Zoo Operations Assistant
Ventura County Community College District
Salary: $52,128.00 – $72,024.00 Annually
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 2024-00317
Location: Moorpark College (Moorpark CA), CA
Department: MC – Student Learning
Closing: 2/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
This recruitment is being conducted to establish a list of eligible candidates that will be used to fill current and upcoming, temporary and regular vacancies for the duration of the list, not to exceed one year.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Under the general supervision of the Zoo Operations Supervisor, help oversee the maintenance and care of the animal population in the college’s zoo; provide guidance and instructional assistance to students in the handling, training, care, and showing of domestic and non-domestic animals; perform various operational and clerical duties related to the teaching zoo.
WHERE YOU’LL WORK
Moorpark College, one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District, was founded in 1967. It serves approximately 15,000 students, and with a “students first” philosophy, empowers its diverse community of learners to complete their goals for academic transfer, basic skills, and career education. Moorpark College is one of the most beautiful community colleges in California. Set on 150 acres, the campus is nestled in the foothills on the southeastern flank of Ventura County, about 40 miles from UCLA, and approximately 75 miles from UC Santa Barbara. It is also a short drive from CSU Northridge, CSU Channel Islands, and California Lutheran University. Moorpark College was recognized an Aspen Prize Finalist in 2023 and ranked fourth in the nation by the Aspen College Excellence Program. Known for transfer of students to public and private universities, Moorpark College has the highest number of Associate Degree for Transfers among California community colleges its size.
Moorpark College has the distinction of being recognized as a Champion of Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity in each of the last five years. A Hispanic Serving Institution, it has an excellent reputation for preparing minority and economically disadvantaged students for university transfer and career success. Moorpark College’s signature career/technical programs include nursing, radiation technology, biotechnology, and exotic animal training which incorporates the world-renowned Teaching Zoo. The college also offers a dynamic range of classes and programs in the visual and performing arts, and its pristine athletic fields and mild climate provide an excellent home for our student athletes. Moorpark College has received numerous grants including a $2.9 million Department of Education Title V grant in 2020 for its Project STEM Impacto, which develops student cohorts in biology, biotechnology, and computer network systems engineering. Moorpark College student outcomes demonstrate that education inspires and and transforms communities.
More information can be found on the Moorpark College website.
WHO WE ARE
The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) is a public community college district serving residents throughout Ventura County. VCCCD’s three colleges – Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College – offer programs for transfer to four-year colleges and universities; career technical training, basic skills instruction; as well as community service, economic development, and continuing education for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement.
The Ventura County Community College District recognizes that a diverse community of faculty, staff, and administrators promotes academic excellence and creates an inclusive educational and work environment for its employees, contractors, students, and the community it serves. With the understanding that a diverse community fosters multi-cultural awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides role models for all students, VCCCD is committed to recruiting and employing a diverse and qualified group of administrators, faculty, and staff members who are dedicated to the success of all college students.
The Ventura County Community College District does not engage in any employment practice that discriminates against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of ethnic group identification, race, color, language, accent, immigration status, ancestry, national origin, political beliefs, age, gender, sex, religion, transgender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, and/or physical or mental disability.
SALARY PLACEMENT
New Employees: Generally, new employees are placed on the first step of the appropriate range of the salary schedule.
Current Employees: An employee who is promoted will be placed on the salary step of the new range of the appropriate salary schedule that provides a minimum increase comparable to a one-step increase in salary.
New and current employees may be eligible for advanced step placement as outlined in Section 290 – SALARY PLAN in the Rules of the Personnel Commission for Classified Employees (Download PDF reader).
Representative Duties
Process requests for program presentations, including calculating fees, scheduling date and time of presentations, and collecting deposit and fee balances. E
Maintain records on presentations given and produce summary reports. E
Coordinate the use of zoo facilities for student-led presentations and events; in the absence of instructors and/or Instructional Lab Technicians, oversee student-led animal presentations to ensure the safety of the public, students, and animals; perform in presentations and participate in events as needed. E
Maintain adequate inventory of supplies and equipment for animal care, nutrition, training, and veterinary needs; order supplies and materials as necessary; prepare and track requisitions and purchase orders; ensure proper storage and handling of food supplies and equipment for the animal population and classroom materials; oversee supplies, materials, and equipment expenditures. E
Provide support to instructional staff in coordinating the training of animals for care, handling, restraint, and presentations, to foster the development of students in technical areas. E
Interact with news media personnel, other college and district personnel, and the general public regarding regular and special events at the teaching zoo. E
Participate in meetings related to the teaching zoo operations, animal care and training, camps, and committees;; Ensure compliance with laws and regulations. E
Ensure student attendance and compliance with rules and regulations of the teaching zoo and the instructional zoo program. E
Maintain the teaching zoo and other assigned areas in a safe, clean, and orderly condition; oversee the proper use of the facilities and safe practices with the zoo to ensure the safety of the public, students, and animals. E
Capture and restrain animals as necessary for treatment and transport. E
Assist veterinarian with capture, restraint, handling and medication of animals. E
Follow veterinarian instructions and provide basic first aid to animals when needed. E
Operate a variety of equipment and machinery, including instructional equipment and specialized trade equipment such as blow dart, syringes and veterinary equipment; investigate, identify, and resolve a wide variety of technical malfunctions; enter work orders when appropriate. E
Operate office equipment including computers, printers and copiers. E
Operate vehicles including trailer-vehicle combinations, trucks and vans.
Answer telephone calls, referring to appropriate personnel or taking messages as necessary. E
Respond to inquiries related to the instructional zoo program, animal shows and general information. E
Work collaboratively and professionally with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, and ethnic communities. E??
Demonstrate cultural humility, sensitivity, and equity-mindedness in working with individuals from diverse communities; model inclusive behaviors; and achieve equity in assignment-related outcomes. E
Perform related duties as assigned.
E = Essential Duties
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of two years of college course work in biology, education, related field or equivalent, and two years full time professional experience working in a zoo with non-domestic animals or equivalent. Experience working with students in an organized setting is preferred.
Valid CPR certification
Valid First Aid certification
Animal Care and Training certificate or its equivalent
Valid California Driver’s License
Supplemental Information
EXAMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
This is an examination open to the public and current district employees seeking a promotional opportunity. To ensure consideration, please submit your application materials by the posted deadline date on this bulletin.
The examination process may consist of any of the following components:
A) Training and Experience Evaluation = Qualifying (pass/fail)
B) Technical Interview = 100% weighting on final score
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (T&E) EVALUATION:
A T&E is an assessment of training and experience, beyond the minimum requirements, that has prepared the candidate for the position as evidenced in the application materials. Please be sure to answer every component of each supplemental question as your responses will be scored and serve as your score on the training and experience (T&E) evaluation.
The candidates with the highest passing scores on the T&E will be invited to the technical interview.
TECHNICAL INTERVIEW DATE RANGE AND LOCATION:
Date Range: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 to Monday February 24, 2025
Location: The Technical Interview will be conducted remotely, using Zoom. To participate, you must have access to a computer with a camera, microphone, speakers, and a reliable connection to the internet.
The examination components and dates are subject to change as needs dictate. All communication regarding this process will be delivered via email.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION:
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as stated, including the possession of licenses, certifications, or other requirements, by the filing deadline in order to move forward in the recruitment process. You must attach copies of any documents that demonstrate your attainment of the minimum qualifications (e.g., unofficial transcripts, foreign transcript evaluation, copies of any required licenses, and/or certifications). Failure to submit any required documents may result in disqualification. All required documentation must be attached to your application; Human Resources staff will not upload your documents for you. The VCCCD does not accept letters of recommendation for classified positions. Please do not attempt to attach letters of recommendation to your application.
ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE REVISIONS TO YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS.
When completing the application, please make sure you include ALL current and previous employment in the Work Experience section of the application and complete ALL fields, including the name and contact information for your supervisors. Duration of work experience is calculated based off a standard 40 hour full-time work week. Part-time work experience will be prorated based off a standard 40 hour full-time work week. Experience that is included in the resume but not in the Work Experience section of the application may not be considered for the purpose of determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. When completing the supplemental questionnaire (if applicable), outline in detail your education, training (such as classes, seminars, workshops), and experience.
ELIGIBILITY LIST:
Upon completion of the examination, the eligibility list will be compiled by combining the final examination score with applicable seniority and veteran’s credits, if any. The candidates will be ranked according to their total score on the eligibility list. Certification will be made from the highest three ranks of the eligibility list. This eligibility list will be used to fill current vacancies for up to one year from the date of the technical interview.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD:All regular appointments made from eligibility lists for initial appointment or for promotion, with certain exceptions, shall be probationary for a period of six (6) months or one hundred thirty (130) days of paid service, whichever is longer. Classified management, police, and designated executive classifications shall be probationary for a period of one (1) year of paid service from initial appointment or promotion.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Individuals with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation in the selection process must inform the Ventura County Community College District Human Resources Department in writing no later than the filing date stated on the announcement. Those applicants needing such accommodations should document this request in an email to HRMail@vcccd.edu including an explanation as to the type and extent of accommodation needed to participate in the selection process.
DEGREE INFORMATION:
If a degree/coursework is used to meet minimum qualifications, an official copy of your transcripts will be required upon hire. If you have a foreign degree and the institution from which your degree was granted is not recognized as accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education, foreign transcript evaluation is required if the foreign degree/coursework is used to meet minimum qualifications. The foreign transcript evaluation must be included with your application materials. Visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education to search for institutions that are recognized as accredited. If you need your transcripts evaluated, please review the list of agencies approved for foreign transcript evaluation (Download PDF reader). If applicable, an official copy of your foreign transcript evaluation will also be required upon hire.
For more information about the recruitment process at VCCCD, including responses to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our Classified Careers page.
To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/vcccd/jobs/4670808/zoo-operations-assistant
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