Zoological Assistant

Job Description:

Zoological Assistant

Description

Description

The Junior Museum & Zoo is looking for a Zoological Assistant

to help care for its resident animals.

About the Junior Museum

Part of the City of Palo Alto’s Community Services Department, the Junior Museum is a place where children and their caregivers come to explore, discover, create, play, and get curious about science and nature. Animals at the Museum & Zoo 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. There are over 70 species and 400 specimens housed at the Zoo. Educational experiences at the Junior Museum include year-round classes, camps and field trip opportunities.

About the position
This is a temporary, part-time and Friday - Sunday shift position that provides for the possibility of long-term employment. The position serves as a Zoological Assistant to the Zoo Curator and Animal Care Specialists who are responsible for excellence in all aspects of the care and welfare of the animal collection (70 species and 400 specimens) and associated landscape plants. The animal collection includes, but is not limited to, arthropods, freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The position will help provide for the daily care of the collection of exotic and domestic animals, including feeding, habitat cleaning, enrichment, and health monitoring and administration.

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

• Actively works to engage each child’s curiosity about science and nature;
• Provides for the husbandry of animals, including cleaning and feeding of animals in a fashion that encourages naturalistic behaviors while enhancing the well-being of the animals through specific enrichment programs;
• Trains animals for the health management of the entire collection as well as regularly scheduled demonstrations;
• Supports the monitoring and maintenance of the established criteria for life support, including required temperature settings and water chemistry.
• Cleans and maintains the exhibits and associated landscape.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
• Experience with animal training, maintenance of aquatic life support systems, and/or horticultural practices. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands: The work includes long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, crouching, reaching, and lifting items up to 60 pounds. The incumbent must receive immunizations to guard against zoonotic diseases.

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.

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 (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both perspective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the 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: 4/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$60,673.60 - $74,484.80 Annually