Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Coastal and Estuary Specialist
- Habitat Restoration Specialist
- Marine Habitat Resources Specialist
- Restoration Ecologist
Alternate Job Titles
- Coastal and Estuary Specialist
- Conservation Planner
- Environmental Planner
- Environmental Planning Engineer
- Environmental Restoration Planner
- Fisheries Habitat Restoration Specialist
- Habitat Conservation Planner
- Habitat Restoration Specialist
- Marine Habitat Resources Specialist
- Restoration Ecologist
- Restoration Specialist
- Watershed Coordinator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Plan environmental restoration projects, using biological databases, environmental strategies, and planning software.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Biology
- English Language
- Geography
- Design
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Systems Analysis
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Information Ordering
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Environmental Restoration Planners.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $50,130 |
| Median | $80,060 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $134,830 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 84,930
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Conservation Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $136,550
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Range Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $67,950
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.