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Zookeeper I Africa

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Zookeeper I Africa

Salary

$41,231.30 - $68,887.19 Annually

Location

Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

13637

Department

Zoo

Opening Date

11/14/2025

Closing Date

11/30/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is seeking to hire an enthusiastic and experienced Zookeeper - Africa. Zookeeper positions play an essential role in animal care, welfare and ensuring safe working environments at the zoo where we maintain many rare, endangered and potentially dangerous animals. This position works in a team environment that plays a critical part in maintaining good standards of animal care, presentation and customer service to the nearly 500,000 visitors to the zoo each year. This position will be assigned to primarily work on the Africa team with animals housed within the Africa areas but may be required to work in any of the Animal Services areas as needed.

For nearly 100 years The Virginia Zoological Park has been committed to saving and protecting the world's wildlife by inspiring a passion for nature and taking conservation action at home and around the world. Come live by the beautiful Chesapeake Bay; kayak launch sites are just outside our perimeter fence. We are situated 30 minutes from the ocean front and 3 hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Department Hiring Salary Range: $41,231 - $68,887

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

+ Observes animals, checking for medical problems, changes in behavior, feeding habits, and overall well-being.

+ Feeds animals as specified by curatorial and veterinary staff in accordance with nutritional and behavioral requirements.

+ Cleans, disinfects, and maintains animal exhibits, enclosures, food and water dishes, pools, and other areas.

+ Keeps daily records on each animal (behavioral observations, and exhibit integrity and maintenance, etc.).

+ Supervises interns when required.

+ Conducts animal demonstrations for zoo visitors and writes educational presentations.

+ Must be able to handle and assist in the restraint and capture of animals.

+ Must be able to lift heavy feed and manure receptacles and walk long distances.

+ Must have knowledge of behavioral characteristics and handling procedures for assigned animals.

+ Must have knowledge of animal restraint apparatus such as ropes, squeeze cages, catch poles, shifts, nets etc.

+ Must be able to use tools and operate small equipment.

+ Requires normal hearing and seeing capabilities and the ability to stand, bend, lift, stoop, push and pull.

+ Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and work in a team environment.

+ Must work in a friendly and professional manner with staff, volunteers, colleagues, and zoo visitors.

+ Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience

Work requires broad knowledge in a general profession or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college with a dedicated zoo keeping or wildlife program

One year of experience as an Animal Caretaker in an AZA accredited institution.

Additional Information & Requirements

Work Location: Virginia Zoological Park, 3500 Granby St., Norfolk, VA 23504

Work Hours: 40 hours a week worked over a 5-workday schedule; schedule may vary. Working weekends and holidays may be required.

+ 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

Do you have a degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, or related area of study?

+ Yes

+ No

04

How many years of full-time paid experience do you have working as a zookeeper in AZA accredited zoos?

+ Less than 1 year

+ 1-3 years

+ 3-4 years

+ 5+ years

05

Please describe your experience with behavioral management and training of zoo animals. Be sure to include examples of behaviors you have trained or helped train, along with the species involved. If you do not possess any relative experience in this area please enter N/A.

06

Please list any additional skills, training, memberships, and/or certifications, or any other experience that you believe makes you an ideal candidate for this position.

07

Do you possess the ability to lift heavy feed and manure receptacles and walk for long distances with or without accommodation?

+ Yes

+ No

08

Please describe specific experience with the husbandry care and breeding of the different families of zoo animals you have worked with.

09

Do you possess any specialized training in zoo animal husbandry? Please select all that apply.

+ No, I have not received specialized training in zoo animal husbandry or a related training topic.

+ Yes, I have taken a course(s) on zoo animal husbandry or a related training topic.

+ Yes, I have attended a workshop(s) on zoo animal husbandry or a related training topic.

+ Yes, I have attended a conference(s) on zoo animal husbandry or a related training topic

+ Yes, I have attended and participated in a different type of zoo animal husbandry training that is not listed above.

10

Have you completed an internship or been previously employed by the Virginia Zoo?

+ Yes

+ No

11

Do you have experience working with large hoof stock and big cats? If so, please describe your experience.

12

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

+ I am not a Veteran

+ I am a Veteran

+ I am a Disabled Veteran

13

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

14

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, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

Required Question

Employer

City of Norfolk

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