Zookeeper Assistant Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $91,716,911.10 - $153,657,819.79 Annually
Location : 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Intermittent Temporary
Job Number: 14125R
Department: Zoo
Opening Date: 09/04/2026
Closing Date: 9/14/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Norfolk, Virginia stands as America's most genuine and dynamic urban waterfront city. It is the home to the world's largest naval station and serves as the business, arts, and cultural hub of Coastal Virginia. Consistently ranked as an exemplary place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous reputable publications.
The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is currently seeking to employ an enthusiastic and seasoned Temporary Zookeeper specializing in Birds. Zookeeper roles are pivotal in ensuring animal care, welfare, and safe working conditions within the zoo, which houses numerous rare, endangered, and potentially dangerous species.
This position will operate within a collaborative team environment, contributing significantly to maintaining high standards in animal care, presentation, and customer service for nearly 500,000 annual zoo visitors. The candidate will primarily work with the Bird team within the avian section but may be required to assist in any of the zoo's animal care areas as needed.
***The department hiring rate for this position is $21.20 per hour***
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.
• Required 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.
One year of experience as an Animal Caretaker.
The preferred candidates will possess:

• A minimum of three months' experience working in an AZA accredited institution as a zookeeper, paid zookeeper intern, or similar position.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Driver's License

Work hours: Working a flexible schedule, which can vary. Working weekends and holidays may be required.
Work location: Virginia Zoological Park, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk 23504
Intermittent\Retiree Part-time Employees:Intermittent\Retiree part-time employees will work no more than 1040 hours in a twelve (12) month period of time. The hours are flexible and based on the department's operation needs. This position is not eligible for benefits.

• 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
In what field was your degree major?
04
How many years of experience do you have working in an AZA accredited institution as a zookeeper, paid zookeeper intern, or a similar position.

• Less than 3 months of experience
• 3 months - 1 year of experience
• 1 - 2 years of experience
• 2 - 3 years of experience
• 3 or more years of experience

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 indicate N/A.
06
Please describe specific experience with the husbandry care of the different families of zoo animals you have worked with. If you do not have any related experience indicate N/A.
07
Please describe specific experiences you have with hand-rearing or incubation with different bird species. If you do not have any related experience indicate N/A.
08
Do you have experience working with dangerous birds?

• Yes
• No

09
If you answered yes to having experience working with dangerous birds, please describe your experience. If you do not have any related experience indicate N/A.
10
Do you possess any specialized training in zoo animal husbandry (attending courses, workshops, conferences, etc.)?

• Yes
• No

11
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

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
Have you completed an internship at the Virginia Zoo?

• Yes
• No

14
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

Required Question