Animal Care Specialist Approximate Monthly Salary: $4,253.30 - $5,169.95 Opening Date 7/24/2026 08:00:00 AM Closing Date 8/3/2026 11:59:00 PM Employment Type Full-Time This examination is being given to fill 1 vacancy in the Department of Parks & Recreation and to establish an eligible list that may be used to fill future vacancies. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail. Pre-Employment Background, DOJ Live Scan and Drug Screen Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a DOJ Live Scan, a pre-employment background investigation and a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment.

The County pays for the initial drug screen. 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; 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 ensurefresh food supply.

Cleans, disinfects and maintains animal exhibits and veterinary facilities; removes waste; cleans and disinfects water bowls and water areas; makes minor repairs to maintain integrity of enclosures; checks operating systems and makes seasonal adjustments as conditions require. Provides animal enrichment to simulate natural conditions; plans and implements training projects; identifies and installsappropriate 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; captures or restrains animals for veterinary care procedures and animal management needs; monitors animals duringpost‑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 ofaquatic 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; answers routine questions by zoo visitors; 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. Successful completion of 60 semester or equivalent quarter units from an accredited college or university, including 18 units of coursework in any combination of the following: biology, zoology, wildlife management, wildlife ecology, animal behavior, or a closely related field.

Experience: One year paid or unpaid experience caring for zoo animals and/or exotic species in a zoo or similar setting.

Substitution: Additional qualifying 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.

Note: Unpaid hours such as those obtained through volunteerism or internships will be accepted only if: 1) the experience is documented on letterhead from the organization where it was obtained; and 2) the documentation includes dates, number of hours worked and duties performed (2,080 hours is equivalent to one year full-time experience). Special requirements 1) Upon job offer, incumbents must successfully pass a tuberculosis test and maintain a negative tuberculosis test for duration 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. KNOWLEDGE Basic principles of biology and zoology, including animal identification and natural history, taxonomy, physiology, behavior, nutrition; animal enrichment practices; basic husbandry principles, including safe food handling and storage and pest control; zoo animal preventativemedicine principles and practices; general veterinary terminology and equipment; symptoms of animal illness; basic sanitation, tools and practices; kinds and uses of basiccleaning materials and equipment; exhibit and grounds maintenance and repairs; zoo practices and procedures; hazards of working withwild animals, including restraint practices; basic computer and modern office automation technology, including pertinent software. ABILITY Identify changes in animal behavior or physical condition; physically handle and/or restrain wild animals, including safe use of darting equipment or firearm; work safely and effectively with wild, delicate and potentially dangerous animals; perform basic mathematical calculations and make accurate measurements; operate a variety of related tools and machinery for exhibits and/or maintenance; operate computers and related software; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers and the public.

Physical/Mental Requirements Mobility – Operation of a data entry device, constant walking and standing for long periods, pushing/pulling, bending, squatting, crawling, driving

- Vision – Good overall vision, color perception, depth perception; good field of vision/peripheral
- Hearing/Talking – Frequent hearing and talking on the telephone/radio and in person
- Special Requirements – Working weekends and holidays; may require overtime evening work
- Emotional/Psychological– Frequent public contact and decision making
- Environmental – Frequent exposure to noise, cold/heat, hazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, and varied weather conditions.

San Joaquin

County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

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 Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Benefits ~ Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021. ~ 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: dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense. ~ dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense. ~ Life Insurance: The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 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 $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over)

- Retirement Plan: Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937.

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. ~ The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available. ~ Vacation: Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years

- Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year. ~ Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying 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. ~ 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 $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area. ~ 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.

Written Exam: The civil service written exam is a multiple choice format.

Oral Exam: The oral exam is a structured interview process that will assess the candidate’s education, training, and experience and may include a practical exercise. A panel of up to four people will determine the candidate’s score and rank for placement on the eligible list. A rate-out is an examination that involves a paper rating of the candidate’s application using the following criteria: education, training, and experience. Candidates will not be scheduled for the rate-out process.

Testing Accommodation

Candidates who require testing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must call Human Resources Division at (209) 468-3370 prior to the examination date. Veteran’s Points Eligible veterans, unmarried widows and widowers of veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have been honorably discharged and who have served during wartime shall be given veteran’s points in initial appointment to County service. Eligible veterans receive 5 points and eligible disabled veterans receive 10 points.

Disabled veterans must submit a recent award letter stating a 10% service connected disability issued by the United States Veterans Administration.

Note: A copy of your DD214 showing the discharge type must be received in the Human Resources by the date of the examination. September 16, 1940 to December 31, 1946 August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 Persian Gulf War, August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation. Eligible lists are effective for nine months, but may be extended by the Human Resources Director for a period which shall not exceed a total of three years from the date established.

Certification/Referral Rule of the List: For classifications designated by the Director of Human Resources, the entire eligible list will be referred to the department. The County pays for physical examinations administered in its medical facilities. Pre-Employment Drug Screening Exam: Some classifications require a new employee successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment. The County pays for the initial drug screen.

📌 Animal Care Assistant (Lodi)
🏢 San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office
📍 Lodi