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Get the latest Conservation Jobs and Careers Advice from Conservation Careers and professional conservationists worldwide.
“Conservation is more like a passion than a career.” Forgive Maluleke spends weekdays as a nature conservationist with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and weekends running his own organisation – the Nhlalala Nature Conservation Project (NNCP). He walks miles through the South African bush, not just to protect nature, but to understand it.
Emily Pickett
It’s easy to feel weighed down by the challenges. Species under threat. Habitats disappearing. The climate crisis accelerating. But here’s one thing we believe at Conservation Careers: Optimism is not naive – it’s courageous. It’s a choice to see what can be done, and to do it. And in conservation, action rooted in optimism changes everything –
Conservation Careers
South Africa’s Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve is full of inspiration, from the diversity of the fynbos ecosystem, to the wild bird calls, to the dramatic views of the surrounding community. As Drakenstein Municipality’s nature conservationist stationed at Paarl Mountain, Lindsay Lewis deeply understands the importance of preserving these natural spaces. He is also passionate about
Katie Cohan
What do conservation employers really think when they read your application? With hundreds of conservationists applying and little job application training or feedback shared, it’s no wonder conservation job seekers are left guessing – and feeling frustrated. In this candid guest post, Biodiversify’s Communications and Marketing Manager Sara Kenny shares what she learnt from reviewing
Sara Kenny
If you want to understand Talkmore Mangunda, start with the forest. For over thirty years, his life has been rooted in forest soil, the air filled with the coughing of samango monkeys and the rhythmic click and buzz of cicadas. “I love the sound of the woodpecker – hollow, rhythmic and at times haunting”, he
Julie Singleton
Flora’s journey to a career with Mossy Earth (an organisation dedicated to restoring wild ecosystems and biodiversity through transparent, high-impact rewilding and reforestation projects) reads like a conservationist’s fairy tale. Born in Austria, she moved to Portugal as a young child, growing up along the banks of the Mira Basin (a biodiversity hotspot encompassing diverse
Sarah Donaldson
Dr Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva grew up in Portugal, and later became a conservation genetics and primatology researcher in the African bush. In this interview, she shares her pathway and offers advice to anyone following in her footsteps. Initial inspiration It all began in Portugal in the 1990s when Dr Ferreira da Silva was
Katie Cohan
When Dr. Iury Simoes-Sousa, Computational Physical Oceanographer and Postdoctoral Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, started his career as an oceanographer and data scientist, he would never have expected that a manatee named Tico would introduce a new meaning to his research and professional career. Born and raised in Fortaleza, Brazil, Iury was surrounded by
Giuliana Vomero
What does it take to bring down an international wildlife trafficking ring? For Tim Santel, the answer lies in decades of experience, a refusal to play it safe and a belief that bold investigations can change the world. As a kid growing up in the rural Midwest, USA, Tim couldn’t have predicted that one day
Stephanie Nicolaides
As a kid growing up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, USA, Dr Cynthia Frasier didn’t picture herself working in conservation. In fact, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to go to college. But now, as a Research Scientist at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, she’s spent years helping protect Madagascar’s lemurs and
Molly Schools
What do you do when optimism feels impossible, but giving up feels just as wrong? In the face of the urgent and ongoing degradation of our planet, many of us working in conservation find ourselves caught between two extremes: the hollow comfort of wishful thinking and the heavy weight of despair. Optimism without action can
Emily Fyfe
Are you fascinated by maps, data and the power of technology to protect the natural world Then becoming a GIS Analyst might be the career for you. Check out this Ultimate Guide to becoming a GIS Analyst.
Conservation Careers
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi If you’re ready to build a meaningful career in conservation, apprenticeships offer one of the most effective and immersive ways to get started. Unlike short-term volunteering or academic study, apprenticeships combine structured training, professional mentorship and real-world experience, helping you gain the confidence, credibility
Conservation Careers
From beginning with tools such as brushes and paint to now navigating across the Atlantic aboard a research vessel, Dr Philippa Rickard’s journey from fine art to marine biogeochemistry is as fluid and captivating as the waters she studies. Now she’s a postdoctoral research conducting the ocean’s crucial surface microlayer, its importance for air-sea gas
Andrew Monks
In just about every kindergarten or preschool class, half the kids say they want to be a marine biologist. Were you one of them? As we grow up, that number shrinks and only a few adults actually get to live out that childhood dream. Maybe that is because becoming a marine biologist actually means becoming
Molly Schools
Have you ever passed by an animal that was run over on a highway? Have you ever wondered what impact those kills have on the conservation of biodiversity? Or better yet, whether anything can be done to prevent it? Fernanda Abra has… And today, she runs a successful consulting company that actively works to mitigate
Mayan Press Goldfreind
What can three decades in one wild place teach us about conservation? In this episode, we sit down with Craig Ralston – Natural England Senior Reserve Manager at Yorkshire’s Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve – to explore his remarkable 30-year journey of restoring landscapes, inspiring communities, and navigating change. Craig shares his reflections on the
Dr Nick Askew
Are you passionate about the great outdoors, conserving natural habitats and helping people enjoy nature responsibly? Then becoming a Conservation Officer might be the career for you. Check out this Ultimate Guide to becoming a Conservation Officer.
Conservation Careers
Marine conservation is one of the most exciting areas in the sector – but also one of the most competitive. Every year, we see 1000s of conservationists chasing their dream of conserving coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks and more. But here’s the thing most aspiring conservationists don’t realise: Employers aren’t just looking for passion. They’re
Conservation Careers
What does it take to bridge the worlds of science, policy and industry to tackle one of the planet’s most urgent environmental threats? Meet Ginevra Oertel, a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, whose research focuses on developing microplastic pollution prevention strategies in the maritime sector. Ginerva’s academic background spans an impressive
Stephanie Nicolaides
Traditionally when thinking of conservation, we may not have considered economists on the sector’s front line. However, Georgia’s Aleksandre Mikeladze clearly illustrates the vital role of the economist through his work with SABUKO (Society for Nature Conservation). SABUKO is an organisation focused on finding long-term, sustainable solutions that benefit both Georgia’s biodiversity and its people
Anna Titova
Dr David Shiffman has loved sharks since he was young, so he naturally gravitated towards studying them and became a marine conservation biologist. But he soon discovered that, in the conservation world, there is often a gap between what the research suggests we should do to help animals, versus what actually gets done. “I went
Katie Cohan
Before you read further, you should know this: we can’t tell you where you fit in conservation. And that’s a good thing. If you’re stepping into the messy unknown of starting – or switching into – a career in conservation, it’s natural to crave clarity and assurance. You want to know you’re on the right
Kristi Foster
To learn the realities of life as a Conservation Ranger, Erich Goold takes us to the remote and windswept coastline of the Fransmanshoek Conservancy, nestled along South Africa’s Southern Cape near the fishing town of Mossel Bay. This coastal conservancy, known for its rich marine biodiversity, dramatic rocky shores, and unique fynbos vegetation, is a
Stephanie Nicolaides
Written by Emily Fyfe, Conservation Careers Community Connector. If I’m honest, things hadn’t been okay for a while. But it happened so gradually that, like the proverbial frog in boiling water, I didn’t realise how bad it had become. From the outside, my career looked great. I’d helped our veterinary clinic grow, improved the quality
Emily Fyfe
Can you imagine spending your working days surveying reefs underwater, leading local conservation projects and working with government agencies in marine protected area management? That is exactly where Nazirul Azmi’s career path has taken him – from a childhood spent in the Malaysian outdoors, to dedicating his career to protecting that same environment where he
Caroline Fitzgerald
Can a primary (elementary) school teacher be a conservationist? It wasn’t a question on Edd Moore’s mind when he first took his job as a freshly qualified teacher, trained in sport science. However, having soon decided to create a school garden, he continued along this unexpected path and transformed his campus from an ‘eco’ blank
Claire Tyrrell
“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” – Oprah Winfrey Every conservationist wants to have a meaningful impact. But here’s the key: transforming our planet starts with you. Growth isn’t something that just happens to us. It’s something we choose – when we take on challenges, push our boundaries and focus on who we’re becoming.
Conservation Careers
Molly Fairclough, an ocean lover, marine advocate and now Coastal Projects Officer at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, South Wales, has always felt a deep connection to nature. Her conservation career began on her doorstep. When the right job arose, Molly leapt at the opportunity to engage with her community and protect the natural beauty
Laura Hayter
How One Caribbean Biologist is Shaping the Future of Conservation From Cambridge to the Tropics. In this episode of the Conservation Careers Podcast, we speak with Dr Howard Nelson—Lecturer in Conservation Leadership at Fauna & Flora International and the University of Cambridge. Howard brings over 30 years of experience across the Caribbean and the UK,
Dr Nick Askew
