What does a natural resource specialist do?
Natural Resource Specialists are usually employed in a university, conservation center, or research center. As their title suggests, they are in charge of initiatives related to natural resources. They may lead to research projects, fieldwork activities, or conferences related to natural resources' general topic or specialization. Natural resource specialists may specialize in wildlife, forestry, land management, marine life, and the environment. A lot of their tasks are dependent on their specialization. They may be assigned to manage paperwork related to permits and other important documents. They may also be assigned to monitor a specific sector in their specialization. They may also be assigned to work on conservation programs.
Natural resource specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real natural resource specialist resumes:
- Create and manage multidisciplinary, interagency research teams.
- Present workshops on data sources, metadata, basic cartography, basic GIS, and GPS use.
- Maintain data according to prescribe BLM program standards.
- Evaluate deer density data to determine harvest goals for public hunts.
- General maintenance of laboratory facilities, boats, and lab equipment.
- Determine forest acreage through aerial and topographic maps and through the extensive use of GPS applications.
- Review NPDES permit applications and write NPDES permits for new permits, modifications, and reissuances.
- Input data points for ArcGIS and participate in gathering data for sand monitoring at a dune ecosystem.
- Utilize GIS technology for forest stand delineations and the digitization of field data in ArcView, Arc/Info, and AutoCAD.
- Delineate and analyze watersheds using ArcGIS.
- Perform historical air photo reviews to identify wetland signatures on-site.
- Utilize GPS receivers and forest mensuration tools and vegetation inventory and monitoring methodologies.
- Coordinate a restoration and conservation grant program locating, surveying and controlling invasive wetland species.
- Provide guidance on appropriate mechanisms need to demonstrate financial assurance for exposure liability and RCRA closure/post-closure costs.
- Interact with USFWS and CDFG personnel on various issues.
Natural resource specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 28% of Natural Resource Specialists are proficient in Management Plans, USDA, and Natural Resource Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Problem-solving skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Natural Resource Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Management Plans, 28%
Conduct forest resource inventories, including noting presence of exotic and invasive species, and write forest management plans.
- USDA, 11%
Submitted comments to the USDA Forest Service on behalf of organization's members.
- Natural Resource Management, 9%
Advised socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers on natural resource management, and livestock production issues.
- Environmental Issues, 9%
Designed and implemented workshops on local ecology and environmental issues for ages 4-14
- Environmental Regulations, 7%
Reviewed draft environmental regulations and advised the Department on marine and coastal ecology issues.
- Environmental Assessments, 6%
Serve as recreation technical specialist for Environmental assessments and Environmental Impact Statements.
Most natural resource specialists use their skills in "management plans," "usda," and "natural resource management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential natural resource specialist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a natural resource specialist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "environmental scientists and specialists may need to present and explain their findings to audiences of varying backgrounds and write technical reports." Natural resource specialists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided technical assistance to the general public, engineers, contractors, and construction crews through oral and written communication. "
Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform natural resource specialist duties is problem-solving skills. Natural resource specialists responsibilities require that "environmental scientists and specialists try to find the best possible solution to problems that affect the environment and people’s health." Natural resource specialists also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "performed water quality analyses and kept accurate records in excel files: ph, dissolved oxygen, and temperature measurements. "
Analytical skills. This is an important skill for natural resource specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how natural resource specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "environmental scientists and specialists base their conclusions on careful analysis of scientific data." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a natural resource specialist: "performed clerical duties to include writing memos, filing, and data entry on computer to generate spreadsheets and data bases. ".
The three companies that hire the most natural resource specialists are:
- The University of Texas at San Antonio7 natural resource specialists jobs
- The State of Oregon6 natural resource specialists jobs
- Groundwater & Environmental Services5 natural resource specialists jobs
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Compare different natural resource specialists
Natural resource specialist vs. Technical fellow
An environmental analyst is responsible for studying nature and analyzing its components to determine its relation with living organisms. Environmental analysts coordinate with other non-profit organizations to identify preservation efforts to maintain a safe and healthy environment. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to develop relief plans and programs. An environmental analyst must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on writing proposal reports to discuss with environmental sectors and create costs and expenses forecasting.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, natural resource specialist responsibilities require skills like "management plans," "usda," "gs," and "natural resource management." Meanwhile a typical technical fellow has skills in areas such as "sql," "statistical analysis," "intellectual property," and "photoshop." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Technical fellows really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $75,007. Comparatively, natural resource specialists tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $68,366.On average, technical fellows reach higher levels of education than natural resource specialists. Technical fellows are 5.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 13.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Natural resource specialist vs. Environmental analyst
An environmental scientist/geologist's role is to study the earth and its environmental processes. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering samples and data, conducting research and analysis, participating in experiments, and maintaining records of all methods and findings. An environmental scientist/geologist may also coordinate with other scientists to review results and ensure its accuracy, take part in dialogues, and even teach. Furthermore, one may contribute their findings to publications, publish research papers, participate in scientific studies, and promote environmental awareness.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, natural resource specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "management plans," "usda," "gs," and "natural resource management." Meanwhile, an environmental analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "hazardous waste," "data analysis," "hazardous materials," and "environmental data." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Environmental analysts earn a lower average salary than natural resource specialists. But environmental analysts earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $75,083. Additionally, natural resource specialists earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $68,366 annually.environmental analysts earn similar levels of education than natural resource specialists in general. They're 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for natural resource specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Mark Ashton
Senior Associate Dean of The Forest School; Morris K. Jesup Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology and Director of School Forests, Yale University
Natural resource specialist vs. Water quality analyst
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from natural resource specialist resumes include skills like "management plans," "usda," "gs," and "natural resource management," whereas a water quality analyst is more likely to list skills in "laboratory equipment," "laboratory procedures," "water quality samples," and "water quality analysis. "
Water quality analysts typically earn similar educational levels compared to natural resource specialists. Specifically, they're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Natural resource specialist vs. Environmental scientist/geologist
Types of natural resource specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
