Description
The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is seeking to hire an enthusiastic and experienced Temporary Rover Zookeeper. 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 work team at the zoo is small and this position plays a critical part of 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 Bird or Farm team with animals housed within these areas but may be required to work in any of the Animal Services areas as needed.
This is a temporary position not to exceed 1040 hours
Hourly Rate: $19.82
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 Location: 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504
Work Hours: Flexible schedule, hours may vary. Weekends and holidays may be required. Maximum of 1040 hours
- 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.
- Less than High School Diploma/Equivalency
- 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
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?
- 0 to 6 months
- 6 months to 1 year
- 1 to 2 years
- 3 to four years
- More than 4 years
05
Do you have experience with behavioral management and training zoo animals?
06
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.)
07
Do you have any specialized training in zoo animal husbandry?
08
If yes, please describe the type of specialized training you have received (attending courses, workshops, conferences, etc.) in zoo animal husbandry?
09
Please describe specific experience with the husbandry care of the different families of zoo animals you have worked with?
10
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.
11
Have you completed an internship at the Virginia Zoo?
12
Do you possess the ability to lift heavy feed and manure receptacles and walk for long distances with or without accommodation?
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
- Required Question
