"Coordinator, Central Appalachian Grasslands"

Job Description

Grassland loss is the single greatest conservation issue currently facing eastern North American biodiversity. Our precious Southern grasslands are nearly extinct, and the species that depend on them are fading fast. Many of our Eastern grasslands that managed to persist through the past 200 years have disappeared in the past quarter-century. What will the next 25 years bring? As a conservation community, we are only now realizing how extensive our grasslands once were. If we want to reverse the tide of grassland biodiversity loss, our response must be rapid and of unprecedented magnitude. This is an immensely complex and ambitious challenge that will take some of the brightest and most creative minds in American conservation and philanthropy to solve. Are you ready to join the Southeastern Grasslands Institute's team?

Austin Peay State University's Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for a Central Appalachian Coordinating Grassland Ecologist. This is a full-time, nontenure-track position. The Ecologist's primary role will be to support SGI's efforts to manage grassland conservation projects across some of the most iconic National Parks in the Eastern U.S., including, but not limited to, Shenandoah National Park, Gettysburg National Battlefield, and others. In addition to working at National Parks, this position will lead a team to uplift grasslands across public and private lands across the region. This position includes a strong component of team leadership, botany, community ecology, restoration, and grant writing to help secure future funding to support this position and expand programming/staffing needs in the region. The position will be based out of our Roanoke, VA office. Frequent travel will be required to reach the various project areas, with overnight stays and travel expenses covered by grant funds. Working from home will be possible for a few specific desk-based tasks. This position will report to SGI's Chief of Ecological Restoration.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee restoration projects and supervise teams based in Virginia.
• Oversee restoration projects working with the National Parks Service in the region.
• Conduct vegetation monitoring using CVS-style plots on restoration sites.
• Design and implement restoration, and manage staff and research projects related to grasslands and grassland-related (open woodlands/open wetlands) communities.
• Coordinate and assist in field work related to grassland research, management, restoration, and re-creation, including working with various individuals, organizations, and agencies; must be able to work collaboratively and with a positive attitude with SGI team members and people outside SGI.
• Seek additional funding opportunities and draft grant proposals.
• Establish and maintain regular communication with private, state, national, and international conservation organizations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work a non-standard schedule, such as beginning at 5 am to avoid heat-related issues or occasionally working late hours on time-sensitive needs such as project management or grant proposals.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Must be able to hike at least 5 miles in a variety of landscapes, including wetlands, grasslands, forests, and hilly or mountainous terrain.
• Willingness and ability to work in harsh, ever-changing environmental conditions, including hot temperatures, independently in remote places, or as part of a team.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods for deskwork, including typing and using a laptop or desktop computer and mobile app technologies.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 1 year of work experience in the coordination, implementation, and design of restoration projects.
• A M.S. degree in Botany, Ecology, Plant Biology, Conservation Biology, Restoration Ecology, or related fields is preferred.
• Skilled botanist familiar with the flora of the southeast.
• Experience in planning, implementing, and assessing ecological restoration projects. The successful candidate should demonstrate an understanding of ecological restoration prescriptions, outcomes, tools, and practices. Prefer experience with prescribed fire, native seed installation, and herbicide application.
• Knowledge of and prior experience conducting species and natural community inventories and assessing the ecological quality of various natural communities.
• Knowledge of and prior experience assessing restoration and management needs of grasslands and woodlands and writing and implementing restoration and management plans.
• Prefer the successful candidate to have good skills with plant identification at the species, genus, and family levels, preferably of eastern North America.
• Prefer the successful candidate to have proficiency in natural history, ecology, and vegetation, preferably of eastern North America.
• Must have very good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including laypeople, volunteers, private landowners, interns, academics, business leaders, agency personnel, donors, and other professionals.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both in writing and in oral communication, as well as excellent presentation abilities.
• A successful track record in setting priorities, taking initiative, and multitasking.
• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment and/or mobile apps for data collection and navigation.
• Experience with Esri GIS software products (e.g., ArcPro, ArcGIS Online, Mobile Applications) preferred
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to drive a wide variety of vehicles, including 4WD trucks and ATVs.
• Must be fluent in English.
• Must be willing to obtain a pesticide license within the first 6 months of employment.