Conservation officer
Educate communities to become greener so they can protect and maintain their local environment.
About the job
What it's 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.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
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.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- project management
- ecology
- geographic information systems
- biology
- land management
- implement projects
- social work
- risk analysis
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- creative
- negotiating
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- written communication
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
History
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
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.
Search relevant opportunities on Volunteer.scot.
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.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Conservation officer'
