People & Culture Lead: Onboarding, Engagement & Growth

Santa Barbara Zoo; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Santa Barbara Zoo is seeking a People and Culture Specialist to join our HR team in Santa Barbara, CA. This full-time role focuses on talent acquisition, onboarding, engagement, learning, and culture-building in support of our mission-driven organization.

You will report to the Director of Human Resources and collaborate with leaders to foster a culture of belonging, recognition, and professional growth. Schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM, with occasional evenings for events.

Qualifications

• Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent
• Minimum of 4 years of professional HR experience
• Experience coordinating programs, events, training, or employee engagement initiatives
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines
• Preferred SHRM-CP or PHR certification or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment activities, including events, postings, and candidate communications
• Coordinate onboarding activities, materials, and schedules
• Track and analyze employee experience metrics and improve engagement initiatives
• Coordinate employee recognition programs and events
• Support leadership development and learning opportunities
• Assist with internal communications and DEAI-related activities
• Maintain HRIS records, generate reports, and ensure compliance
• Assist with wellness programs and flexible scheduling as needed

Skills

HR experience

Onboarding

Recruiting coordination

Employee engagement

Project coordination

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Associate degree or higher

Tools

HRIS (Paylocity)

LMS (CollaborNation)

ATS/Onboarding (CareerPlug)

MS Office

Video conferencing (Zoom/Teams)

Job description

The Santa Barbara Zoo is seeking a People and Culture Specialist to join our HR team in Santa Barbara, CA. This full-time role focuses on talent acquisition, onboarding, engagement, learning, and culture-building in support of our mission-driven organization.

You will report to the Director of Human Resources and collaborate with leaders to foster a culture of belonging, recognition, and professional growth. Schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM, with occasional evenings for events.