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Zookeeper (Birds)

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Zookeeper (Birds)

Salary

See Position Description

Location

Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

13739

Department

Zoo

Opening Date

01/08/2026

Closing Date

1/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Description

The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is seeking to hire enthusiastic and experienced Zookeepers I and II - Birds. 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. These positions will be assigned to primarily work on the Bird team with animals housed within the Bird section but may be required to work in any of the Animal Care 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:

Zookeeper I - $44,094.67 - $50,599.65

Zookeeper II - $45,858.46 - $52,623.63

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 or a 2-year associate's degree with a dedicated zoo keeping or wildlife program.

Zookeeper I - One or more years working as a zookeeper in an AZA accredited institution.

Zookeeper II - Three or more years working as a zookeeper in an AZA accredited institution.

Preferred License(s) and/or Certifications:

+ Virginia Driving License

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 or equivalent

+ Vocational/Technical Degree

+ Associate's Degree

+ Bachelor's Degree

+ Master's Degree or higher

03

In what field was your degree major?

04

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

+ Less than one (1) year of experience

+ 1 to 3 years of experience

+ 3 to 5 years of experience

+ More than five (5) years of experience

05

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

06

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

07

Please describe specific experiences you have with hand-rearing or incubation with different bird species.

08

Do you have experience working with dangerous birds? If so, please describe your experience.

09

Describe your experience with safety drills in a zoological setting.

10

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

+ Yes

+ No

11

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

+ Yes

+ No

12

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

13

Do you have a valid driver's license?

+ Yes

+ No

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."

15

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

16

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

17

A conviction (felony or misdemeanor) does not necessarily eliminate you from employment consideration. A criminal background check is conducted on all new hires. Failure to disclose all criminal convictions may result in disqualification from employment consideration or may result in dismissal from City of Norfolk employment if you have been hired. The nature of the offense; the time that has passed since the offense, conduct and/or completion of the sentence; and the nature of the job sought may be taken into consideration. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?

+ I have been convicted of a felony

+ I have been convicted of a misdemeanor

+ I have been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor

+ I have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor

18

If you answered, that you have been convicted of a felony and/or a misdemeanor, please provide an explanation including the city, state and date of the conviction. This excludes minor traffic violations such as speeding tickets.

Required Question

Employer

City of Norfolk

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