • Incumbent subject to periodic medical screening.

Physical Demands: The work includes long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, crouching, reaching, and lifting items up to 60 pounds.

Working Conditions: Much of the work is outdoors or within support buildings, under a variety of weather conditions, and there may be exposure to temperature and humidity extremes, animal pathogens, and irritants. The incumbent is exposed to bites, scratches, and animal waste, and may be exposed to animal parasites and zoonotic diseases. Part of the work is carried out in a typical office environment. Incumbent may travel to meetings and conferences and on animal shipments.

To support assigned conservation work, the selected candidate may be required to complete additional training and/or work at nearby Bay Area zoological facilities or other relevant partner organizations.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with their employer.

City of Palo Alto offers the following benefits to those in a SEIU Hourly position:

Medical Stipend
$3.80 effective the pay period including July 1, 2024.

Sick Leave
Earn .03 hour of sick leave for each hour worked.

Retirement
City of Palo Alto PST (Part-time, Seasonal & Temporary Employees) Retirement Plan

Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.

Closing Date/Time: 9/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

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