Park Naturalists

Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $39K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $49K
Median Salary: $64K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $82K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $100K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions.

Plan and organize public events at the park.

Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features.

Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas.

Develop environmental educational programs and curricula for schools.

Research stories regarding the area's natural history or environment.

Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of park.

Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs.

Plan, organize and direct activities of seasonal staff members.

Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers.

Plan and develop audio-visual devices for public programs.

Survey park to determine forest conditions and distribution and abundance of fauna and flora.

Construct historical, scientific, and nature visitor-center displays.

Prepare brochures and write newspaper articles.

Compile and maintain official park photographic and information files.

Take photographs and motion pictures for use in lectures and publications and to develop displays.

Interview specialists in desired fields to obtain and develop data for park information programs.

Perform routine maintenance on park structures.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
Data entry software
Desktop publishing software
Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software
GroupWise
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Map creation software
Mapping software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Point of sale POS software
Point of sale POS software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Web platform development software
Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Agricultural and forestry and landscape machinery and equipment
Weed sprayers
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multiline telephone systems
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Point of sale POS computer terminals
Consumer electronics
Global positioning system GPS devices
Emergency and field medical services products
Emergency medical first aid kits
Explosive materials
Drip torches
Fire protection
Backpack tanks
Fishing and hunting equipment
Fishing poles
Hand tools
Forest fire shovels
Light weapons and ammunition
Law enforcement handguns
Marine transport
Kayaks
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Survey transits
Motor vehicles
Multipurpose tractors
Non motorized cycles
Mountain bikes
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Electronic cash registers
Pest control products
Animal trapping equipment
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Digital video cameras
Saddlery and harness goods
Horse saddles
Vehicle bodies and trailers
Horse trailers
Winter sports equipment
Snow skis
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
96%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training
84%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

History and Archeology
80%
Importance

Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

English Language
79%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Geography
72%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

Public Safety and Security
66%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Computers and Electronics
65%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Psychology
65%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Communications and Media
63%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Biology
62%
Importance

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Top 10 Skills
Speaking
80%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension
78%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening
75%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness
75%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing
73%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
68%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Instructing
68%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Judgment and Decision Making
68%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Learning Strategies
65%
Importance

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Expression
83%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity
80%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Speech Recognition
75%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Expression
75%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
73%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering
73%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Problem Sensitivity
73%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning
70%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Top 10 Work Activities
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
92%
Importance

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
88%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Thinking Creatively
86%
Importance

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
84%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
83%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Getting Information
82%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
82%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
80%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
78%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Interacting With Computers
76%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Detailed Work Activities

Plan special events.

Develop educational programs.

Provide technical information or assistance to public.

Conduct historical research.

Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.

Compile geographic or related data.

Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.

Measure environmental characteristics.

Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Public Speaking

How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?

Outdoors, Exposed to Weather

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Coordinate or Lead Others

How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Education
Majors   based on the broader career Conservation Scientists
Major
Agricultural Production Operations
Plant Sciences
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Forestry
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
Sustainability Studies
Geography and Environmental Studies
Interests
Social
100%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Realistic
67%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Artistic
62%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising
53%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Investigative
53%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Conventional
24%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Top 10 Work Styles
Cooperation
94%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability
94%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity
94%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Self Control
92%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Concern for Others
90%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Adaptability/Flexibility
87%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Independence
86%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Leadership
86%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Attention to Detail
84%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Initiative
84%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Work Values
Relationships
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Working Conditions
65%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Support
43%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.