Description
Assess, plan, and steward land and natural resources to balance productive use, conservation, and compliance. Conduct land capability analyses and soil surveys; design measures to control erosion, manage water, and protect rangelands, forests, and habitats. Advise landowners, producers, and local agencies on best practices and improvements, such as crop rotation, grazing systems, contouring, terracing, buffers, fencing, and stock-watering infrastructure, to sustain soils and water.
- • Implement soil, water, and habitat management practices per land resource plans, such as nutrient management, erosion control, riparian buffers, and filter strips.
- • Advise landowners, producers, and developers on land-use plans, constraints, and alternative conservation solutions.
- • Monitor construction and restoration projects to verify conformance with plans, specifications, and permits.
- • Field-assess erosion, compaction, drainage, or salinity issues to diagnose causes and prescribe remedies.
- • Build and maintain working relationships with local governments, conservation districts, and boards.
- • Apply soil science, rangeland management, forestry, hydrology, and ecology to meet land resource objectives.
- • Use GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis to support land capability assessments and recommendations.
- • Develop design specifications for conservation practices using survey data, technical standards, and engineering manuals.
- • Collaborate on cross-functional teams to plan and implement programs and policies that improve habitats, wetlands, groundwater, and soils.
- • Facilitate fact-finding and mediation among agencies, landowners, and stakeholders to resolve land-use or resource conflicts.
- • Conduct follow-up site visits to evaluate implemented practices and adjust land resource plans.
- • Respond to public inquiries on land use, wetland jurisdiction, and permitting, providing guidance and clarification.
- • Prepare cost estimates and life-cycle analyses for alternative land management practices.
- • Provide technical training and guidance to agencies to address soil, water, vegetation, and habitat management, and to coordinate protection efforts.
- • Analyze field and laboratory data to recommend measures for soil health, water quality, and habitat restoration.
- • Coordinate technical and financial assistance programs for local jurisdictions and landowners to ensure timely, efficient delivery.
- • Develop integrated weed and pest management strategies, including cultural controls, biological agents, resistant species, and targeted pesticides.
- • Review conservation easements and restoration proposals, providing technical recommendations on wetlands and riparian areas.
- • Lead land resource inventories, baseline studies, and land-use surveys to inform corrective actions and adaptive management.
- • Manage field operations and staff, and lead cooperative projects with partners.
- • Plan soil and vegetation management practices, including crop rotation, grazing systems, reforestation, cover crops, contouring, and terracing, to conserve soil and water.
- • Conduct audits and compliance reviews of land resource programs and funded projects.
- • Develop water-use efficiency and rainwater harvesting plans using weather data, irrigation tools, and ET models.
- • Review and recommend updates to watershed, land-use, and conservation district plans.
- • Design and conduct environmental studies, plant material trials, and wildlife habitat impact assessments.
- • Enter and analyze soil, water, and habitat data in decision-support tools to select appropriate practices.
- • Compile and interpret biological and hydrologic data to delineate wetlands and support program design.
- • Review partner reports to verify compliance with reporting requirements, performance measures, and grant conditions.
- • Evaluate grant applications and make funding recommendations for land resource projects.
- • Produce and update soil and land capability maps and related spatial datasets.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
