Nature conservation officer : Career development

In many organisations there is no established career hierarchy, although in some environmental consultancies there may be a path from ecologist, to senior ecologist and then on to principal ecologist.

There is considerable competition at all levels for jobs in conservation work and applicants have to be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm and passion for the issues. A good way to do this is by participating in other activities, which will add to experience and look good on a CV. To further career development you might consider volunteering to sit on the local biodiversity steering group or undertaking work for a local office of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) . You could also participate in schemes run through your local Groundwork , or join Friends of the Earth  or Greenpeace UK . By getting involved in organisations such as these you will be able to meet key players in this community, which should create more opportunities for future development.

Promotion often means moving organisation and/or location and usually taking an increasingly office-based role, often moving from a 'hands-on' job to an advisory or managerial role. Senior posts are likely to mean greater involvement with planning, budgets, people management, and the administrative aspects of environmental management, while less time is spent in the field. To gain experience and promotion, it is normally necessary to move between the public, voluntary and private sector. The number of jobs is increasing and the opportunities for career development are improving in all sectors.