{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:39:52.624Z","occupation":{"soc":"19-1031.00","title":"Conservation Scientists","group":"Life, Physical & Social Science","sector":"54","jobZone":4,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":"v.26.05","description":"","contextCovered":"This framework covers conservation science practice across agricultural, rangeland, forested, and wetland environments, from entry-level field data collection and supervised planning support through independent technical design and landscape-scale program leadership.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Conservation principles from agronomy, soil science, and forestry — identify and apply under direct supervision to support field-based conservation objectives.","Soil management practices such as crop rotation and contour plowing — recognize and document under guidance while assisting with conservation planning activities.","Construction monitoring protocols — follow established checklists to verify that project elements conform to design specifications on supervised site visits.","GIS databases and mapping applications — retrieve and organize spatial data under direction to support land use assessment tasks.","Technical guides and engineering manuals — read and interpret to extract relevant parameters needed for conservation practice calculations.","Soil and water management techniques such as erosion control and filter strips — assist in implementation activities according to approved conservation plans.","Field data collection instruments and mobile survey tools — operate under supervision to gather soil, vegetation, and hydrological measurements.","Conservation-related scientific literature and regulatory documents — read and summarize findings to support team planning and reporting efforts.","Spreadsheet and database software — enter, organize, and query field and laboratory data to maintain accurate conservation project records.","Work team meetings focused on habitat or wetland improvement programs — participate by contributing field observations and supporting assigned research tasks."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Specialized scientific principles from soil science, agronomy, and forestry — apply routinely to formulate conservation recommendations for assigned land units with limited oversight.","Soil and water conservation plans including reforestation, terracing, and permanent vegetation — develop and document for standard land use scenarios with reduced supervisory review.","Post-construction project monitoring — conduct scheduled site inspections and prepare compliance reports confirming adherence to design specifications.","Land users such as farmers and ranchers — advise on conservation plan options and common problems using clear technical communication and established agency guidelines.","Nutrient management, buffer strips, and erosion control measures — implement and adjust in the field in accordance with approved conservation plans and site conditions.","Design specification computations — calculate using survey data, field measurements, and technical engineering manuals for typical conservation practice installations.","GIS applications and spatial databases — analyze geographic data independently to generate land use maps and preliminary conservation recommendations.","Analytical and scientific software — process soil, water quality, and vegetation data to evaluate conservation outcomes and prepare summary findings.","Environmental habitat and groundwater improvement programs — contribute substantively to interdisciplinary work team planning sessions and draft sections of program proposals.","Written technical reports and agency correspondence — compose and revise clearly to convey conservation findings and practice recommendations to supervisors and stakeholders."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["Multi-disciplinary scientific principles spanning agronomy, soil science, hydrology, and forestry — integrate autonomously to design comprehensive conservation strategies across complex, non-routine land management scenarios.","Full-scope soil management and water conservation plans — develop independently for diverse agricultural, rangeland, and forested landscapes, resolving competing land use priorities.","Construction and post-installation monitoring programs — design, lead, and evaluate to ensure ongoing project conformance and adaptive management of conservation practices.","Farmers, ranchers, and agency stakeholders — advise on complex conservation challenges, alternative solutions, and regulatory requirements through persuasive, technically credible consultation.","Integrated soil and water management systems including erosion control, nutrient management, and hydrological buffers — implement and troubleshoot across varied site conditions with full professional autonomy.","Conservation practice design specifications — compute and validate using advanced engineering manuals, survey data, and CAD software for non-standard or high-complexity installations.","GIS spatial analysis and remote sensing datasets — synthesize with field observations to produce actionable, evidence-based land use recommendations for watershed- or landscape-scale planning.","Interdisciplinary teams addressing wetland restoration, habitat improvement, and groundwater resource management — lead technical contributions and coordinate work planning to deliver program objectives.","Systems-level evaluation of conservation program outcomes — conduct using analytical software, field monitoring data, and statistical methods to assess effectiveness and recommend adjustments.","Scientific and regulatory writing — produce authoritative reports, environmental assessments, and technical specifications that communicate complex findings clearly to diverse professional and public audiences."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Regional or statewide conservation science strategy — set direction by integrating emerging research across agronomy, soil science, hydrology, and ecology into agency-wide program goals and priorities.","Conservation planning frameworks and land management policies — develop and champion at organizational or interagency scale, shaping standards that govern practice across multiple districts or jurisdictions.","Quality assurance and adaptive management systems for construction monitoring — establish organization-wide protocols that ensure consistent project conformance and evidence-based program improvement.","Senior land managers, agency executives, and elected officials — advise on high-stakes conservation policy decisions, translating complex scientific findings into strategic guidance with broad resource impact.","Large-scale soil and water management initiatives — lead design, implementation, and evaluation, directing multidisciplinary teams and securing resources to achieve landscape-level conservation outcomes.","Technical standards and engineering guidance documents — author and peer-review at the national or regional level to advance the profession's capacity to compute and apply conservation practice specifications.","Enterprise GIS infrastructure and spatial data governance — direct development and integration strategies that enable organization-wide access to authoritative geographic information for conservation decision-making.","Cross-agency and public–private partnership programs targeting wetland, habitat, and groundwater restoration — lead coalition building, negotiate agreements, and oversee program governance to achieve systemic environmental outcomes.","Emerging conservation scientists and mid-career professionals — mentor, coach, and develop through structured training programs, fostering critical thinking, scientific integrity, and interdisciplinary problem-solving capacity.","Organization-level performance measurement and systems evaluation — design and apply to assess the cumulative environmental impact of conservation investments and drive data-informed resource allocation decisions."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}