Lead Scientist & Research Coordinator, Ecology & Compliance

Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Roadside Ecology Center seeks a Lead Scientist/Coordinator to direct the scientific and compliance operations of its biological and wetland science team. You will triage IDOT taskings, assign projects based on expertise, and ensure compliance deliverables meet standards and deadlines.

You will oversee four Interdisciplinary Biologists and four Wetland Scientists, help move data to peer‑reviewed publications, and participate in field surveys to maintain

Qualifications

• PhD in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, or environmental science.
• 4+ years of post-degree field work in ecological contexts.
• 2+ years supervising field staff.
• Experience with regulatory frameworks for environmental review.
• Strong technical writing and peer-reviewed publications.

Responsibilities

• Triage IDOT regulatory taskings, assign projects, and maintain tracker.
• Provide direct scientific oversight of eight team members and review deliverables.
• Manage the applied research pipeline and co-author papers.
• Establish field data collection standards for compliance and research utility.
• Participate in field surveys to support capacity and ensure broad coverage.
• Monitor team capacity and communicate prioritization to the Director.
• Represent the team at meetings and conferences and report findings.

Skills

Team leadership

Scientific oversight

Regulatory compliance

Technical writing

Education

PhD in ecology or related field

Job description

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Roadside Ecology Center seeks a Lead Scientist/Coordinator to direct the scientific and compliance operations of its biological and wetland science team. You will triage IDOT taskings, assign projects based on expertise, and ensure compliance deliverables meet standards and deadlines.

You will oversee four Interdisciplinary Biologists and four Wetland Scientists, help move data to peer‑reviewed publications, and participate in field surveys to maintain