Specialist or Senior Specialist, Employee Coaching & Support (People & Culture)

Specialist Or Senior Specialist, Employee Coaching & Support

Pay range: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the starting range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $71,700 to $105,103.40 annually. An offer within this range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer, in alignment with Oakland Zoo's compensation philosophy.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting October 7, 2026. Applicants must submit a resume and 1-page cover letter outlining their responses to the following prompts. Applications without a cover letter/responses will not be reviewed:

• Describe a time when you helped people communicate across differences.
• Share a time when you helped a diverse group of people navigate change. What was your general approach?
• Share an example of a time when you helped someone receive constructive feedback that they were not ready to hear.

Position Summary

The Specialist or Senior Specialist, Employee Coaching & Support provides essential coaching, training and facilitation for staff throughout Oakland Zoo. They help staff and managers alike develop the tools to navigate conflict, work through challenging conversations, build trust, and foster an environment in which all staff feel supported and empowered to do their best work. They also oversee performance management, gather feedback on the employee experience and leverage trend analysis to develop enhanced training for staff across the organization.

Essential Job Duties

Strategic People Coaching:

• Support the VP, P&C to develop and implement a forward-looking people strategy rooted in equity and aligned with the organization's goals and values.
• Provide thought partnership to managers and leaders on people-related matters.
• Proactively communicate with and provide training to staff related to HR matters in the institution

Employee Experience and Culture:

• Foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture that aligns with the organization's values.
• Lead initiatives to enhance the overall employee experience.
• Support VP, P&C in developing and implementing policies and programs that promote employee well-being and work-life balance.
• Serve as a member of employee engagement, event committees and working groups, such as All Staff Working Group, EOY Committee, and Internal Communications.

Leadership Development and Succession Planning:

• Implement leadership development programs to cultivate a supported and diverse pipeline of future leaders.
• Support department leaders in implementing succession planning initiatives to ensure continuity in leadership roles.
• Identify needs and provide general and focused coaching and support to executives and managers.

Performance Management:

• Manage the Performance Management processes for all staff.
• Provide input to VP, P&C around employee support and development systems.
• Provide guidance on goal setting, annual reviews, and development plans.
• Support VP and Director in reviewing and administering Performance Action Plans
• Foster a culture of continuous feedback and improvement at all levels.

Surveying:

• Conduct small- and large-scale surveys to assess employee sentiment, gather input and make recommendations to Senior Leadership around opportunities and challenges.
• Assess progress toward goals to create a welcoming and accessible environment for all.

Learning and Development:

• With the support of the VP, P&C, develop and execute training programs to enhance employee interpersonal skills.
• Provide guidance to managers in supporting professional development and career growth opportunities for staff.
• Work with VP, P&C to identify and address interpersonal skills gaps, unconscious bias, and other needs within the organization.
• Serve as a certified trainer in one or more of the Crucial Conversations courses (training provided)

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None

Who You Are:

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience (10 years for the Senior Specialist), or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A BA may be considered equivalent to up to 3 years of relevant experience, and an AA may be considered equivalent to up to 2 years. Foundational or conceptual knowledge required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in Human Resources.
• Proven experience in leadership roles with a strategic focus and skills in change management.
• Proven ability to facilitate constructive dialogues and navigate conflict with neutrality and a solution-focused approach.
• Strong understanding of California employment laws and regulations.
• Sophisticated understanding of power dynamics, implicit bias and systemic factors that influence employee performance, satisfaction and retention.
• Ability to align people initiatives with business goals.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite, and Zoom, including a strong knowledge of Excel, Teams and Google documents/sheet.
• Technologically savvy and able to learn software quickly.
• Willingness to work on some weekends and holidays as needed.

Bonus If You Have:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a related field
• Certification or equivalent background in Restorative Practices
• Additional certifications related to coaching, training or conflict resolution
• Demonstrated experience advising and presenting to senior leadership and Boards of Directors.

Work Environment: Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Primarily office-based with regular visits throughout Oakland Zoo grounds.
• Standard business hours with some flexibility.
• Hybrid work may be available after an evaluation period and is dependent on ongoing performance assessments.

Physical Considerations: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Sustained computer-based administrative and analytical work, using standard or assistive technology for extended periods of up to 8 hours every day.
• Ability to communicate and exchange information effectively and to review, interpret, and work with digital or written materials, using verbal, written, or assistive methods as appropriate.
• Ability to navigate Zoo grounds

Knowledge/Skills/Qualities: May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Analytical and Conceptual Aptitude: engages in and facilitates broad organizational strategic thinking/planning with awareness of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and cultural relevance.
• Communication: communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing.
• Dependability: demonstrates trustworthiness and reliability, including while working with little or no direct supervision.
• Flexibility: nimbly adapts to evolving priorities and urgent needs; handles intervals of high pressure while maintaining perspective and humor.
• Impact: inspired to contribute to the success of a project or the organization.
• Inclusive Culture: fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Inclusive Facilitation: able to comfortably move a group through pre-determined content while balancing inclusion and timing; able to flexibly weave in related content to make connections for learners and adjust or pivot when needed?
• Leadership: mentors, advises, and develops people across identities with consideration for cultural relevance and responsiveness, self-awareness around implicit bias and understanding of the power dynamics that exist in organizations.
• Passion: wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo's mission and PRIDE values at all times.
• Project management: effectively prioritizes commitments, driving forward multiple high-profile and complex projects simultaneously with flexibility, resourcefulness, and agility to adapt to shifting organizational needs.