Working Title: Zoo Security Officer-intermittent
Job Class: Campus Security Officer
Agency: Minnesota Zoological Garden
Job ID : 94415
Location : Apple Valley
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Intermittent
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 06/02/2026
Closing Date : 06/15/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoo Gardens-Insuff Wk Tm
Division/Unit : Operations / Guest Experience / Emergency Services
Work Shift/Work Hours : varies
Days of Work : varies
Travel Required : Yes - Up to 25% of the time on campus
Salary Range: $23.61 - $32.54 / hourly
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 218 - Insufficient Work Time/Unrep
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
Earn a competitive wage, a retirement plan and free parking. Join an exciting and unique organization with a mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.
Work hours vary based on program needs and may include weekdays, weekends, daytime or evenings. Additional $2.25/hour shift differential for work after 6:00 P.M.
This position is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the Minnesota Zoo campus of nearly 500 acres with over 10 miles of roads/pathways and over 120 buildings including a high school, a preschool, and a full-scale summer day camp program serving up to 10,000 people per day including visitors, school children, staff, volunteers, and hundreds of onsite contractors. The position responds to criminal, medical, mechanical, animal, weather-related and other emergencies at the campus and provides primary direction and decision-making during incidents on the campus that occur during daytime zoo hours and numerous evening events throughout the year.
This position supports operations across a large campus environment and requires the employee to travel between multiple buildings and work sites located throughout the campus to perform assigned duties and respond to operational needs. The incumbent must be able to travel between campus locations in a timely and reliable manner to carry out essential job functions. When job duties require the operation of a motor vehicle to access work sites, transport equipment, or respond to service needs, the employee must be able to safely operate a vehicle and possess a valid and unrestricted driver's license.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Patrol Zoo grounds and facilities campus-wide, by foot and vehicle, for emergency, security and safety incidents, ensuring issues are responded to in a courteous and professional manner, resolved promptly, or escalated to the appropriate resource. Deter unlawful or other inappropriate activity by making assigned rounds in accordance with prescribed policies and procedures; and monitoring, investigating and/or reporting unusual or suspicious conditions or incidents.
Monitor security, communications, and environmental systems from a central control point. The work involves monitoring electronic equipment such as closed circuit T.V. cameras, an electronic environmental monitoring system, emergency phone lines, intrusion sound alarm and tele@type machines.
Coordinate all emergency response and serve as incident command, as appropriate, during critical safety or security incidents. Provide emergency first aid care to level of training for guests, staff, volunteers, interns, externs, and contractorsuntil the patient is able to be escalated to a higher level of care.
Maintain facility access control by enforcing established key/key card responsibility procedures for all campus buildings by cutting and issuing keys/key cards, ordering materials and equipment for key/key cards, and maintaining a database.
Perform recordkeeping and reporting of safety, health, and security access, inspections, concerns and/or incidents ensuring details and data are accurately captured in a timely manner or within required timeframes and easily accessible.
Minimum Qualifications
The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose application materials clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position. To ensure accurate evaluation, your resume must clearly describe your experience in the required areas. For each job, include whether it was full-time, part-time, or intermittent/on-call; how many hours per week you worked; and the month and year you started and ended.
Two (2) years of experience as a Security Patrol Officer, Crime Prevention Officer, Peace Officer, or similar work. Associate's degree in Law Enforcement, Paralegal or related field may substitute for six (6) months of experience; Bachelor's degree in above areas may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Valid current driver's license.
Ability to provide lead work to staff members
Written and verbal communication skills sufficient to complete incident forms and other security related documents, and to verbally communicate with staff in an effective manner.
Ability to work with individuals in a respectful manner and to accurately identify needs and effectively address needs and establish rapport
Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in or knowledge of security at a major public or cultural institution
Computer knowledge sufficient to use IP Camera Systems, Networking, SDS software programs, etc.
Knowledge of standard police practices including rules of evidence/chain of custody, citizen's arrest power, loss prevention techniques, data privacy act, intrusion alarms, detections, surveillance system and fire alarms
Written skills sufficient to write operating procedures, instructions, checklists, and policies; and written and oral communications skills sufficient to defuse conflicts and violent situations
Ability to deal with diverse populations responding with sensitivity to their needs and concerns
Ability to resolve problems and make comprehensive decisions quickly and effectively
Fluency in ASL, Karen, Spanish, Hmong, or any other non-English language
Physical Requirements
Ability to walk grounds, run, bend, kneel, stoop, reach upward, climb ladders and stairs, move heavy objects
Ability to lift children and adults using appropriate body mechanics to chairs, cots, ambulances, etc.
Ability to push/pull up to 150 pounds
Ability to lift carry and/or move up to 50 pounds
Ability to safely apply defensive tactics, including controlling and restraining resistant or agitated individuals using appropriate techniques and within established use of force guidelines
Additional Requirements
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
It is policy of the Minnesota Zoo that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check including fingerprinting
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
