Executive Director of Virginia Zoological Park

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.  

The Virgina Zoo provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages, with the mission committed to engaging our community in taking action to protect and save the world’s wildlife and their ecosystems.  The Zoo welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually and is home to more than 700 animals.  The Zoo showcases ecosystems from around the planet including Africa, Asia, an expansive herptile collection and Virginia farmyard.  The organization supports many in-situ and ex-situ conservation programs and has a significant freshwater turtle, public facing, SAFE habitat experience.  

The Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1982. New expansions currently under construction and slated for completion in late 2026, include a large one-horned rhino breeding habitat, a public facing animal ambassador headquarters, a shared virtual reality pavilion, animal habitats connected by overhead mesh walkways, significant indoor and outdoor classroom facilities, and more.

The Norfolk Zoo is seeking to hire an Executive Director of Zoological Operations that is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategy for all aspects of the teams responsible for animal care, exhibitry, and environmental and facility care. Come work with a passionate team in the fields of animal care, horticulture, and facility operations to help steer the team towards an institutional vision to inspire guests and foster stewardship of the environment and life on earth.  The Virginia Zoo is a municipally owned and operated facility by the City of Norfolk with a significant non-profit arm, the Virgina Zoological Society.

• Reports directly to the City of Norfolk office of the City Manager and manages a high-performing team of more than thirty-five animal care specialists, horticulturists, and facility support technicians. Along with these teams is a ten-member team of directors.
• Serve as a positive leader, through proactive communication, timely feedback, staff development, efficient use of departmental resources, and careful prioritization of institutional goals.
• Model a leadership style that fosters an atmosphere of inclusion, teamwork, and safety, and demonstrates the Zoo values (Integrity, Learning, Commitment to Excellence, Stewardship & Conservation, Leadership & Growth, Fun!)
• Directly oversees and supports a Curatorial Team (Birds and Mammals, Ambassador Programs, and Veterinary Team) and other Zoo Operations Managers.
• Responsible for the consistency and quality of all aspects of care for the living collection.
• Responsible for collaboratively maximizing impact of Zoo resources in pursuit of fulfilling the Zoo mission to inspire, including acquisitions/dispositions, strategic planning, research and development, conservation impact, and interdepartmental synergy.
• Responsible for oversite facilitating compliance with all local, state, federal, and other regulatory guidelines and standards, including but not limited to: USDA APHIS, USFWS, AZA, OSHA
• Works closely with institutional colleagues to ensure proactive maintenance and development of new projects to meet animal care and exhibitry goals.
• Provide insight on construction, habitat and facility design and maintenance of modern zoological practices in animal keeping and husbandry, under the philosophies established by the Zoo’s leadership team.
• Responsible for representing the Zoo in the field of animal care, and developing and maintaining relationships with other animal care, science, and conservation-based entities in support of the Zoo's mission.

• Four-year degree in zoological, biological sciences, or related field. Candidates with a suitable combined equivalent of education and experience will be considered.
• Eight (8) years of direct experience caring for some combination of the following taxa: birds, herptiles, big cats, and other primate mammals, etc.
• Five (5) years of experience serving in a supervisory role at a curator level or above at an AZA zoological or aquarium institution, with responsibility for staff recruitment, team culture, budget, and high-level collection management.

Critical Skills/Competencies: 

• Exceptional interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills including presentation skills, and the ability to listen actively by summarizing, asking clarifying questions, and interpreting.
• Demonstrated commitment to expertise in areas of animal care including training, welfare and wellbeing, husbandry technical competency, Exhibitry, research, or reproduction.
• Demonstrated leadership acumen in management and supervision of a large, diverse, and passionate team of zoological science novices and experts.
• Demonstrated experience in departmental administration, including budgetary oversight, project development and management, strategic planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Physical Demands of the Job:   

• This position requires periods of standing and walking as well as extended periods of sitting with technology systems and reporting. The role will primarily be within the Zoo environment.
• Must be able to function effectively in a variety of exhibit and non-exhibit settings. This may include, walking on wet floors, and outdoor work under variety of conditions: cold weather, hot weather, high humidity, rain, etc.
• Lifting of heavy objects (up to 50 pounds).
• Hours and availability: This is a salaried position calculated at 40 hours per week; Position will share in providing on-call support for after-hours emergencies, weekends, and holiday coverage.

This position is a senior executive unclassified position which serves at the will of the City Manager. City of Norfolk residency is required within six (6) months of hire. 

The City of Norfolk offers an affordable and comprehensive benefits plan.  Availability and options described are dependent upon category of employment. Benefits include:

•    Competitive salary
•    Health, vision, dental and retirement 
•    Relocation Assistance
•    Signing Bonus: This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 signing bonus.

Salary : $116,696 - $197,186