NATURE CONSERVATION OFFICER & ECOLOGIST

Salary

Graduate with experience: £18,000 - £27,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £35,000
Senior Post (responsibility for staff, policy development): £35,000 to £45,000
Salaries are generally higher in the private/consultancy sector

Main Employers

• Government Bodies: Defra, English Nature, Environment Agency, Countryside Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage
• Local and Regional Government
• Consultancies
• Charities: Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Parks Authorities
• Large Utility Companies: Thames Water
• Pressure groups: Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace
• Nature Reserves, National and Country Parks, Private Estates
• Engineering and Manufacturing Companies
• Housing Developers and Construction Companies

Job Profile

A Nature Conservation Officer’s remit is to educate and raise awareness of environmental issues. They work to protect, manage and enhance the local environment, setting targets within Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP’s). They often work in partnership with other voluntary and statutory organizations, spend time advising and negotiating with employers in private industry and liaise with all sectors of the community.

Role and Responsibilities

Jobs will vary according to each employer. However you could expect to be involved in but not limited to:
• Implementing local and national BAP’s in partnership with local, national, statutory and voluntary organisations based on ecological surveys and scientific observation
• Contributing to Environmental Impact Assessments for sustainable management
• Contributing to the selection of sites of special scientific interest and national nature reserves
• Monitoring habitats and sites
• Promoting the concept of sustainability and providing advice to the public, clients, community groups, landowners, planners and developers through talks, tours, literature, displays and workshops
• Recruiting, training and managing staff and volunteer groups
• Budgeting, fundraising and submitting financial bids
• Liaising with the media

Qualifications

Some employers see a MSc as the minimum qualification required and entry may be difficult without one, although candidates with a relevant degree or HND stand a good chance if they have experience.

Relevant Degree and HND subjects include:

• Biology
• Botany/Plant Science
• Earth Science (Physical)
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Land/Estate Management
• Marine Sciences/Oceanography
• Planning
• Surveying
• Sustainable Development
Consultancies offer a diverse range of projects and therefore need a broad skill base. Identification skills are greatly sought after and this is something which is rarely taught on undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Experience is vital.
It is impossible to overstate the value of work experience, whether paid or unpaid, in helping to develop expertise. In the environmental sector, it is not just the skills that you gain from work placements but the commitment and motivation such placements demonstrate. Get out in the field and build up practical skills and experiences such as laying hedges, taking photographs and identifying species. Any experience in conservation, management, education or planning will help in the long-run.

Potential applicants should be able to show evidence of:

• Good administrative and communication skills
• IT and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) skills
• Long term interest in conservation issues

Career Opportunities

Developing a career in this area is challenging. Ecological and conservation jobs are some of the most sought after posts. Most people within the sector have undertaken some form of post-graduate qualification and have often responded to job vacancies at well below their level of qualification. A typical Wildlife Trust job would attract in excess of 500 applicants for a post that offers a salary of £15,000 to £20,000. In order to gain experience and promotion, it is normally necessary to move between the public, voluntary and private sectors.