Natural Science Policy Manager
Natural Science Policy Manager
Career Overview
Natural science policy managers help turn scientific knowledge into policies, programs, and decisions that affect people and the environment. They research scientific and environmental issues, analyze evidence, prepare reports and recommendations, advise organizations and decision-makers, and may manage teams or programs. Their work can involve areas such as environmental protection, natural resources, public health, climate, and scientific research.
Education
A bachelor's degree in a natural science, environmental science, engineering, public policy, or a related field is usually the starting point. Many positions benefit from a master's degree in science, public policy, environmental studies, or management. Management positions generally require several years of experience in a scientific or policy-related field.
Future Outlook
Scientific research and evidence-based decision-making will continue to influence how societies manage natural resources, environmental challenges, public health, technology, and sustainability. People who can understand science and communicate it clearly to decision-makers can play an important role in shaping effective policies and programs. This career can be a strong fit for students who enjoy science, research, writing, problem-solving, and making decisions that can have a broader impact.
Work Environment
Natural science policy managers typically work in offices, research organizations, government agencies, universities, consulting firms, and environmental or conservation organizations. Their work involves research, data analysis, writing, meetings, presentations, and collaboration with scientists, policy specialists, government officials, and other professionals.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math
- Computer Science
- Communication
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Regulations and Permits
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders.
- Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
- Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
- Communicate organizational information to customers or other stakeholders.
- Establish interpersonal business relationships to facilitate work activities.
- Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
- Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
- Prepare operational progress or status reports.
- Develop organizational goals or objectives.
- Develop organizational policies or programs.
- Implement organizational process or policy changes.
- Develop organizational methods or procedures.
- Evaluate employee performance.
- Hire personnel.
- Supervise employees.
- Manage human resources activities.
- Recruit personnel.
- Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.
- Approve expenditures.
- Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
- Prepare operational budgets.
- Present information to the public.
- Conduct employee training programs.
- Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
Schools
Schools
Case Western Reserve Univ...
Colgate University
Emory University
Harvard University
Lehigh University
Santa Clara University
University Of Georgia
Wesleyan University
Brandon University
Canadian Mennonite Uni...
Carleton University
Lakehead University- O...
Lakehead University- T...
Mcgill University
University Of Alberta
University Of British...
University Of Lethbrid...
University Of Waterloo
Potential Scholarships
Aqha Region 1 Quarter Hor...
Aqha Arizona Quarter Hors...
Aqha Joan Cain Florida Qu...
Aqha Indiana Quarter Hors...
Aqha Dr. Gerald O'connor...
Aqhf Nebraska Quarter Hor...
- Creditcardgenius 2020 S...
- Haywood | Hunt & Associ...
Approx Salary Expectation
Currency:
Low End:
$54,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$86,000.00 /yr
High End:
$136,000.00 /yr
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
WorkBC's Career Trek, http://www.careertrekbc.ca/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
WorkBC's Career Trek, http://www.careertrekbc.ca/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.