ecologist.

Specific duties depend on the field of specialisation, but typical tasks include:

• researching and testing disturbed ecosystems: as an ecologist, you develop a hypothesis on population and ecosystem functions before researching to test the theory's viability. You also conduct field, theoretical and laboratory research to find evidence supporting your claims. Your research efforts improve your understanding of biodiversity and other subject matters related to the environment.
• analysing data and conducting studies: after your research, you organise the data to improve its interpretation from mere verifiable facts to meaningful information that assists decision-making. You are also involved with research studies that uncover unique characteristics of various components of ecosystems over time.
• advising organisations and the government on environmental impacts: studies often reveal underlying causes of behaviours of components of ecosystems. Hence, it is important to communicate your findings to policymakers and government agencies through proposals and journals on ecological remediation. Sometimes, your role involves assessing the environmental damage in a particular region and developing restoration strategies.
• creating habitat management plans: if your job involves restoring the natural environment in parks and conservation areas, you conduct site assessments. Once you ascertain the environmental damage, you create restoration schedules, budgets and habitat management initiatives like tree planting. You also provide technical support to field workers restoring the habitats.
• creating models to illustrate environmental remediation plans: as an ecologist, you develop models to help stakeholders visualise large-scale experimental studies on ecological conservation. You can use quantitative models to transform environmental theories into practical experiments and collect data on the potential impact of ecosystem changes.

Your work environment depends on your duties and can be indoors and outdoors. When doing field research, you work on land and underwater. The role could involve working in forests, wetlands and water bodies in different weather conditions to study organisms in their natural habitats. Some ecologists work in parks and wildlife conservation areas or visit communities. You may also work in a lab when testing soil samples and conducting other chemical research experiments. Since ecologists are also consultants, your job can involve working in an office setting to attend meetings, speak to policymakers and build computer models to aid research.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include environmental coordinators, research scientists and resource officers. You might also be working in close proximity to research officers and scientists, as well as other specialists that could include (but not be limited to) zoologists, environmental scientists and biologists.

As an ecologist, your work schedule ranges from 39 to 41 hours a week, based on the nature of your work. For instance, your work schedule is consistent between 8 am and 6 pm, with weekends off in an office or lab setting. Since you work full-time, expect overtime schedules, especially for outdoor activities. You work weekends and use evening hours to write reports after spending the day in the field. Part-time opportunities are rare unless you are an ecological consultant. Some ecologists work on a contract basis to complete one study. A career in ecology also involves a lot of travelling for fieldwork.

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Finding your ecologist job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an ecologist is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

As an ecologist, you earn an average salary of $90,000 annually, with entry-level ecologists taking home $80,000 yearly. With additional qualifications and experience, you will likely earn over $100,000 per year. Your area of specialisation influences your earnings as an ecologist.

While the projected job growth of ecologists is declining, Australia still has a high demand for ecologists and environmental scientists. With the world concerned about climate change and its implications, environmental scientists and ecologists play a major role.

As an ecologist, you study living organisms and the environment. You perform fieldwork to gather data for analysis and use the information gathered for environmental restoration. You work with other professionals to develop green technology practices and processes. You also develop models to investigate the effects of changes in the ecosystem.

To become an ecologist in Australia, you require educational qualifications like a bachelor’s degree in a relevant science field like environmental science and biology. You also require postgraduate qualifications to become part of a research team.

Working with nature and animals is fun and exciting, but the research process can be long and tedious. The role involves long hours performing research experiments to prove a hypothesis.

Applying for an ecologist job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.