People & Culture Specialist - HR & Onboarding

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

Job summary

The Santa Barbara Zoo in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a seasoned Human Resources Specialist to support recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, learning, and compliance across the full employee lifecycle.

This onsite, full-time role requires strong knowledge of California labor laws, excellent communication, and the ability to coordinate programs, events, and recognition initiatives to foster an inclusive, productive workplace.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, or 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.

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment activities, including attending job fairs, postings, applicant communication, interview scheduling, and candidate correspondence.
• Coordinate onboarding materials, schedules, systems access requests, and training resources; ensure positive onboarding experience.
• Track and analyze employee experience metrics; assist in engagement, wellness, recognition, and learning initiatives.

Skills

HR knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Discretion/confidentiality

Project coordination

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management or related field

Tools

ATS

LMS

HRIS

Job description

The Santa Barbara Zoo in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a seasoned Human Resources Specialist to support recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, learning, and compliance across the full employee lifecycle.

This onsite, full-time role requires strong knowledge of California labor laws, excellent communication, and the ability to coordinate programs, events, and recognition initiatives to foster an inclusive, productive workplace.