Exciting Career Opportunity Available Now!

Schedule: 5 days a week, with one to two Saturdays/month, any time between 8 AM and 5 PM, and occasional evenings for events.

This position is onsite.

· FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

· Employment Status: Full-Time

· Location: Santa Barbara, California

· Hourly Wage: $32.00 - 35.00 per hour, DOE

Are you a seasoned Human Resources (HR) Specialist ready to embark on a rewarding journey with our passionate team? ESSENTIAL DUTIES include the following:

Are you a people-centric professional with a knack for organizational tasks, adept at leveraging technology and social media, possessing meticulous attention to detail, and fueled by a genuine passion for Wildlife and Conservation?

Do you enjoy providing Human Resources Generalist Support across the employee lifecycle, including employee inquiries, policy guidance, personnel records management, HRIS maintenance, compliance activities, performance management processes? Do you have prior experience with HR programs, workforce planning, process improvements, and initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness? If you are skilled at crafting seamless orientation and onboarding experiences that pave the way for success, then we have the perfect role for you!

Join us as a Human Resources / People and Culture Specialist, and play a pivotal role in attracting, retaining, and supporting a high-performing team dedicated to our impactful mission.

At the heart of our strategic priorities is having a dynamic team while having fun along the way. To support this, we're actively implementing plans to enhance the well-being of our staff and empower individuals to make meaningful contributions.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact with us! Apply now and let's embark on this exciting journey together.

SUMMARY:

Our people are key to achieving our mission. We need to attract, recruit, support and retain a high performing, highly engaged workforce committed to learning and making a positive impact.

The Human Resources / People & Culture Specialist serves a human resources generalist, supports HR operations and the employee lifecycle by enhancing talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, learning and development, internal communications, and culture-building initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, this position plays a key role in creating a positive and inclusive employee experience while supporting organizational goals related to attraction, development, engagement, and retention of talent.

The People & Culture Specialist collaborates with leaders and employees across the organization to coordinate programs and initiatives that foster a culture of belonging, learning, recognition, wellness, and professional growth, while also providing some HR support.

Talent Acquisition Support

Support recruitment activities, including attending job and career fairs, job postings, applicant communication, interview scheduling, and candidate correspondence

Coordinate hiring logistics and maintain applicant tracking records

Assist with candidate experience initiatives to ensure a welcoming and professional recruitment process

Partner with hiring managers to coordinate recruitment activities and support candidate selection and hiring processes.

Onboarding & Orientation

· Coordinate new hire onboarding activities and employee orientation programs

· Prepare onboarding materials, schedules, systems access requests, and training resources

· Conduct and ensure a positive and engaging onboarding experience for new employees

· Conduct follow-up activities to evaluate onboarding effectiveness

Employee Experience & Engagement

· Track and analyze key employee experience metrics and provide recommendations to improve recruitment, onboarding, engagement, retention, recognition, wellness, and learning initiatives.

· Assist in the development and administration of employee engagement initiatives and programs

· Coordinate employee events, celebrations, appreciation activities, and team-building opportunities

· Support employee surveys and engagement assessments and assist with action planning

· Promote a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and belonging

Recognition Programs

· Coordinate employee recognition initiatives that celebrate achievements, milestones, and organizational values

· Monitor participation and recommend enhancements to recognition programs

Learning & Development

· Coordinate leadership development, management training, and learning opportunities

· Assist with training logistics, registrations, attendance tracking, and program evaluation

· Maintain learning resources and educational materials

· Support organizational learning initiatives and professional development programs

Career Development Support

· Assist employees and managers in accessing career development resources and opportunities

· Support talent development initiatives, succession planning activities, and internal mobility efforts

· Maintain development tools, learning content, and tracking systems

Internal Communications

· Support People & Talent communications to employees

· Draft and distribute communications regarding programs, events, training opportunities, and organizational initiatives

· Assist in maintaining People & Talent content on internal communication platforms

Wellness Initiatives

· Coordinate employee wellness programs and activities

· Promote employee well-being resources and participation in wellness initiatives

· Assist with wellness-related events and educational opportunities

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI)

· Support initiatives that foster an inclusive workplace culture, equitable employee experiences, accessibility, and employee belonging.

· Assist in promoting inclusive workplace practices and employee engagement efforts

· Participate in the coordination and communication of DEAI-related activities

Administrative, HR Systems, and Reporting

· Assist with maintaining compliance related to employee records, required notices, trainings, onboarding documentation, and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.

· Maintain and update HRIS records to ensure employee data accuracy.

· Generate reports and metrics related to recruiting, onboarding, engagement, training, turnover, and workforce initiatives.

· Escalate employee relations concerns, policy interpretation questions, and workplace issues to the Director of Human Resources as appropriate.

· HR Data & Reporting

o Recruiting metrics

o Turnover reporting

o Training participation reporting

o Survey analytics

· HR Systems

o o HRIS data maintenance

o o ATS administration

o o LMS administration

· Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned

· Supervisory Responsibilities : None

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Preferred Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related discipline

Required Experience

· Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, or other Human Resources-related field in California.

· Experience coordinating programs, events, training sessions, or employee engagement initiatives

· Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic work environment.

Preferred Experience

· Experience supporting recruitment and onboarding processes

· Experience working in a human resources capacity in nonprofit, educational, hospitality, cultural institution, or mission-driven organization

· Experience coordinating development, wellness, or employee recognition programs

Preferred Certifications

· SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

· Certificate in Learning & Development, Organizational Development, Talent Management, or related discipline

· CA Driver’s License in good standing preferred

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

· Knowledge of fundamental human resources practices and employee experience programs

· High discretion, judgment, and emotional intelligence. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion

· Strong working knowledge of California labor laws

· Strong organizational and project coordination skills

· Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

· Ability to build positive working relationships across all levels of an organization

· Strong attention to detail and follow-through

· Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet deadlines

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment and to foster collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders

· Commitment to equity, inclusion, conservation values, and institutional integrity

· Commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace

· Ability to work 5 days a week, any time between 8 AM and 5 PM, with one to two Saturdays a month and occasional evenings for events. Saturday weeks will be a Tuesday to Saturday schedule.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

· Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS), learning management systems (LMS), and HRIS platforms.

· Knowledge of employee engagement, recognition, wellness, and culture-building best practices.

· Demonstrate a high level of customer service, professionalism, responsiveness, and relationship-building skills.

· Experience creating internal communications and employee-facing materials.

· Understanding of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion principles and practices.

· Experience with survey platforms, employee feedback tools, and reporting metrics.

Compensation: $32.00 - $35.00 per hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Do you love animals and working with people? Join the fun, caring, friendly, and energetic team at the Santa Barbara Zoo in our mission of preservation, conservation, and enhancement of the natural world and its living treasures through education, research, and recreation.

Once you apply, please make sure to check your spam folder if you do not see an email response from the Zoo.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is a fully accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, it is located on 30 acres of lush botanic gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is home to more than 146 animal species living in open, naturalistic habitats. Our wonderful collaborative team includes up to 220 employees and 50 volunteers.

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This full time position will shift the 5-day schedule to accomodate one to two Saturdays a month with occasional evening or weekend events. Are you able to meet this schedule requirement?*

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I was referred to this position by a current employee

Who referred you?

You Belong at the Zoo! Why?

It’s a great place to work!

We strive to: 1. Provide a learning environment with great benefits and advancement opportunities. 2. Work as a team. 3. Enjoy our work and have fun!

We are guest-oriented.

We strive to: 1. Be professional, engaged, warm, friendly, informed, and resourceful because we care about our guests’ experience. 2. Ensure safe, clean, and injury-free facilities. 3. Be a place of choice to visit in town.

We are goal-oriented.

We strive to: 1. Set competitive goals that involve our entire staff. 2. Focus on our mission and the best ways to deliver our care and services to our animals, our staff, and our guests. 3. Be the best place to visit in Santa Barbara!

Human Resources/People and Culture Specialist 11/2026

Or apply here.

You Belong at the Zoo! Why?