Zoo Keeper
Join our team at the Como Zoo and Conservatory and play a key role in animal care, education, and conservation. As a Zoo Keeper, you’ll help ensure a safe, healthy, and enriching environment for our diverse animal collection while engaging with the public to promote appreciation for wildlife. We’re hiring for one certified full-time position and for a full-time temporary position.
Here’s what you can expect in these roles:
•Provide daily care, feeding, enrichment, and medical support for a wide variety of zoo animals.
•Observe, interpret, and document animal behavior, health, and diet, collaborating with veterinary and supervisory staff as needed.
•Maintain clean, safe, and attractive exhibits, holding areas, and service spaces.
•Assist with animal transfers, emergency responses, and educational interactions with visitors.
•Keep detailed records in compliance with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) standards.
For more information and essential functions, see our Zoo Keeper job description.
Our Benefits: We offer competitive wages, and a variety of excellent benefits (Download PDF reader), including health insurance, retirement contributions and paid vacation and sick time.
Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: The City of Saint Paul is dedicated to dismantling systemic racial, cultural, and economic barriers that prevent people from fully enjoying and participating in our community and ensuring fairness in opportunities and outcomes for all individuals. At the City of Saint Paul, we want our workforce to reflect the diverse city that we serve. Our leaders are guided by an unapologetic equity agenda, which promotes the belief that true equity is building a city that works for all of us. We encourage you to apply as we are most interested in finding the best candidate for this job.
Position Requirements
Successful candidates typically enter this role with approximately 5 years of relevant education and work experience.
Relevant work experience includes working as a zookeeper, aquarist, or lab worker in the care, feeding, and handling of a variety of exotic animals in a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, wildlife rehabilitation center, veterinary clinic, nature center, university, or lab setting.
Education beyond a high school diploma may substitute for up to 4 years of work experience. An associate’s degree in Biology, Zoology, or a related field may be substituted for 2 years of work experience. A Bachelor’s degree in these same fields be substituted for 4 years. For candidates substituting education for experience, no more than four years of education will be counted. At least one year of work experience is required to qualify for this position.
Must possess and maintain a valid Minnesota Class D Driver's License or an equivalent driver's license from another state.
How to Apply
- Submit a City of Saint Paul online application by the closing date.
- Upload or submit the following document via the online application system. (Zip files and web links will not be accepted. Each uploaded attachment is limited to 10MB.)
- A resume (optional)
First time applying online? Read our How to Apply Online Guide.
Need technical support? For help with the online application, please call 1-855-524-5627.
Learn more about our Hiring Process
For temporary positions:
Temporary: This posting is open to anyone who meets the position requirements. This position is eligible for Earned Safe and Sick Time (ESST). Other benefits are not provided.
For certified positions:
Assessment: Qualifications Rating
The Qualifications Rating is an assessment of your completed application and answers to the Supplemental Questionnaire. Be as specific and detailed as possible in completing your application and questionnaire. You must submit your completed application and supplemental questionnaire by the application deadline.
Open Job Posting: This posting is open to anyone who meets the position requirements.
Eligible Lists Created from Open Job Posting: You must receive a score of 75% or higher to pass the assessment and be considered for the position. Non-promotion eligible lists typically are pass/fail and promotion eligible lists are typically ranked. If the open eligible list created contains a veteran, one open list will exist. When there are no veterans remaining on the eligible list (i.e. hired, withdrawn) from an open list that also contains promotional candidates, two lists will be created: one open list and one promotion list. If two lists exist, the promotion list must be exhausted before the open list is considered.
Final Selection Process: Those who pass will be placed on an eligible list for approximately six months and all will be notified of their status. A Hiring Manager will consider those applicants eligible for hire. You will be notified if you are invited to participate in the final selection process which may include an interview, job simulation, work sample submission, or other evaluation method.
Pre-Employment Screening: This position requires a medical examination, driver’s license check, and a background check which may include a criminal history, and employment history as a condition of employment. Candidates will be required to submit proof of education to Human Resources upon conditional job offer, if qualifying based on education.
Human Resources Contact Information:
Michelle LeBow at 651-266-6519
Email: michelle.lebow@stpaul.gov
The City of Saint Paul encourages individuals to apply for positions regardless of criminal history.
Veteran’s Preference: If you are a veteran and would like to receive Veteran’s preference in accordance with MN Statute 197.455, you must submit a photocopy of your DD214 preferably at time of application. Click here for more information.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The City of Saint Paul is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Veterans, women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employer
City of Saint Paul
Address
25 West Fourth Street, Suite 200 City Hall Annex
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55102
Phone
651-266-6500
Website