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Conservation Officer

Countryside officer
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Construction and building
Protect

Career outlook for conservation officer

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£26,000

Experienced

£32,000

Currently employed in Scotland

700

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

In this role, you would work to protect and maintain the environment. You could work in a range of locations, such as: 

  • forests  
  • coasts 
  • rivers 
  • rural land 
  • buildings   
  • historic sites 

You would work with people within the area to educate them on how to sustain their local environment in their day-to-day lives and promote environmental awareness. Depending on where you work, you might: 

  • advise landowners or the council on how to maintain land 
  • create resources, like leaflets or displays 
  • work directly with communities to help their understanding  
  • survey locations 
  • research and analyse data 
  • work with trades peoples to maintain environments 
  • source funding    
  • support the training of volunteers  

You could be working with people within the community, a landowner or the council.  You will work with a variety of people daily. 

Working conditions

Hours

Your working hours will vary. Depending on your job, you could work evenings or weekends. Most roles will require you to work 35 to 40 hours a week.

Environment

The environment you work with will vary based on your role and the location of your work. You might be working in an office, on site or in the local community.

Travel

In this role, you would need to travel between various locations.

UK employment status

Full-time

84%

Part-time

7%

Self employed

8%

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Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
  • Creative
  • Observation
  • Researching
  • Attention to detail
  • Developing a plan
  • Negotiating

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

The qualifications you need will depend on the type of role you would like to go into. You can get into this role with a relevant HNC or HND. However, as conservation roles can be quite competitive, education to undergraduate or postgraduate degree level could help your chances. 

There is a large variety of courses that can lead you into this role. Relevant courses in conservation include: 

  • Archaeology  
  • History  
  • Architecture  
  • Building Conservation 
  • Construction  
  • Civil or Structural Engineering 
  • Heritage Management  
  • Biology  
  • Earth or Plant Science 
  • Geography 
  • Marine Science  
  • Zoology   

Useful subjects

  • History 
  • Art and design 
  • English 
  • Mathematics 
  • Practical Technologies 

Helpful to have

Relevant experience is valuable to employers. You can gain experience through volunteering – this is a useful way to develop skills and build relationships with valuable contacts. 

You will need to work with a wide range of people, so showing skills in communication and team working are a good way to make yourself stand out. The best thing you can do is be confident in yourself and your skills.