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General Curator

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General Curator

Salary

$54,601.07 - $91,256.31 Annually

Location

Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

13304

Department

Zoo

Opening Date

07/15/2025

Closing Date

8/17/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The Virginia Zoo, located in Norfolk, Virginia, is home to more than 700 animals representing over 150 species. Founded in 1901 and residing on 53 beautifully landscaped acres, the Virginia Zoo has demonstrated a commitment to saving and protecting the world’s wildlife by inspiring a passion for nature and taking conservation action at home and around the world. The Virginia Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in education, recreation, science, wildlife conservation, and animal care and welfare. For more than a century, the Zoo has connected adults, families and school children with the natural world and its wildlife.

The Virginia Zoo is seeking a General Curator/Zoo Manager. The Zoo Manager under the direction of the Assistant Director of Animal Services is responsible for assisting with the management of the Curatorial staff and the animal collection. The Zoo Manager will also serve as the Behavioral Husbandry training and enrichment coordinator for the zoo.

Department Hiring Salary Range: $54,601 - $91,256

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

+ Oversee the daily operations of the Animal Services department, serves as the Manager on Duty

+ Participate in the Dangerous Animal Response Team activities and training. May assume leadership role in executing the zoo's established animal escape procedures.

+ Responds to emergencies, takes control of the situation and sees it through to conclusion.

+ Assists with the planning and implementation of zoo safety drills

+ Assists with Animal Services staff recruitment, supervision, evaluations, coaching and scheduling of staff

+ Serves as the department volunteer and intern coordinator

+ Serves at the Behavioral Husbandry training and enrichment coordinator for the zoo.

+ Must have extensive operant conditioning experience and be capable of managing progressive animal care and training programs.

+ Directs and trains the staff to maintain high standards of care, and advance modern practices that maximize animal wellbeing.

+ Develop and implement husbandry protocols and care standards in line with best practices and regulatory requirements.

+ Oversee the planning, design, and maintenance of animal habitats and enclosures to promote natural behaviors and well-being.

+ Engage in conservation, research, and breeding programs aligned with the zoo’s mission and international standards.

+ Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to animal care and facility operations.

+ Manage budgeting, procurement of supplies, and record-keeping related to animal care and facility operations.

+ Serve on the zoo safety committee and other committees as necessary

+ Assists with events, behind the scenes tours, donor tours, marketing and PR.

Education/Experience

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, or related field.

Three years experience in animal management.

Preferred Education/Experience:

+ Master’s degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Animal Science, or related field.

+ Ten years’ experience at an AZA accredited facility with 5 years of management experience

+ Extensive experience in animal husbandry and management within a zoological or wildlife setting.

+ Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

+ Knowledge of animal behavior, welfare standards, conservation principles, and regulatory requirements.

+ Ability to manage diverse teams and coordinate multidisciplinary projects.

+ Experience with budget management and procurement processes.

Additional Information & Requirements

Work Location: 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504

Work Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 7:00AM – 4:00PM

+ Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

+ Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

+ Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

+ Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

+ The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

+ I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

+ High School Diploma/GED

+ Some College (6 months or more)

+ Vocational/Technical Degree

+ Associate's Degree

+ Bachelor's Degree

+ Master's Degree or higher

03

How many years of professional experience do you have working in animal care at an AZA-accredited facility?

+ Less than 3 years

+ 3–5 years

+ 6–7 years

+ 8+ years

04

Which best describes your approach to improving animal wellbeing or operations?

+ I actively seek and implement innovations

+ I support improvements initiated by others

+ I follow established routines with little change

+ I have not been involved in improvement initiatives

05

Give an example of how your innovative idea improved animal wellbeing?

06

What is your experience with animal collection planning?

07

Have you been involved in any AZA accreditation processes?

+ I’ve led or coordinated the AZA accreditation process

+ I’ve contributed to documentation or inspections

+ I’ve only participated passively (e.g., staff interviews)

+ I have not been involved in accreditation

08

What is your experience with AZA programs (SSPs, TAGs, SAGs)?

+ I have led or co-led AZA program participation

+ I’ve actively participated in planning or decisions

+ I’ve attended meetings but had limited involvement

+ I’ve had no direct involvement

09

Please list SSP’s, TAG’s, SAG’s you have participated in with level of involvement.

10

How often have you participated in emergency drills or real emergency situations involving animals or guests?

+ Never

+ Occasionally, but not in a leadership role

+ Regularly, in a supporting role

+ Regularly, in a leadership or decision-making role

11

What is your experience with developing or implementing animal training and enrichment programs?

+ I’ve led the development and implementation of programs

+ I’ve contributed to development but didn’t lead

+ I’ve followed existing training and enrichment programs

+ I have no experience

12

If you led or contributed to program development, please describe an example:

13

Describe your most successful animal training experience.

14

What is your experience with hiring new staff?

15

What is your experience with exhibit design or renovation from an animal care perspective?

16

How do you prepare your team for crisis events (disease outbreaks, inclement weather, etc.)?

17

Describe your leadership style and how it applies to managing a zoological team.

18

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

+ Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee

+ Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee

+ No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

19

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

Required Question

Employer

City of Norfolk

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