Zoo Maintenance Technician

City of Norfolk, VA; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Pension plan

Life insurance

Medical and dental benefits

Employee parking

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The City of Norfolk, VA is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic II to service zoo facilities, enclosures, and public areas. You will perform preventive and corrective maintenance on buildings, roofs, fencing, and mechanical systems, including chillers and cooling towers, in a fast-paced, outdoor setting.

You will respond to work orders, document tasks in the asset management system, and coordinate with outside contractors while ensuring safety and AZA standards are met.

Qualifications

• Two years' experience as maintenance mechanic.
• Two to four years of progressively responsible experience in building, grounds, or facilities maintenance, preferably in a zoo, park, aquarium, or public assembly facility.

Responsibilities

• Perform skilled maintenance and repair of zoo facilities, including roofs, fences, walkways, animal enclosures, and public areas.
• Maintain and troubleshoot building systems at the Administration Building, including chillers, cooling towers, and standard office-style infrastructure.
• Respond to service requests and radio calls, document work in the asset management system.
• Conduct preventive maintenance to reduce equipment failures and extend system life.
• Escort outside contractors and City trades to work sites, ensuring safety and access.
• Ensure compliance with AZA accreditation standards through upkeep of animal housing and visitor facilities.
• Maintain safe environments for staff, visitors, and animals.
• Use mobile devices and radios to monitor and respond to work orders in real time.
• Document all work performed in Asset Essentials and coordinate with supervisors.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Building systems knowledge

Outdoor work

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description

The Maintenance Mechanic II is responsible for performing skilled maintenance and repair work across a wide range of facilities and grounds. This position ensures the upkeep of buildings, fences, roofs, walkways, exhibits, and outdoor infrastructure, along with supporting the Administration Building's mechanical systems, such as the chiller and cooling tower. Work will involve both preventive and corrective maintenance to sustain operations and ensure the Zoo remains safe and welcoming for staff, animals, and visitors.

This is a hands-on position that requires adaptability and versatility. The Zoo presents unique challenges compared to standard facilities, as work often involves specialized enclosures, outdoor structures, and sensitive environments where safety is paramount. The incumbent will respond to work orders and radio calls, document completed work using the City's asset management system, and proactively perform preventive maintenance tasks. While the position does not supervise staff or lead crews, the incumbent will occasionally serve as a liaison to outside contractors and other City trades, escorting them to appropriate areas within the Zoo and ensuring work is completed safely and effectively. This position is well-suited for individuals who prefer variety and outdoor work, enjoy moving from task to task, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.

The Zoo encompasses a wide variety of structures including animal enclosures, exhibit features, outdoor spaces, and traditional buildings such as the Administration Building, Education offices, and ticketing areas. Maintaining these facilities is essential to ensuring visitor safety, supporting Zoo operations, and upholding the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards, which require a high level of safety, functionality, and proactive maintenance.

Departmental Hiring Salary Range

$46,974.34-$53,697.58

Essential Functions

• Perform skilled maintenance and repair of Zoo facilities, including roofs, fences, walkways, animal enclosures, and public areas.
• Maintain and troubleshoot building systems at the Administration Building, including chillers, cooling towers, and standard office-style infrastructure.
• Respond to service requests and radio calls promptly, performing corrective action and documenting work through the asset management system.
• Conduct preventive maintenance tasks to reduce equipment failures and extend the life of building systems and Zoo infrastructure.
• Escort and assist outside contractors and other City trade personnel when work is outsourced, ensuring safe access to sensitive areas.
• Ensure compliance with AZA accreditation standards through consistent upkeep of animal housing, visitor facilities, and safety systems.
• Support Zoo operations by maintaining safe and functional environments for staff, visitors, and animals.
• Utilize mobile devices and radios to monitor and respond to work orders in real time.
• Documents all work performed in the Asset Essentials work order management system, maintaining accurate and complete records.
• Collaborate with supervisors and other Facility Maintenance personnel to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Adhere to all safety requirements and protocols, especially in animal-sensitive or public areas.

Education/Experience

Work requires knowledge necessary to understand basic operational and technical processes. Level of knowledge equivalent to four years of high school or equivalency.

Two years' experience as maintenance mechanic.

Preferred Education/Experience

Two to four years of progressively responsible experience performing building, grounds, or facilities maintenance, preferably in a unique environment such as a zoo, park, aquarium, or public assembly facility. Additional vocational or technical coursework in building trades (carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical).

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Driver's License Required

Work Hours

This position is primarily scheduled 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, however, off days may alternate and the incumbent may occasionally be scheduled to work a weekend to support Zoo operations and events. Flexibility is essential to meet the needs of the facility and ensure proper coverage.

• 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.