Studies and develops policies and plans for the control of factors which may produce pollution, imbalance in or degradation of the environment.

• Studies effects of factors, such as terrain, altitude, climatic and environmental change, sources of nutrition, predators and impacts of humans, on animal and plant life; studies and analyses pollution, atmospheric conditions, demographic characteristics, ecology, mineral, soil and water samples; develops conservation and management policies for biological resources, such as fish populations and forests, and establishes standards and approaches for control of pollution and rehabilitation of areas disturbed by activities such as mining, timber felling and overgrazing.

• Frequently works indoors in offices of crown research institutions, universities, regional and city councils and research companies in the private and/or public sector.
• Works outdoors and travels by vehicle, watercraft or foot to areas of interest and/or concern.
• Works in adequately lit, heated, ventilated and clean, well maintained workspaces when indoors.
• Work outdoors and some environments may be hazardous therefore requiring the use of protective clothing and footwear.
• Employees work in all weather conditions.

• Sedentary to light physical demand, with frequent sitting in offices, laboratories, meetings or vehicles.
• Frequently stands and walks in office and laboratory area or in fieldwork situations to observe and collect samples of air, water, soil or other items.
• There may be occasional lifting, carrying or pulling within the light physical range when working with some monitoring equipment and collecting samples.
• Occasional bending, squatting or crouching and stretching, twisting, climbing may be required in fieldwork.
• Occasional contact with skin irritants and/or water may be required depending upon the environment.
• Occasional to frequent driving of vehicles may be required to travel to fieldwork.
• Occasional to frequent repetitive hand and finger movements are required when using hand tools and general laboratory equipment, computers, microscopes, sampling, and measuring tools, testing equipment and other specialist tools.
• Mental skills necessary include a high level of cognitive functioning with technical, computing, research, laboratory, analytical, report writing, communication, organisational, problem solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• A relevant tertiary qualification or at least five years applicable experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 1). In some instances particular experience and/or on-the-job training may be required.

• There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.