Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Ecologist Consultant

🎯 Role Definition

As a Wildlife Ecologist Consultant you will lead and deliver high-quality ecological field investigations, habitat assessments, and permitting support for infrastructure, energy, transportation, and conservation projects. You will design and execute species-specific surveys, analyze population and habitat data using GIS and statistical tools, prepare defensible technical reports and permitting documents, and advise clients on avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies that meet regulatory requirements (e.g., ESA, NEPA, Clean Water Act). This role combines hands-on field leadership, rigorous data analysis, and clear client-facing communication to translate ecological science into practical project outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Technician / Wildlife Field Assistant
Environmental Scientist / Natural Resources Technician
Graduate student (MSc in Wildlife Ecology / Conservation Biology)

Advancement To:

Senior Wildlife Ecologist / Project Lead
Environmental Project Manager / Principal Ecologist
Technical Director / Conservation Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Restoration Ecologist
GIS & Spatial Analyst for Natural Resources
Natural Resources Planner or Permitting Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead design and execution of targeted wildlife surveys (e.g., point counts, line transects, camera trapping, mist-netting, aquatic surveys, targeted species protocol) to generate defensible presence/absence and abundance data for regulatory and conservation decision-making.
Conduct habitat suitability assessments and habitat quality scoring for focal species, integrating field data, remote sensing, and literature-based habitat models to support avoidance, minimization, and mitigation planning.
Prepare comprehensive environmental assessments, biological evaluations, technical memoranda, and regulatory permit applications (ESA Section 7/10, NEPA documentation, state and federal permits), ensuring documents meet client needs and regulatory standards.
Develop and implement species-specific monitoring protocols (e.g., breeding bird surveys, bat acoustic monitoring, amphibian call surveys, mammal camera trap studies) and oversee quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of field methods and data collection.
Apply spatial analysis and landscape ecology approaches using GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS) to map species distributions, corridors, critical habitat, and project footprints; produce high-quality maps and spatial datasets for reports and presentations.
Implement population and demographic analyses using statistical software (R, Python, MARK) to estimate population size, trends, survival, and occupancy; translate model outputs into practical management recommendations.
Design and supervise telemetry and GPS tracking studies (VHF, GPS collars, radio telemetry), including device deployment, relocation protocols, and analysis of movement ecology and home range.
Lead wetland and riparian assessments, delineations, and impact evaluations; coordinate with wetland specialists to integrate aquatic ecology findings with terrestrial wildlife considerations.
Provide expert ecological input during project planning and design phases, recommending siting alternatives, timing restrictions, buffer zones, and mitigation strategies to avoid or reduce impacts to wildlife and habitat.
Coordinate and conduct pre-construction surveys and construction monitoring, including compliance monitoring, adaptive management triggers, and communication with construction teams to ensure protective measures are implemented.
Prepare clear, evidence-based technical reports, environmental compliance packages, and permitting appendices for clients, regulators, and stakeholders; present findings at stakeholder meetings and public hearings.
Manage multi-disciplinary project teams, subcontractors, and seasonal field staff; develop scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and deliverable timelines to meet client objectives and contractual requirements.
Conduct environmental risk assessments and cumulative impact analyses for projects with potential wildlife and habitat impacts, integrating scientific literature, monitoring data, and regulatory criteria.
Lead mitigation planning and implementation, including habitat restoration design, native species replanting strategies, invasive species control, and post-restoration monitoring to meet compensatory mitigation goals.
Liaise with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and non-governmental organizations to facilitate permitting, species consultations, and conservation partnerships; represent clients in technical meetings and agency consultations.
Maintain, curate, and manage ecological datasets, database schemas, and metadata standards; ensure secure storage, reproducibility, and accessibility of raw and processed data for auditing and future analyses.
Design and implement bioacoustic monitoring programs (e.g., bat detectors, passerine song analysis), oversee automated species classification workflows, and validate automated detections with manual review.
Identify and manage project-level health and safety risks for field teams, develop site-specific safety plans, and ensure fieldwork complies with OSHA and company safety standards.
Mentor and train junior ecologists and seasonal technicians in field protocols, species identification, data entry, and safety procedures to build team capacity and consistency across projects.
Contribute to proposal development and business development efforts by drafting technical approaches, budgets, and resumes of key personnel; support pursuit strategy by aligning ecological services with client needs.
Conduct literature reviews, synthesize scientific research, and translate findings into client-facing guidance and best practices that are relevant to regional species and landscapes.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist marketing and communications by providing content for case studies, white papers, and website SEO that highlight ecological expertise and project outcomes.
Maintain equipment inventories (GPS units, acoustic recorders, cameras, nets) and coordinate procurement and calibration to ensure field readiness.
Track regulatory changes and emerging conservation science to update standard operating procedures and client guidance.
Facilitate cross-functional workshops and training sessions on ecological topics and regulatory compliance for internal staff and clients.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Field survey design and implementation for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife (point counts, transects, camera trapping, aquatic netting, etc.).
Strong species identification skills (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates) and knowledge of regional species ecology and life history.
Regulatory permitting and compliance experience (Endangered Species Act, NEPA, Clean Water Act, state-level wildlife regulations).
GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), geoprocessing, habitat mapping, and cartographic product creation.
Statistical analysis and population modeling (R, Python, occupancy models, distance sampling, mark–recapture techniques).
Telemetry and movement ecology tools (VHF, GPS, ARGOS), including data processing and movement model interpretation.
Bioacoustic monitoring and analysis workflows (automated detectors, Kaleidoscope, Raven Pro, manual validation).
Technical report writing, environmental documentation, and permit application preparation with strong attention to scientific defensibility and clarity.
Project management and budgeting skills; experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and subcontractors.
Data management and database skills (SQL, spreadsheets, metadata standards, cloud storage workflows).
Habitat restoration design and monitoring, invasive species management, and mitigation planning.
Field safety, risk assessment, and compliance with institutional and regulatory safety standards.

Soft Skills

Superior written and verbal communication tailored to clients, regulators, and technical audiences.
Client service orientation with ability to translate scientific results into actionable recommendations.
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking; ability to make field-based decisions under uncertainty.
Leadership and mentorship skills; motivates and develops junior staff and seasonal teams.
Project organization, time management, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects to deadline.
Collaborative teamwork across disciplines (engineers, planners, hydrologists, GIS analysts).
Cultural sensitivity and stakeholder engagement skills for working with landowners, tribes, and community groups.
Adaptability to remote field conditions and changing project scopes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology, Biology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree (MSc) or PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, or closely related discipline preferred for senior or specialized roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wildlife Ecology
Conservation Biology
Ecology
Natural Resource Management
Zoology
Environmental Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of professional experience in wildlife fieldwork and ecological consulting.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive experience in wildlife surveys, regulatory permitting, technical writing, and project management; demonstrated history of leading field crews and delivering permitting documents for state and federal agencies.