Nature conservation officer: job description

Many graduates begin their careers as volunteers, and move into paid employment once they have gained a significant amount of experience.

What does a Nature conservation officer do? Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills

Typical job responsibilities include:

• managing conservation awareness events such as talks, workshops and guided walks
• helping with volunteer activities and conservation projects
• Developing and implementing policies geared towards sustainable development
• increasing awareness of conservation in the community (eg in schools)
• general administration
• monitoring biodiversity
• preparing conservation reports, plans, publicity materials and displays
• fieldwork
• general maintenance projects
• developing visitor attractions
• wildlife observation
• species surveys
• producing applications for funding

Responding to enquiries from and working with the public is a key feature of the job.

Typical employers of conservation officers

• Charities
• The National Trust
• Local authorities
• Wildlife trusts
• Government organisations
• Conservation groups such as The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)

You can find vacancies online via websites such as Countryside Jobs Link and Countryside Jobs Service. You could also take a look at publications such as New Scientist and Nature – and their respective websites. Some jobs receive little advertising, so networking, job shadowing and speculative applications are advisable.

Qualifications and training required

You normally need a degree in order to become a nature conservation officer. The only way to enter the profession without a degree is to build up a substantial amount of work experience.

While graduates from any degree discipline can become nature conservation officers, an appropriate degree gained in a subject such as biology, zoology, geography, botanical or plant sciences, or environmental sciences is useful. Postgraduate qualifications can also be helpful – particularly for graduates without a relevant degree. However, relevant work experience is often more important than qualifications, and many employees consider it to be a necessity. The National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and The Conservation Volunteer offer volunteering opportunities.

Key skills for conservation officers

• Computer literacy
• Organised and self motivated
• Some understanding of geographical information systems (GIS)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Persistence
• Commitment
• A level of physical fitness