2026

Santa Barbara Zoo•Santa Barbara, CA

7d•$32 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Resources / People & Culture Specialist serves as a human resources generalist, supporting HR operations and the employee lifecycle. The role enhances talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, learning and development, internal communications, and culture-building initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Specialist helps create a positive and inclusive employee experience and supports organizational goals related to attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining talent. The Specialist collaborates with leaders and employees to coordinate programs that foster belonging, learning, recognition, wellness, and professional growth, while providing HR support. This is an onsite, full-time position in Santa Barbara, California. The schedule is five days per week, generally between 8 AM and 5 PM, with one to two Saturdays per month (Saturday weeks follow a Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule) and occasional evenings for events. The role is non-exempt and pays $32.00–$35.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Requirements

At least four years of professional experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, or a related HR field in California.
Experience coordinating programs, events, training sessions, or employee engagement initiatives.
Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
Knowledge of fundamental human resources practices and employee experience programs.
Strong working knowledge of California labor laws.
High discretion, judgment, and emotional intelligence, including the ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
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 and foster collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, conservation values, institutional integrity, and fostering a respectful workplace.
Ability to work five days per week between 8 AM and 5 PM, one to two Saturdays per month, and occasional evenings for events; Saturday weeks follow a Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
Experience supporting recruitment and onboarding processes.
Experience in a human resources capacity in a nonprofit, educational, hospitality, cultural institution, or mission-driven organization.
Experience coordinating development, wellness, or employee recognition programs.
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
Certificate in Learning & Development, Organizational Development, Talent Management, or a related discipline.
California driver's license in good standing.
Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS), learning management systems (LMS), and HRIS platforms.
Knowledge of employee engagement, recognition, wellness, and culture-building best practices.
Strong 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.

Responsibilities

Support recruitment activities, including job and career fairs, job postings, applicant communications, interview scheduling, and candidate correspondence.
Coordinate hiring logistics, maintain applicant tracking records, and partner with hiring managers on recruitment and candidate selection.
Coordinate new-hire onboarding and orientation, prepare materials and schedules, request systems access, provide training resources, and follow up on onboarding effectiveness.
Track and analyze employee experience metrics and recommend improvements to recruitment, onboarding, engagement, retention, recognition, wellness, and learning initiatives.
Assist with employee engagement programs, surveys, assessments, action planning, events, celebrations, appreciation activities, and team-building opportunities.
Coordinate employee recognition initiatives and monitor participation, recommending program enhancements.
Coordinate leadership development, management training, and other learning opportunities; support training logistics, attendance tracking, evaluation, learning resources, and professional development programs.
Assist employees and managers with career development resources and support talent development, succession planning, and internal mobility activities.
Support People & Talent communications, draft and distribute employee communications, and maintain related content on internal communication platforms.
Coordinate wellness programs and activities, promote well-being resources, and assist with wellness events and educational opportunities.
Support diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives and inclusive workplace practices.
Maintain compliance-related employee records, required notices, training records, and onboarding documentation; update HRIS records and ensure employee data accuracy.
Generate recruiting, onboarding, engagement, training, turnover, and workforce initiative reports and metrics, including survey analytics.
Escalate employee relations concerns, policy interpretation questions, and workplace issues to the Director of Human Resources as appropriate.
Assist with HRIS data maintenance, ATS administration, LMS administration, special projects, and other assigned duties.