Stepping stones to a rewarding career

Career pathways in land management

If you would enjoy assisting urban and rural communities to rehabilitate land areas and water catchments while developing productive natural resources, then working in the land management sector may be for you.

One of Australia’s greatest challenges is the way we manage our natural resources – our soil, water, plants and animals. Ensuring proper ecological management is crucial if we are to maintain the health of our environment and conserve our biodiversity, while continuing to be a major rural producer and exporter.

Work could include revegetation design and implementation, water and soil testing, tree planting, bush restoration, stream and creek bank reclamation or the co-ordination of these activities. Some occupations in the sector include salinity and acidity officers, land care coordinators and soil scientists.

Jobs and qualifications

Entry Level	Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management »
Conservation Earthworks Assistant/Erosion Control Assistant	Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management »
Conservation Earthmoving Operator/Erosion Control Technician	Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management »
Field Operations Supervisor	Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management »
Operations Manager/Conservation Earthworks Contractor /Erosion Control Consultant	Diploma of Conservation and Land Management »
Business Manager	Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Land Management »

Entry Level

This level is usually the beginning of a career in the conservation earthworks sector. Working under direct supervision it would involve operating basic equipment, assisting with routine maintenance and supporting conservation work.

Conservation Earthworks Assistant/Erosion Control Assistant

At this level the employee is likely to be involved in a wide range of tasks under limited supervision. Tasks could include operating vehicles in off-road conditions, carrying out revegetation works, conducting erosion and sediment control and applying chemicals under supervision.

Conservation Earthmoving Operator/Erosion Control Technician

A skilled worker would be working at this level who has responsibility for a number of workers and conservation earthworks activities. These include reading and interpreting maps, constructing earthworks, transporting machinery, undertaking basic site assessment and sampling and testing water.

Field Operations Supervisor

At this level a person is likely to have significant responsibilities in supervising conservation earthworks activities. This includes supervising machinery maintenance and natural restoration works, setting out conservation earthworks, costing projects and training small groups.

Operations Manager/Conservation Earthworks Contractor/Erosion Control Consultant

At the Diploma level the person is likely to have significant responsibilities in managing conservation earthworks activities. This would include planning erosion and sediment control, planning conservation earthworks, collecting and managing data, preparing reports and assessing and monitoring soil quality.

Business Manager

At this level a person would be responsible for ensuring that conservation earthworks activities are successfully managed. Responsibilities would include managing projects, managing employee relations, managing policy implementation and developing and reviewing management plans and strategies.