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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoology Planner

💰 $55,000 - $95,000

Wildlife ConservationEnvironmental PlanningZoologyEcologyGIS

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoology Planner develops, coordinates, and implements species- and habitat-level planning initiatives that support conservation goals, land-use decisions, and regulatory compliance. Working at the intersection of field biology, spatial analysis, and project management, the Zoology Planner produces conservation strategies, prepares environmental documentation (EIS, EA, permit applications), and leads monitoring programs to inform adaptive management. This role requires expertise in zoology, habitat assessment, GIS modeling, stakeholder facilitation, and grant- or contract-based project delivery.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Field Biologist / Wildlife Technician
  • Environmental Consultant (junior)
  • GIS Analyst with ecology experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Zoology Planner / Lead Wildlife Planner
  • Conservation Program Manager
  • Habitat Restoration Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist
  • Species Recovery Coordinator
  • GIS Ecologist / Spatial Ecologist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the development and delivery of species conservation plans, recovery strategies, and management plans that align with local, state, and federal regulatory frameworks (e.g., ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act) and stakeholder objectives.
  • Design and manage multi-year species monitoring programs, including protocol development, sample-size calculations, field scheduling, quality control, and statistical analysis to detect population trends and treatment effects.
  • Conduct and supervise field surveys for mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and aquatic fauna using standardized methods (e.g., transects, point counts, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, live-trapping) and ensure high-quality data collection.
  • Prepare environmental impact assessments (EIA/EIS/EA) and technical reports that synthesize zoological data, habitat models, and risk analyses to support permitting and planning decisions.
  • Use GIS, remote sensing, and habitat suitability modeling tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, MaxEnt) to map species distributions, identify priority habitat, assess landscape connectivity, and guide site-selection for mitigation or restoration.
  • Develop and implement habitat restoration and enhancement designs (e.g., riparian planting, invasive species removal, controlled grazing plans) informed by species-specific ecological requirements and best-available science.
  • Coordinate project scoping, budget development, and scheduling for zoological components of environmental planning projects; manage subcontractors and field crews to meet milestones and deliverables.
  • Prepare permit applications, biological assessments, and incidental take statements; liaise with regulatory agencies to secure authorizations and ensure compliance with conditions of approval.
  • Analyze monitoring and survey data using appropriate statistical and modeling approaches (R, Python, or specialized ecology software), generate actionable insights, and produce clear visualizations for scientific and non-technical audiences.
  • Write grant proposals, technical sections for funding applications, and scope-of-work documents to secure resources for conservation initiatives and monitoring programs.
  • Integrate climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptive management frameworks into species and habitat planning to enhance long-term resilience.
  • Manage biological databases, ensure metadata standards and data integrity, and maintain open data practices to support reproducibility and inter-agency data sharing.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary coordination with planners, engineers, hydrologists, and land managers to ensure zoological objectives are integrated into broader project designs and infrastructure plans.
  • Design and implement mitigation measures (on-site and off-site) including habitat offsets, conservation easements, and monitoring-based performance standards, and track their effectiveness over time.
  • Deliver training, field guides, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for survey teams, volunteers, and partners to ensure consistent application of field methods and safety practices.
  • Manage stakeholder engagement and consultation processes — indigenous groups, private landowners, NGOs, and permitting authorities — to build consensus and incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into planning.
  • Oversee health and safety compliance for field operations, including risk assessments, emergency response plans, and personnel training for remote or hazardous fieldwork.
  • Evaluate the ecological effects of proposed development, land management, or restoration actions using impact matrices, decision-support tools, and scenario modeling to inform mitigation hierarchy decisions.
  • Develop performance metrics and monitoring frameworks tied to conservation objectives and funding requirements; produce periodic progress reports and adaptive management recommendations.
  • Serve as technical lead during public hearings, community outreach events, and interagency technical working groups, presenting complex zoological findings in accessible formats.
  • Identify and adopt innovative tools and methods (drones, eDNA, automated acoustic classifiers) to increase detection probability, reduce field effort, and lower monitoring costs.
  • Ensure all project deliverables (maps, reports, datasets) meet QA/QC standards and contractual obligations; respond to peer review and revision requests from clients and regulators.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, conservation science, and best practices; apply new science to improve plan effectiveness and regulatory compliance.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory ecological analysis to inform scoping or rapid assessments.
  • Contribute to the organization's conservation planning strategy and roadmap by recommending priority taxa, geographic focus areas, and monitoring innovations.
  • Collaborate with business units, engineering teams, and planners to translate zoological requirements into technical specifications and tender documents.
  • Participate in project planning meetings, sprint planning, and agile-style delivery approaches to coordinate cross-functional wildlife and environmental tasks.
  • Mentor junior ecologists and interns, review field notes and draft reports, and contribute to capacity building across teams.
  • Assist in procurement and contract management for field services, equipment, and specialist consultants.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced species identification skills across taxa (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates) with demonstrated field experience and voucher specimen / photo documentation best practices.
  • Proficiency in GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), including habitat mapping, connectivity analysis, and raster/vector data management.
  • Experience developing habitat suitability and species distribution models using tools like MaxEnt, R (biomod2, sdmpredictors), or Python spatial libraries.
  • Strong survey design and statistical analysis skills, including power analysis, survey protocol development, and use of statistical software (R, Python, or equivalent).
  • Practical experience with modern survey technologies: camera trapping, passive acoustic monitoring, telemetry/GPS tracking, eDNA sampling, and UAV/drone survey protocols.
  • Experience preparing environmental documentation and regulatory submissions (EIS/EA, Biological Assessments, Habitat Conservation Plans, permit applications).
  • Knowledge of conservation planning tools and frameworks (Zonation, Marxan, mitigation hierarchy, adaptive management frameworks).
  • Database and data management skills: experience with relational databases, data cleaning, and metadata standards; familiarity with biodiversity data platforms (GBIF, iNaturalist) is a plus.
  • Project management skills: budgeting, scheduling, contract management, and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects to deliver on time and within scope.
  • Grant-writing and technical writing skills with a track record of producing clear, authoritative reports and scientific summaries for stakeholders and funders.
  • Familiarity with environmental legislation and permitting processes relevant to species protection and land-use planning in the jurisdiction(s) of work.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent stakeholder engagement and consultation skills; ability to build trust with Indigenous communities, landowners, NGOs, and regulators.
  • Strong written and verbal communication: can translate complex science into concise, actionable recommendations for policymakers and non-technical audiences.
  • Leadership and team coordination: experience leading field crews and interdisciplinary teams under variable field conditions.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking: can design pragmatic monitoring approaches under budget and logistical constraints.
  • Attention to detail and quality assurance orientation, ensuring scientific rigor and regulatory defensibility.
  • Adaptability and resilience working in remote, changeable field environments and shifting project priorities.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance field seasons, reporting cycles, and stakeholder commitments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a closely related biological science.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree (MSc) or higher in Zoology, Conservation Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Planning, or related field. Professional certifications (e.g., Certified Wildlife Biologist) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Zoology
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Environmental Science
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of professional experience in wildlife or conservation planning, field ecology, or environmental consulting.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years delivering species management plans, habitat restoration projects, or regulatory environmental documentation, including demonstrated experience engaging regulators and achieving permit approvals.
  • Documented field leadership with experience supervising technicians and managing subcontractors.
  • Proven track record of successful grant applications, stakeholder negotiations, and implementation of long-term monitoring programs.
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