Occupation · SOC 19-2041.02
Environmental Restoration Planners
Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.
Median wage
$80,060
$50,130–$134,830
Projected growth
+4.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
400
per year
Employed (US)
84,930
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
727 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingWritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningMonitoringSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationScienceActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessMathematicsCoordinationService OrientationNegotiationTime ManagementPersuasionLearning StrategiesOperations AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisProgrammingOperation and ControlTechnology DesignTroubleshootingEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
BiologyEnglish LanguageGeographyDesignMathematicsAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsBuilding and ConstructionChemistryEducation and TrainingPhysicsEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityHistory and ArcheologySales and MarketingPersonnel and Human ResourcesSociology and AnthropologyProduction and ProcessingMechanicalTransportationTelecommunicationsPsychologyPhilosophy and TheologyForeign LanguageTherapy and CounselingFood ProductionFine ArtsMedicine and Dentistry
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcMapEmail softwareGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareHEC-RASIWR-PLANMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft Dynamics CRMMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationWorking with ComputersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsThinking CreativelyProcessing InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming Administrative ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Site assessment protocols — apply under direct supervision to document environmental conditions and potential restoration needs at field locations.Biological and environmental databases — access and query to retrieve baseline data in support of graduate-level restoration planning exercises.Environmental data collection instruments — operate according to established field protocols to gather soil, water, and vegetation samples under senior planner guidance.Habitat restoration literature and species inventories — read and summarize to identify relevant restoration strategies for a given site type.Geographic information system software — perform basic data entry and layer visualization to support spatial analysis tasks on assigned restoration projects.Project schedules and budget templates — populate with provided data under supervision to assist in developing environmental restoration project timelines and cost estimates.Technical memoranda and field reports — draft in clear scientific prose to communicate preliminary findings to supervising restoration professionals.Restoration planning software — navigate and input field data under guidance to assist in generating draft habitat management scenarios.Regulatory and legal frameworks governing environmental remediation — identify applicable statutes and permit requirements relevant to assigned project sites.Interdisciplinary project team communications — actively listen and synthesize technical input from biologists, geologists, and engineers during project kickoff meetings.
developing
Site certification assessments — conduct independently using standardized protocols to verify habitat quality and document environmental damage or restoration readiness.Native species restoration and weed control plans — develop with reduced oversight by integrating field survey data, ecological research, and regional best practices.Environmental data sets — analyze using analytical and scientific software to determine site conditions and prioritize restoration interventions across multiple project areas.Project budgets and schedules — draft and revise for mid-scale restoration projects, incorporating contractor quotes, regulatory milestones, and resource constraints.GIS-based spatial analysis — perform to map habitat extent, assess fragmentation, and support evidence-based restoration planning decisions on assigned projects.Field staff and technicians — coordinate day-to-day activities and provide technical guidance to ensure habitat restoration tasks are executed according to approved plans.Restoration planning presentations — prepare and deliver to internal project teams and agency partners using desktop publishing and graphics software to convey findings clearly.Habitat management plan alternatives — evaluate using systems analysis and inductive reasoning to recommend optimal strategies for ecologically sensitive landscapes.Environmental study findings — communicate in written reports and oral briefings to restoration professionals, adapting technical depth to the audience's expertise level.Cross-disciplinary data — integrate from biological, geological, and engineering sources to identify emerging restoration challenges and propose adaptive solutions.
proficient
Comprehensive habitat management and restoration plans — author autonomously, incorporating native tree restoration, invasive species control, and long-term monitoring protocols for complex multi-stakeholder sites.Full-scope environmental site assessments — lead independently, applying advanced field judgment to certify habitats and quantify ecological damage across diverse and non-routine site conditions.Environmental restoration project schedules and budgets — develop end-to-end with full accountability, managing contingency planning and cost-benefit tradeoffs across multiphase, large-scale projects.Technical direction — provide to interdisciplinary teams of energy engineers, biologists, geologists, and other specialists to align restoration strategies with ecological and regulatory objectives.Restoration planning software and biological databases — leverage at an expert level to model restoration scenarios, evaluate ecological outcomes, and optimize resource allocation.Non-routine environmental remediation challenges — diagnose and resolve by applying advanced systems evaluation, deductive reasoning, and cross-domain scientific knowledge.Regulatory negotiation — engage with government agencies and legal counsel to secure environmental permits and approvals for complex restoration projects.Field staff training programs — design and deliver to build technical competency in habitat assessment, ecological monitoring, and restoration implementation methodologies.Environmental remediation proposals — synthesize and present to diverse audiences including agency regulators, community stakeholders, and scientific peers with precision and clarity.CAD and GIS platforms — integrate to produce detailed restoration design drawings and spatially explicit habitat management plans for regulatory submission and contractor use.
advanced
Organizational restoration strategy — define and champion across large-scale programs, aligning ecological priorities, resource investments, and regulatory frameworks at enterprise or regional scale.Multi-project restoration portfolios — oversee and direct, establishing performance standards, cross-project risk management protocols, and adaptive management frameworks for sustained ecological outcomes.Technical workforce capability — cultivate organization-wide by designing competency development pathways, mentoring senior planners, and institutionalizing knowledge transfer systems.Interdisciplinary restoration science — advance by directing applied research initiatives, integrating emerging biological, geospatial, and engineering technologies into next-generation planning methodologies.Complex stakeholder negotiations — lead at the executive level with government agencies, tribal entities, private landowners, and international partners to forge restoration agreements and policy commitments.Enterprise restoration planning systems and ERP platforms — govern selection, implementation, and continuous improvement to optimize project delivery efficiency across the organization.Environmental policy and regulatory landscapes — influence proactively by contributing expert testimony, authoring white papers, and engaging in rulemaking processes at state, federal, or international levels.Organizational quality and scientific standards — establish and enforce for environmental assessments, restoration plans, and technical communications across all project teams and external partners.Strategic funding and resource acquisition — direct by leading grant proposals, public-private partnerships, and capital planning processes that secure long-term financial sustainability for restoration programs.Field-to-executive knowledge translation — communicate complex ecological systems findings and restoration outcomes to boards, legislatures, and executive leadership to drive informed organizational and policy decisions.
Also known as
12 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Coastal and Estuary SpecialistConservation PlannerEnvironmental PlannerEnvironmental Planning EngineerEnvironmental Restoration PlannerFisheries Habitat Restoration SpecialistHabitat Conservation PlannerHabitat Restoration SpecialistMarine Habitat Resources SpecialistRestoration EcologistRestoration SpecialistWatershed Coordinator