San Diego Zoo Jobs & Employment

Are you an animal devotee? Then you might want to think about starting a job working with animals. However, when it comes to working with animals, veterinarians would come to many people's mind. Actually, there are a wide variety of jobs in connection with animals. Zoos are just a great place where you can find these jobs.

If you are looking for a zoo to work, consider San Diego Zoo. Just north of downtown San Diego, the zoo is the one of largest and most progressive ones in the world. With more than 4000 animals representing over 800 species, it is also one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda. Privately operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego, it consistently ranks among the world's best zoos, visited by over 5 million people each year.

San Diego Zoo also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which is also a zoo located in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego. The zoo serves as home to a number of wild and endangered animals representing species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia in a more expansive setting.

With so many animals and dynamic environment, San Diego Zoo is really a great place to work. It provides every people with an equal employment opportunity with a variety of jobs such as guest service jobs, scientific opportunities, jobs in operations and administrative positions. If you would like to work with animals, jobs such as veterinarians, animal health technicians, animal trainers and animal behaviorists would serve your needs.

Currently, there is only one job opening available at San Diego Zoo, called Arborist. Reporting to the Lead Arborist / Supervisor / Manager, this position is responsible for performing various skilled and semi-skilled work, planting, transplanting, trimming, felling and pruning of trees and shrubbery. The detailed responsibilities include:

- Planting, transplanting, irrigating and pruning trees

- Operating and maintaining various tools such as cutting tools and chipper

- Operating a truck in transporting tools, equipment and debris

- Operating power-driven hydraulic boom

- Collection of boughs from heights over 12 feet and delivering them to animal compounds

- Assisting in removing whole trees and tree stumps from the ground

- Assisting other tree trimming staff from the ground

- Observing all organization and department policies and practices

- Modeling punctuality and professionalism

To apply for this position, all applicants must be at least 16 years old with valid driver license. If you have tree climbing and pruning experience that are set forth in the International Society of Arboriculture standards or an ISA certification, it would be helpful. In addition, you should possess some abilities, including:

- Ability to communicate and work effectively with others

- Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with others

- Ability to respond to cautions from co-workers

- Ability to operate motorized equipment and vehicles

The deadline of this position is by 9:30pm on May 29, 2011. So, if you are interested in this position, send your resume as soon as possible. Please note that the zoo only accepts on-line applications. To learn more about this position and apply, visit this page:

Arborist

http://www.hrapply.com/sandiegozoo/AppJobView.jsp?link=4125&page=AppJobList.jsp&skimSessionName=com.hrlogix.view.cont.app.JobListTable&skimName=requisition.requisition_id&skimNdx=0&op=reset

In general, San Diego Zoo will announce its job openings on its official website, as there is any vacancy available. So you can check its website frequently for up-to-date employment information.

Search for Jobs at San Diego Zoo

http://www.hrapply.com/sandiegozoo/Setup.app

In addition to employment opportunities, becoming a volunteer is another way to get yourself involved in the dynamic San Diego Zoo group and win a unique zoo volunteering experience. The San Diego Zoo has a variety of volunteer opportunities waiting for you.

Volunteers would play a transformational part in offering a fun and educational experience for visitors to the zoo. Whether you like to help visitors find their way or assist with special events, you are sure to find your own niche to use your talents and time at the zoo. Have a look at the volunteer opportunities below and find out which one is the perfect option for you to get involved.

1) Volunteer Services Assistant

Working in a fun and lively environment, volunteer Services assistants assist Volunteer Services personnel and other volunteers with various job duties, such as helping to keep the offices running smoothly, preparing training materials, organizing and assisting guests in the Children's Zoo.

Are you interested in this position? Candidates aged 18 or older just can apply for this position, offering a minimum of 40 hours of service. This position requires you to be available two or five days per week for a minimum of two weeks.

2) Interpretive Volunteers

If you have a passion for wildlife conservation and a love of sharing information, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. As an interpretive volunteer, you should be proficient at a wide variety of areas and able to interpret information to serve each visitor's needs. You will be stationed throughout the zoo or the zoo's Wild Animal Park in turn, providing patrons with animal information by using various interpretive tools.

To apply for this position, you must be 18 years old or up. You are also required to pass background check including Live Scan fingerprinting, offer a negative TB test annually and pass weekly quizzes and a final exam. Attendance and completion of the I.V. League Training Course is also needed.

3) Information Ambassadors

For those who are not interested in engaging and educating guests about wildlife and conservation, consider this position. Volunteer ambassadors can work in a variety of areas or just select one. These areas include general office assistance, information booths, assisting with special event booths and activities, horticulture and more. Some departments may need consistent help, while others may have one-time needs.

This position is for volunteers aged 21 or older. To be a volunteer ambassador, you should provide a minimum of 60 hours of scheduled duty each year. A negative TB test is also required annually.

4) Conservation Volunteers

San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research (dedicated to generating, sharing and applying scientific knowledge vital to the conservation of animals, plants and habitats worldwide) offers a limited number of volunteer opportunities each year. Typically filled by applicants with degrees in related fields, these opportunities require scientific backgrounds. For more info about Conservation volunteers and San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation, check here:

Conservation Volunteers

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/volunteer/conservation.html

San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/

Please note for any volunteer opportunity, applications are only accepted online. As a zoo volunteer, you need to have a positive attitude and strictly observe the zoo's policies, procedures, grooming and customer service standards. If you are not able to access the online application, call 619-231-1515, extension 4030. You can complete your online application on this page:

Online Application

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/volunteer/application_form.html