Department of Zoology, University of Otago, New Zealand

Careers for Zoologists

A World of Opportunities

A degree in Zoology opens the door to a wide variety of jobs and career opportunities. Like any qualification, a degree in Zoology does not guarantee employment, however we aim to produce graduates who are flexible and able to take up a diversity of careers in the biological and environmental sciences and beyond.

A Zoology qualification provides an excellent academic background from which students pursue careers within government and ministries. Graduates also find careers where they are responsible for the use and care of our natural resources and environment with Regional and District Councils, Fish and Game Councils and Trust Boards. Within their respective fields, Zoology graduates are often involved with research, harvest management and pest control, as well as writing reports and developing and monitoring policy. Such jobs opporutnities include:

Policy/advice in Ministerial and governmental organisations (e.g. Ministry of Tertiary Education, ERMA, Commission for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Ministries of Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry, and Environment)
Consulting for Crown Research Institutes (such as Landcare, AgResearch and NIWA)
Fisheries scientist or analyst, Ministry of Fisheries (MAF)
Water quality scientist, National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA)
Conservation Officer, Department of Conservation (DoC)
Private research organisations (such as Cawthron Institute)
Regional and local authorities
Medical and veterinary laboratories
Wildlife and fisheries management agencies
Education and academic research
Environmental consulting
Science communication

There are also increasing opportunities to develop careers in eco-tourism as advisers, guides and managers. Some Zoology graduates are working in fisheries and aquaculture with private companies, while others have found jobs as environmental consultants. You may decide that you want to share your interest and knowledge of animals and their environments in a position as a curator, an information officer or a guide for a museum, nature park or zoo. There are also teaching opportunities for graduates and Zoology is an important major subject for those wishing to become secondary school science teachers.

For more science and technology related job opportunities, check the following links:

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Jobs Currently Held by Otago's Department of Zoology Graduates (or advertised for Zoology graduates)

Account Manager
Adjudication Office, IRD
Adult Education Teacher
Agricultural Business Executive
Animal Technician
Aquaculture Scientist
Assistant Expedition Leader, Marine Expeditions
Award Administrator, Duke of Edinburgh Award NZ
Biosecurity Officer
Business Analyst
Business Development Manager, Ovita Ltd.
Cancer Research Technician
Cardiology Technician
Careers adviser
Chandler
Chief Adviser (insect pests)
Chief Executive Officer, Education NZ
Chief Executive, Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce
Communications & Marketing Manager, Heritage Expeditions
Conservation Officer, DoC
Course coordinator, Marine Lab
Curator Natural Sciences, Otago Museum
Dean, Correspondence School
Department Administrator, University of Otago
Deputy Chief Executive, NIWA
Diagnostics Laboratory, Dunedin Hospital
Director Foundation for The Blind (Auckland)
Director of Endodontics
Director Research Development, NIWA
Director, Fisheries Department (Vanuatu)
Director, Science Alive
Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist
Ecologist, LandCare
Ecotourism managers and guides
Education Officer, Dunedin Botanic Gardens
Educational development officer
Electron Microscope Technician
Engineer
Entomologist, Department of Conservation
Environmental consultant
Environmental Education Adviser
Environmental Officer, Solid Energy NZ Ltd.
Environmental Scientist
European Equity Sales
Event Manager
Farmer, Otago
Fauna Ecologist, DoC
Field technician, Landcare
Financial Analyst
Fisheries analyst
Fisheries scientist
Freelance Photographer
Genetics research and teaching
Hatchery Technician, Shellfish Culture NZ Ltd.
Hazardous substances adviser
Head of Publications and Communications Group, Welcome Trust
Head Winemaker
High school teacher
Intellectual Property Searching
Investment Manager, FRST
IT Help Desk
Laboratory Manager, wine company
Laboratory Technician, Crop & Food Research
Laboratory Technician, International Flavours and Fragrances
Land Resources Officer
Lecturer – Veterinary Nursing
Lecturer in Anatomy
Lecturer in Zoology
Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing
Librarian
Management position, pharmaceutical industry
Manager of a Dive Operation
Manager, Coastal & Estuarine Group, Cawthron Institute
Managing Director
Managing Director, Earth Sea Sky Equipment Ltd.
Managing Director, Protective Sport Apparel Ltd
Marine Biologist/Environmentalist, NZ Underwater Assoc
Marine Scientist, NIWA
Marine studies tutor

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