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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoology Program Analyst

💰 $55,000 - $95,000

ConservationWildlifeProgram Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoology Program Analyst is a cross-functional conservation professional responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating zoological and wildlife programs. This role combines applied field biology and survey design with quantitative data analysis, program and grant management, compliance with wildlife regulations, and stakeholder coordination. The Zoology Program Analyst translates scientific results into program decisions, performance metrics, and actionable recommendations for species conservation, habitat management, and regulatory reporting.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Biological Technician, Field Biologist, or Wildlife Technician
  • Research Assistant or Data Analyst in ecology/zoology labs
  • GIS Technician or Conservation Outreach Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Zoology Program Analyst / Senior Wildlife Program Analyst
  • Program Manager, Wildlife Conservation Program
  • Conservation Science Manager or Director of Field Programs

Lateral Moves:

  • Wildlife Biologist / Ecologist
  • GIS Analyst or Spatial Ecologist
  • Policy Analyst for Natural Resources

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of species monitoring programs (population surveys, nest monitoring, mark-recapture, telemetry, camera traps), ensuring scientifically robust sampling designs and reproducible protocols aligned with recovery goals and regulatory requirements.
  • Manage program-level data lifecycle: create and maintain relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL/PostGIS, MS Access), implement QA/QC procedures, automate ETL workflows, and ensure secure, discoverable storage of field and lab datasets.
  • Conduct advanced quantitative analysis of ecological data using R, Python, or similar tools to produce population estimates, trend analyses, occupancy models, and spatial distribution maps to inform management and policy decisions.
  • Prepare detailed technical reports, peer-review-ready summaries, and regulatory deliverables for state and federal agencies (e.g., USFWS, NOAA), translating complex analyses into clear conclusions, management recommendations, and compliance documentation.
  • Develop, write, and manage grant proposals and contracts to secure funding for zoology and conservation programs; prepare budgets, justifications, and performance metrics tied to deliverables.
  • Coordinate multi-party field operations including scheduling, logistics, safety planning, permits, equipment procurement, and contractor oversight to ensure efficient, safe, and compliant data collection.
  • Maintain and manage GIS products (ArcGIS, QGIS), produce habitat suitability and land-use maps, and integrate remote sensing and spatial analyses into monitoring and management recommendations.
  • Lead permit application processes and coordinate with permitting authorities (state wildlife agencies, tribal entities, federal regulators) to secure research, handling, and access permissions; maintain permit files and reporting schedules.
  • Design and implement monitoring protocols that integrate adaptive management principles; evaluate program efficacy and iterate protocols based on data-driven assessments.
  • Provide clear, actionable briefings and presentations to senior management, stakeholders, boards, and partner organizations to support decision-making and program advocacy.
  • Develop performance indicators, dashboards, and automated reporting (Tableau, Power BI, R Shiny) that track program progress versus objectives and inform budget and resourcing decisions.
  • Oversee equipment, telemetry, and field technology (VHF/GPS collars, satellite tags, acoustic monitors, drones) including procurement, calibration, maintenance, and data retrieval processes.
  • Supervise, train, and mentor field crews, interns, and junior analysts on survey methods, safety protocols, data entry standards, and ethical animal handling procedures to ensure consistent data quality.
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with universities, NGOs, tribal groups, and local communities to leverage expertise, enable joint research, and enhance conservation outcomes.
  • Manage program budgets: forecast expenditures, reconcile invoices, prepare budget modifications, and ensure compliance with funder terms and organizational financial policies.
  • Conduct habitat assessments, threat analyses, and environmental impact reviews to prioritize conservation actions and integrate findings into management plans and grant deliverables.
  • Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), data standards, metadata documentation, and version control practices to ensure reproducibility and long-term usability of program data.
  • Coordinate citizen science and volunteer programs to expand monitoring capacity and community engagement while ensuring data validity through training and validation protocols.
  • Lead modeling and scenario analysis (population viability analyses, occupancy/density modeling, habitat connectivity) to evaluate alternative management strategies and inform long-term planning.
  • Integrate stakeholder input and socio-political considerations into program design; facilitate stakeholder workshops, public meetings, and technical working groups to build consensus and enable collaborative conservation actions.
  • Track scientific literature, emerging technologies, and best practices in zoology and conservation science and incorporate relevant advances into program methodology and staff training.
  • Prepare and submit timely scientific and regulatory publications, technical notes, and outreach materials (factsheets, web content) to disseminate program findings to diverse audiences.
  • Support risk assessment and safety planning for field operations, including emergency response planning, insurance and liability checks, and ensuring adherence to organizational health and safety policies.
  • Conduct post-project evaluations and program audits to capture lessons learned, document successes and failures, and recommend process improvements for future projects.

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.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Species monitoring methodologies: mark-recapture, distance sampling, point counts, transects, nest monitoring, camera-trap workflows, acoustic surveys.
  • Quantitative analysis and statistical modeling using R (dplyr, lme4, unmarked), Python (pandas, scikit-learn), including occupancy models, GLMMs, time-series, and population trend analyses.
  • GIS and spatial analysis: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, spatial statistics, habitat mapping, species distribution modeling, and working knowledge of PostGIS.
  • Database design and management: SQL, PostgreSQL, MS Access, data normalization, metadata standards, and automated ETL processes.
  • Data visualization and dashboarding: Tableau, Power BI, ggplot2, R Shiny for communicating results to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Telemetry and remote-sensing tools: VHF/GPS telemetry, satellite tags, UAV/drone imagery, LiDAR and multispectral data processing.
  • Permit and compliance knowledge: experience with federal/state permitting processes (USFWS, NOAA, state wildlife agencies) and understanding of ESA, MBTA, and agency reporting requirements.
  • Grant writing and fund management: developing proposals, budgets, deliverables, and reporting for government and foundation funders.
  • Field logistics and safety: field operations planning, emergency procedures, equipment maintenance, and contractor/safety oversight.
  • Programming and scripting: R, Python, shell scripting for data automation, reproducible workflows, and integration with CI/CD tools.
  • Remote data collection platforms and services (satellite data retrieval, telemetry data ingestion, AWS/GCP basics).
  • Experience with citizen science platforms and data validation tools for volunteer-generated datasets.
  • Scientific writing and technical documentation: producing manuscripts, technical reports, SOPs, and metadata documentation.
  • Project management tools and methodologies: MS Project, Asana, JIRA, and familiarity with budget tracking tools.

Soft Skills

  • Clear written and verbal communication tailored to scientists, managers, regulators, and the public.
  • Collaborative stakeholder management with NGOs, agencies, tribes, landowners, and academic partners.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking to translate field results into policy-relevant recommendations.
  • Leadership and team development: coaching staff, delegating tasks, and building a positive, safety-oriented field culture.
  • Attention to detail in data handling, protocol adherence, and regulatory reporting.
  • Time management and prioritization across concurrent projects and seasonal field workflows.
  • Adaptability to changing field conditions, funding cycles, and evolving scientific methods.
  • Facilitation and public engagement skills: running workshops, stakeholder meetings, and community outreach.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree (M.S.) or higher in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Conservation Science, Environmental Management, or applied statistics/ecological modeling.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Zoology
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Environmental Science
  • GIS/Geospatial Science
  • Statistics / Quantitative Ecology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of progressively responsible experience in wildlife monitoring, ecological data analysis, and program coordination.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years in program management or lead analyst roles within conservation organizations, federal/state wildlife agencies, or research institutions.
  • Demonstrated success in grant writing and funding management, permit acquisition, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leading multi-site field programs.
  • Experience publishing technical reports, peer-reviewed papers, and communicating science to diverse stakeholder groups.
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