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Environmental Restoration Planners

O*NET files this work under Environmental Restoration Planners: people who collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. The skills rated most useful are critical thinking, writing, and speaking. Expect to develop environmental restoration project schedules and budgets. On the six-type interest model it reads IRC, meaning research, analysis and working through hard problems comes first, followed by hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Getting in usually takes graduate school and often five years or more of related experience, a level O*NET calls extensive preparation. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need helping, teaching or caring for people.

What they do

Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.

Main tasks

  • Develop environmental restoration project schedules and budgets.
  • Provide technical direction on environmental planning to energy engineers, biologists, geologists, or other professionals working to develop restoration plans or strategies.
  • Create habitat management or restoration plans, such as native tree restoration and weed control.
  • Conduct site assessments to certify a habitat or to ascertain environmental damage or restoration needs.
  • Collect and analyze data to determine environmental conditions and restoration needs.
  • Supervise and provide technical guidance, training, or assistance to employees working in the field to restore habitats.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Complex Problem Solving

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and writing.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 2.1 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IRC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Coastal and Estuary Specialist
  • Fisheries Habitat Restoration Specialist
  • Habitat Restoration Specialist
  • Marine Habitat Resources Specialist
  • Restoration Ecologist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.