Countryside officer
Conservation officer
Countryside officers manage, protect and improve the rural environment.
Salary range: £18,000 to £50,000
How to become a countryside officer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
University
You could complete a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
- countryside or environmental management
- ecology and geography
- environmental science
- biology
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You could do a college course, which will teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant subjects include:
- Level 2 Diploma in Countryside and Environment
- Level 3 Certificate in Countryside Management
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
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Apprenticeship
You could start out on a countryside worker intermediate apprenticeship or do an advanced apprenticeship in environmental conservation.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
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Volunteering and experience
Paid or unpaid work experience can be very useful when applying for jobs.
Organisations like The Conservation Volunteers, the National Trust and The Wildlife Trusts offer training for volunteers.
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Further information
You can get more details about countryside careers from the National Land Based College and Grow Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- excellent verbal communication skills
- thinking and reasoning skills
- the ability to read English
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- active listening skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
You could :
- advise landowners on how to manage their land
- conduct surveys, carry out research and analyse data
- write reports and deliver presentations
- prepare funding applications
- deal with complaints
- organise the upkeep of country parks and woodlands
- make sure footpaths are clearly marked and litter bins and car parks are provided
- advise on planning applications
- give talks to local groups
- produce resources like leaflets and information boards
- support local environmental events, activities and projects
Working environment
You could work in an office, in a park or in woodland.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
Career path and progression
With experience and further qualifications, you could become a senior countryside officer or manager and then regional manager.