Mid-Atlantic Grasslands Coordinator

Position Summary

Grassland loss is the greatest conservation issue 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 Southern 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 used to be. If we want to reverse the tide of grassland biodiversity loss, our response must be rapid and unparalleled in magnitude. This immensely complex and ambitious challenge will take some of American conservation and philanthropy's brightest and most creative minds 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 Mid-Atlantic Grasslands Coordinator position. This is a full-time, nontenure-track position. The Mid-Atlantic Grasslands Coordinator’s primary role will be to serve the needs of SGI and the National Park Service in developing and managing grassland conservation projects across the Northeast and Capitol regions of the National Park Service. This position will be expected to travel up to 175 days a year, working alongside our restoration team in National Parks to restore various rare and declining habitats. In addition to on-the-ground work in grasslands and coordination of broader efforts, this position includes a vital component of grant-writing and report writing to help secure future funding to support this position and to grow additional programming/staffing needs in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The position will be located in Roanoke, Virginia. This Coordinator position may work a non-traditional schedule and travel throughout the field season with other SGI team members to reach the different project areas, with overnight stays and travel expenses covered through grant funds (80% travel). Working from home will be possible for a few specific desk-based tasks. This position will report to SGI’s Director of Stewardship.

SGI, affiliated with the Center of Excellence for Field Biology at Austin Peay State University, is a young and dynamic organization where we celebrate, support, and strive to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee restoration projects and supervise teams based in the Mid-Atlantic region
• Oversee restoration projects working with the National Parks Service in the region.
• Travel with the restoration team and oversee day-to-day tasks in the field
• Design and implement restoration, management, and research projects related to grassland and grassland-related (open woodlands/open wetlands) communities.
• Coordinate and assist in grassland research, management, restoration, and re-creation fieldwork, including hands-on restoration work such as spot spraying invasive species, treating woody species, seed collection, vegetation monitoring, and overseeding.
• Work with various individuals, organizations, and agencies; must be able to work collaboratively and positively with SGI team members and people outside SGI.
• Seek additional funding opportunities and draft grant proposals.
• Establish regular communication with private, state, national, and international conservation organizations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work a non-standard schedule, 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 various 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 desk work, 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 coordination, implementation, and design of restoration projects.
• S. in Botany, Ecology, Plant Biology, Conservation Biology, Restoration Ecology, or related fields is preferred. 
• Experience with prescribed fire preferred
• Experience 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, silvicultural management, seeding, and herbicide application.
• Must have or be willing to obtain pesticide applicator certification within 3 months of the hiring date.
• Knowledge of and prior experience conducting species and natural community inventory 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 in eastern North America.
• Prefer the successful candidate to have proficiency in natural history, ecology, and vegetation, preferably in eastern North America.
• Must have very good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with various 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 oral communication, and excellent presentation abilities.
• A successful track record in setting priorities, taking initiative, and multi-tasking.
• Experience using hand-held GPS equipment and/or mobile apps for data collection and navigation.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive various vehicles, including 4WD trucks and ATVs.
• Strong commitment to ensuring that diversity and inclusion are considered throughout our program.
• Must be fluent in English.
• Must be willing to obtain a pesticide license within the first 6 months of employment.