Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Research Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Research Officer leads and executes wildlife monitoring and research projects that generate robust scientific evidence to guide conservation actions, policy and land‑management decisions. The role involves planning field campaigns, deploying and retrieving monitoring equipment, collecting biological samples, conducting statistical analyses, maintaining high standards of animal welfare and health and safety, preparing technical reports and peer‑reviewed publications, and communicating results to managers, Indigenous partners and the public. This is a field‑focused, data‑driven position requiring strong organizational skills, practical field experience, and the ability to translate science into management recommendations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Field Technician / Field Assistant (wildlife or ecology)
Graduate (BSc/MSc) in Wildlife Biology, Ecology or Environmental Science
Conservation Officer or Park Ranger with field monitoring experience

Advancement To:

Senior Wildlife Research Officer / Lead Wildlife Biologist
Conservation Science Coordinator / Program Manager
Species Recovery Coordinator / Ecologist

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Consultant (ecology/wildlife surveys)
GIS Analyst or Data Scientist within conservation organizations
Community Engagement & Indigenous Partnership Liaison

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, oversee and conduct standardized field surveys to monitor target species’ abundance, distribution and demographic parameters using methods such as line transects, point counts, mark‑recapture, camera trapping, acoustic monitoring and spotlighting, ensuring sampling designs meet statistical power requirements and management objectives.
Deploy, service and maintain telemetry equipment (VHF, GPS/GSM tags, satellite telemetry), including collaring/attaching devices in accordance with animal welfare protocols, and manage remote download, filtering and processing of location and sensor data.
Lead camera trap programs: site selection and placement, maintenance, image retrieval, image processing and classification workflows (including training and oversight of volunteers/technicians and use of automated image recognition where applicable).
Conduct capture, handling, sampling and release of wildlife following approved animal care and use protocols and permits; collect tissue, blood, hair, eDNA and parasite samples; document chain of custody and sample storage for laboratory analysis.
Develop and maintain project fieldwork plans, logistics and budgets including vehicle, boat or helicopter operations, safety plans, equipment procurement and sample shipping; coordinate with contractors and partners to deliver field campaigns to schedule and budget.
Analyze ecological data using statistical software (R, Python, or similar) to model population trends, habitat associations, survival and movement patterns, and produce actionable management recommendations based on quantitative inference.
Prepare clear, evidence‑based technical reports, monitoring summaries, peer‑reviewed manuscripts, grant proposals and briefing notes that synthesize field and analytical results for scientific and non‑technical audiences.
Maintain and manage spatial data using GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS) to produce maps of species distributions, habitat suitability models, and spatial layers needed for conservation planning and environmental impact assessments.
Ensure all permits, licences and regulatory approvals (animal handling permits, research permits, wildlife take authorizations, access permits) are obtained and renewed in a timely manner, and ensure field operations comply with legal and ethical requirements.
Implement and maintain rigorous data management practices: design databases, establish metadata standards, perform QA/QC checks, backup raw and processed data, and facilitate open data sharing where appropriate according to funder and institutional policies.
Supervise, train and coordinate field teams, students, interns and volunteers in safe field techniques, survey protocols, data entry and sample handling; provide mentorship and ensure consistent data quality across teams.
Conduct habitat assessments and vegetation surveys to relate habitat condition to species distribution and to inform habitat restoration, mitigation or enhancement plans.
Coordinate multi‑disciplinary research collaborations with universities, government agencies, Indigenous partners and NGOs; serve as a technical liaison to integrate monitoring into broader conservation strategies.
Develop and deliver stakeholder communications, outreach events and interpretive materials to convey research purpose, methods and findings to land managers, Indigenous communities, local stakeholders and the public.
Monitor, evaluate and report on project KPIs and deliverables; implement adaptive monitoring approaches to refine survey designs and priorities as new evidence emerges or management needs change.
Perform risk assessments and lead health & safety planning for fieldwork (including remote first aid, wildlife hazard mitigation, vehicle/boat safety and emergency evacuation procedures) and ensure field teams adhere to safety protocols.
Manage laboratory tasks associated with wildlife research such as tissue processing, genetic sample preparation, stable isotope preparation and coordination with diagnostic labs for pathogen testing.
Design and implement bioacoustic surveys and process audio data for species detection, call identification and automated classification workflows; interpret acoustic results in the context of species activity patterns and occupancy.
Lead or contribute to environmental impact assessments and species at‑risk recovery planning by providing empirical data, modelling outputs and technical advice for mitigation and monitoring conditions.
Maintain inventories and condition checks on field equipment (traps, nets, telemetry gear, boats, ATVs, drones) and schedule repairs or replacements; develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for equipment use and maintenance.
Prepare grant applications and funding proposals to secure project support; manage reporting to funders and adapt project scopes to meet budgetary and scientific objectives.
Support genetic, disease and contaminant studies by coordinating sample submission, facilitating laboratory workflows and integrating laboratory results with ecological datasets to inform conservation actions.
Collect, synthesize and integrate Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and community observations into monitoring design and interpretation, ensuring culturally appropriate engagement and benefit‑sharing.
Apply modelling techniques (population viability analysis, occupancy models, resource selection functions) to predict responses to management actions or environmental change and to prioritize conservation interventions.

Secondary Functions

Assist with community and stakeholder consultation processes, present findings at public meetings and workshops, and incorporate stakeholder feedback into monitoring plans.
Coordinate volunteer citizen science programs, train participants in survey protocols, and integrate verified citizen data into monitoring databases.
Support education and outreach activities including school visits, interpretive displays, and social media updates to raise awareness of species conservation issues.
Provide technical input to land‑use planning and development review processes to minimize impacts on wildlife and habitat.
Contribute to internal knowledge management by documenting field lessons learned, improving SOPs and helping to develop training materials.
Participate in interdisciplinary working groups to align monitoring objectives with broader landscape‑scale conservation strategies.
Perform occasional night shifts, extended remote deployments or boat/air transport of staff and equipment as operational needs require.
Coordinate logistics for international or inter‑regional research collaborations, including export/import of samples and compliance with CITES or biosafety regulations.
Support post‑field lab workflows such as sample cataloguing, freezer management and chain‑of‑custody documentation.
Contribute to internal review processes for ethical approvals, risk assessments and permit renewals; monitor compliance and recommend improvements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Field survey design and standardized monitoring protocols (line transects, point counts, mark‑recapture, occupancy surveys, distance sampling)
Telemetry deployment and analysis (VHF, GPS/GSM, satellite; movement and home‑range analysis)
Camera trap deployment, maintenance and image management (including experience with automated classification workflows)
Acoustic monitoring and audio data analysis (call detection, soundscape analysis)
Proficiency in statistical analysis and modelling using R (GLMs, mixed models, occupancy models, survival analysis) and/or Python
GIS skills (ArcGIS, QGIS) for spatial analysis, habitat mapping and predictive habitat modelling
Species identification and natural history knowledge for focal taxa (mammals, birds, herpetofauna, or invertebrates relevant to the role)
Laboratory sample handling and chain‑of‑custody procedures for genetic, disease or contaminant analyses
Data management skills: database design, metadata standards, QA/QC, and data archiving best practices
Permit and regulatory compliance (research permits, animal care approvals, wildlife take authorizations, CITES where applicable)
Experience with field safety, remote first aid, and risk management in remote or marine environments
Operation and maintenance of field equipment (boats, ATVs, drones, traps, telemetry receivers)
Experience preparing technical reports, scientific publications and grant proposals
Familiarity with population modelling tools (PVA, resource selection functions, occupancy modelling software)

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear scientific reporting and stakeholder engagement
Project management and organizational skills to coordinate multi‑site field programs and meet deadlines
Leadership and team supervision experience, including mentoring students and volunteers
Attention to detail and strong data stewardship practices to ensure high quality, reproducible science
Collaborative mindset and ability to work with interdisciplinary teams, Indigenous partners and external stakeholders
Problem solving and adaptability to respond to field logistics, weather and operational challenges
Cultural sensitivity and respectful engagement practices when working with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders
Public speaking and outreach skills for community engagement and knowledge translation
Initiative and self‑motivation for independent field deployments and remote work periods
Ethical judgment and commitment to animal welfare and environmental best practices

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Zoology or a closely related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree (MSc) or PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Population Biology, Conservation Science, or related fields with applied field research experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wildlife Biology
Ecology
Conservation Science
Zoology
Environmental Science
Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of applied field experience with wildlife monitoring programs (typical for mid‑level positions).

Preferred:

5+ years of progressively responsible experience leading field research projects, including telemetry and camera trap programs, demonstrated publication or technical reporting record, and experience managing field teams and budgets.
Demonstrated experience obtaining and managing permits, working with Indigenous communities, and securing or administering project funding.

Certifications and licences (preferred/required): remote first aid, animal handling certification, boat/ATV licences, drone (RPAS) operator certification, and any region‑specific permits or training (e.g., wildlife tagging, HACCP for biological samples).