Animal Health Keeper II

Animal Health Keeper II

Salary

$44,094.67 - $73,873.95 Annually

Location

3500 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Permanent Full-time

Job Number

14230

Department

Zoo

Opening Date

07/10/2026

Closing Date

8/2/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The Virginia Zoo is seeking an Animal Health Keeper II to join our expanding animal health team. The growing department will include a Senior Director of Animal Health, two associate veterinarians, an office manager/senior veterinary technician, two veterinary technicians, a Lead Animal Health Keeper, and two Animal Health Keepers (one Keeper I and one Keeper II). This position supports the department's continued expansion.

The Animal Health Keeper II is primarily responsible for daily commissary operations, ensuring accurate and timely preparation and delivery of animal diets. The role also includes providing husbandry care for animals in the hospital or quarantine areas and assisting the veterinary team during animal procedures.

This position offers an opportunity to support the nutrition, care, and welfare of a diverse animal collection within a collaborative, progressive animal health team.

Located just steps from the Chesapeake Bay-with kayak access outside our fence-and only 30 minutes from the oceanfront and three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Virginia Zoo offers both a meaningful career and an excellent quality of life.

Department Hiring Salary Range: $45,858.46 - 52,623.63

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

Commissary Operations

• Prepare specialized animal diets following detailed instructions and schedules.
• Chop, grind, portion, and handle food using commercial kitchen equipment.
• Deliver diets to designated animal care areas on time.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of commissary facilities, equipment, and vehicles.
• Receive, inspect, and store food and supplies in compliance with safety standards.
• Monitor and rotate stock; remove expired or spoiled products.
• Maintain accurate records of food usage, inventory, and deliveries.
• Ensure all food meets established quality and safety standards.
• Follow USDA, AZA, HACCP, and Virginia Zoo procedures for food safety and biosecurity.
• Operate equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.
• Assist Lead Animal Health Keeper with ordering inventory
• Act as point of contact for commissary in absence of Lead Animal Health Keeper
• Liaison with Horticulture Team on Browse program

Animal Care and Husbandry

• Provide husbandry care for animals in hospital or quarantine, following established SOPs.
• Observe animals and document changes in behavior, diet, health, reproductive status, or body condition.
• Feed animals according to nutritional and behavioral requirements set by curatorial and veterinary staff.
• Administer medications as directed.
• Assist with the capture, crating, and transport of animals as needed.
• Provide approved environmental enrichment.
• Clean and maintain animal enclosures, food and water containers, pools, and related areas.
• Demonstrate knowledge of behavioral characteristics and safe handling procedures for a wide variety of species.
• Act as point of contact for quarantine space in absence of Lead Animal Health Keeper

General Responsibilities

• Ensure the health and safety of animals, staff, and the public by following all applicable standards and protocols.
• Adhere to all departmental Standard Operating Procedures.

Perform additional 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 Bachelors degree or equivalent

One year of experience as an Animal Caretaker.

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in an AZA zoo commissary
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in an animal care position at an AZA facility
• Bachelor's degree in a science or nutrition program
• Proven interest in animal nutrition (completion of nutrition courses and/or workshops)
• Intermediate level of knowledge in zoological animal nutrition and dietary needs.
• Ability to follow detailed diet instructions accurately.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and storage procedures following USDA, AZA, and HACCP requirements.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Proficiency in basic computer software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, inventory systems).
• Physical ability to lift/move items up to 50 lbs regularly.
• Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and early hours.

Preferred License(s) and/or Certification(s):

• Valid drivers license required.
• Forklift certification preferred (or must be obtained).

Additional Information & Requirements

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

Work Hours: Schedule subject to change based on department needs. Currently Sunday through Thursday 7 am to 4 pm.

• 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
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

03

Elaborate on your experience preparing animal diets in a zoological setting.

04

What nutrition courses or workshops have you attended?

05

Do you have experience training/mentoring others? If so, please describe.

06

Do you have experience providing husbandry care for animals in quarantine? If yes, what protocols or biosecurity measures did you follow?

07

Have you assisted with animal care in a veterinary hospital setting? If yes, what types of procedures or daily tasks were your responsibility?

08

List the taxa you have worked with previously and rate your experience level as beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

09

What is your keeper experience (none, 6-12 months, 1-3 year, > 3 years) working with the following taxa and list the genus: a. Primates b. Large carnivores c. Hoofstock d. Small mammals e. Birds f. Snakes g. Chelonians h. Lizards i. Amphibians j. Fish k. Invertebrates

10

Do you have experience working with or around veterinary teams, including administering medications or helping during animal handling or transport? Please explain your experience.

11

Do you have experience manually restraining animals? If yes, what species?

12

Describe any experience you have with mentoring/training others

13

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

14

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

15

The expected salary range is $45,858.46 - $52,623.63. Are you willing to accept a salary within this range?

• Yes
• No

16

Do you have a valid Forklift Operators license?

• Yes
• No

17

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

18

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

Employer City of Norfolk