Career: Preserve Managers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/John and Karen Hollingsworth
Preserve managers care for land that’s been set aside to protect natural resources, such as trees and animals. They use a wide range of skills, from a grasp of science to a talent for communication.
In this field, you'll oversee people who gather data on plants and animals and restore the land and water on your preserve. You'll write reports on research findings. And you'll deal with administrative duties, such as supervising staff, and write brochures and other materials for the public. You'll also get your hands dirty, repairing equipment, maintaining trails, and removing plants that aren't native to the area.
Preserve managers oversee the care of land set aside to protect natural resources. They also represent preserve owners to the public.
Did You Know?
- To get this job, you'll need experience gathering data outdoors, which you can get by working as an assistant at a preserve.
Are You Ready To...?
- Learn about area plants and animals
- Live on the grounds of a nature preserve
- Conduct research
- Spend long days in rough and remote terrain, sometimes in severe weather
- Create educational programs for the public
- Spend more time at a desk as you advance in your career
It Helps to Be...
A nature lover in good physical shape who likes working outdoors. You should enjoy the sciences. You must also have strong spoken and written communication skills.
Make High School Count
- Make the most of your English classes and writing assignments. As a preserve manager, you’ll need to write reports and informational material and communicate with many types of people.
- Join the environmental or outdoors club at your school.
- Volunteer for a government agency like the National Park Service or nonprofit group like The Sierra Club, which runs many preserves.
- Get a good grounding in the life sciences, such as biology and ecology, and the physical sciences, such as math.
Did You Know?
- Preserve managers may set fires and work with chemicals to protect and restore natural areas.
Outlook
The current concern for the environment is both good and bad for your future career. On the one hand, if the public is worried about the environment, government agencies and nonprofit groups have more money to hire environmental professionals.
On the other hand, the popularity of this career means that there are usually far fewer job openings than job hunters. That's why it's a good idea to get more education than required and to start gaining hands-on experience early.
