Lead Zookeeper of Americas/Zoo Farm

Description

The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is seeking to hire an enthusiastic and experienced Lead Zookeeper of Americas/Zoo Farm. 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 is a field supervisory position that leads the Americas/Zoo Farm area team of zookeepers in the Animal Services department. The position carries out essential tasks directly, also serves to teach, mentor and ensure good performance of zookeepers doing the same. This position is essential for animal care, health, hygiene and welfare; as well as to ensure that a good standard of presentation is maintained for our nearly 500,000 visitors to the zoo each year.

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 Starting Salary Range: $41,775 – $48,041

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Provides experienced husbandry care for the mammals and birds in the Americas/Zoo Farm collection at the Virginia Zoo directly and supervises other zookeepers, interns and volunteers in doing the same.
• Coordinates behavioral training and enrichment programs for the mammals and birds in the Americas/Zoo Farm collection, implements breeding protocols, assists veterinarian with physical examinations, and observing behavior.
• Ensures good facilities maintenance and display standards for the Americas/Zoo Farm exhibits and surrounding public spaces including area theming.
• Undertakes daily cleaning and maintaining of exhibits and exhibit areas, service areas and animal holding units, utilizing various tools, instruments, disinfectants; with the ability to do so safely and supervise others to do the same.
• Performs administrative duties by keeping records on animal behavior and exhibit repairs, maintaining inventory, filling out paperwork and surveys, serving as the Institutional Representative for various SSP’s, conducting research when requested, preparing reports and presenting findings, attending meetings, and training volunteers and personnel.
• Assists Animal Services managers with staff evaluations and performance reviews of zookeepers, interns and volunteers in assigned area.
• Educates the public by conducting tours, providing information, and giving presentations when required.
• Assists in staff training and education for employee development, setting team goals and implementing policies and implementing work plans with Animal Services managers.
• Responsible for upholding organizational policy.
• Recognizes signs of pest infestation in animal areas and follows standard pest control protocols as directed.
• Ability to communicate work instructions, directions and organizational policy clearly and effectively.
• 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.

Five years of experience as a zookeeper or exotic animal care professional.

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or a 2-year associate degree from an accredited college with a dedicated zoo keeping or wildlife program.
• Five years or more working as a full-time zookeeper 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.

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