Zoo Quality Host [Part-Time]

San Antonio Zoo; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

San Antonio Zoo is seeking a dedicated Zoo Quality Host to ensure guests leave with a positive first and lasting impression. You will help maintain grounds, facilities, and guest areas in a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.

You’ll collaborate with a diverse team and contribute to a mission of wildlife care and visitor excellence, with day, weekend, holiday, and occasional after-hours shifts required.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 16 years of age or older.
• Ability to understand and apply safety precautions within the zoo environment.
• Strong guest service and communication skills, with a courteous, professional demeanor.
• Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions in English.
• Physical ability to bend, stand, kneel, lift, and walk for extended periods.
• Experience with janitorial work or custodial duties preferred.
• Pre-employment background check and drug screen required.
• Must be able to work days, weekends, holidays, and some after-hours.

Responsibilities

• Prepare zoo grounds and facilities for guest arrival.
• Clean restrooms and public areas throughout the zoo.
• Perform daily upkeep of mulch beds, pathways, and general grounds.
• Assist guests with information and directions, maintaining a positive demeanor.
• Respond to cleaning requests to maintain presentation.
• Operate janitorial equipment safely (leaf blowers, buffers, etc.).
• Report maintenance or plumbing issues to leadership for resolution.
• Assist with setup, breakdown, and cleanup for zoo events.
• Maintain a safe, organized work environment following safety policies.
• Exhibit a service-oriented attitude inside and outside the zoo.
• Support the San Antonio Zoo mission to inspire action to care for wildlife.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Guest service

Communication

Safety precautions

English proficiency

Physical fitness

Janitorial experience

Tools

Floor buffers

Cleaning chemicals

Power equipment

Job description

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio

Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As a Zoo Quality Host, you will play a vital role in ensuring that every guest’s first and lasting impression of the San Antonio Zoo is a positive one. You will help maintain the zoo’s grounds, buildings, and facilities, ensuring a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for guests, staff, and animals. This position requires pride in presentation, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering outstanding guest service every day.

As a Zoo Quality Host, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Preparing zoo grounds and facilities for guest arrival.
• Cleaning and maintaining restrooms, public areas, walkways, benches, tables, and trash receptacles throughout the zoo.
• Performing daily upkeep of mulch beds, pathways, and general grounds to ensure a neat appearance.
• Assisting guests courteously by providing information or directions as needed, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor at all times.
• Responding quickly to guest or staff cleaning requests to maintain a high standard of presentation.
• Safely operating janitorial equipment, including leaf blowers, power sweepers, pressure washers, walk-behind vacuums, and floor buffers.
• Using approved cleaning agents and chemicals safely and according to training and procedure.
• Reporting maintenance or plumbing issues promptly to leadership for resolution.
• Assisting with setup, breakdown, and cleanup for zoo events, including after-hours or special occasions.
• Maintaining a safe and organized work environment by following all safety policies and procedures.
• Consistently exhibiting an attitude of service and hospitality inside and outside of the zoo.
• Being fully committed to the mission of the San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and the animals we protect.
• Performing other work-related duties as required and assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Must be at least 16 years of age or older.
• Ability to understand and apply necessary safety precautions within the zoo environment.
• Strong guest service and communication skills, with the ability to interact courteously and professionally with guests, staff, and volunteers.
• Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions in English.
• Physical ability to perform work tasks that involve bending, standing, kneeling, squatting, lifting, twisting, reaching, or sitting for extended periods.
• Sufficient physical strength, coordination, and agility to operate power equipment safely and efficiently.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, and humidity.
• Prior janitorial or custodial experience preferred.
• Experience with cleaning chemicals and equipment, including floor buffers, is a plus.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, and Drug Screen.
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff — must be available to work days, weekends, holidays, and occasional after-hours assignments.

The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.