REC - Associate Scientist (Lead Scientist/Coordinator)

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Roadside Ecology Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale seeks a Lead Scientist/Coordinator to supervise the biology and wetland science team and oversee compliance with IDOT responsibilities.

You will triage taskings, assign projects, ensure quality, and guide data-to-publication processes, while representing the center in interagency contexts and advancing applied road ecology research in southern Illinois.

Qualifications

• PhD in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, or closely related field.
• 4+ years of post-degree professional experience in applied ecological field work or similar.
• 2+ years of direct supervisory experience of field staff.
• Peer-reviewed publication record in applied ecology or conservation biology.
• Ability to evaluate work quality and provide scientific guidance to teams.
• Knowledge of Illinois and federal environmental regulatory frameworks (ESA, Clean Water Act).
• Strong technical writing skills for reports and manuscripts.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel within southern Illinois and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Triage IDOT regulatory taskings, assign projects, track progress, ensure timely compliance deliverables.
• Provide scientific oversight of eight staff and review deliverables before submission.
• Manage applied research pipeline and co-author papers with staff.
• Establish field data collection standards supporting regulatory compliance.
• Participate in field surveys during peak workloads and cover gaps across service area.
• Monitor capacity and communicate prioritization to Director.
• Represent team at state meetings, interagency forums, and conferences; report findings to IDOT.

Skills

Team leadership

Scientific writing

Project management

Field surveys

Education

PhD in ecology or related field

Job description

Description

The Roadside Ecology Center (REC) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale invites applications for a Lead Scientist/Coordinator to lead the scientific and compliance operations of the Center’s biological and wetland science team. The REC is a multi-institutional applied research and environmental compliance center operating under a long-term Intergovernmental Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Center’s scientists conduct field surveys, threatened and endangered species assessments, and wetland evaluations across the southern third of Illinois to support IDOT’s environmental review obligations and the REC’s applied research program. The Lead Scientist/Coordinator receives and triages incoming IDOT taskings, assigns projects to scientists based on expertise and capacity, oversees the quality of compliance deliverables, and manages the team’s progression from field data to peer-reviewed publication.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Examples of Duties

• Triage incoming IDOT regulatory taskings: evaluate scope, urgency, and taxonomic requirements, assign projects to appropriate scientists, maintain an active project tracker, and ensure all compliance deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Provide direct scientific oversight of four Interdisciplinary Biologists and four Wetland Scientists and reviewing deliverables prior to IDOT submission.
• Manage the team’s applied research pipeline in coordination with the Director; facilitate the transition of compliance data streams into peer-reviewed publications by actively participating in manuscript preparation, providing scientific review, and co-authoring papers led by staff scientists.
• Establish and maintain field data collection standards that support regulatory compliance while also preserving the research utility of compliance datasets.
• Participate in field surveys as needed to support team capacity during peak workload periods, maintain multi-taxa proficiency across the biological and wetland disciplines represented on the team, and fill coverage gaps as needed across the southern Illinois service area.
• Monitor team capacity and geographic coverage needs across the southern Illinois service area; communicate proactively with the Director when tasking volume or staffing constraints require prioritization decisions.
• Represent the scientific team at quarterly state endangered species meetings, relevant interagency forums, and annual conferences; communicate field findings to IDOT and agency partners as directed by the Director.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, or a closely related field
• 4+ years of post-degree professional experience in applied ecological field work, environmental consulting, or natural resource management, including demonstrated responsibility for leading scientific teams or managing multi-species compliance project portfolios
• 2+ years of direct supervisory experience managing field-based biological or environmental staff
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication in applied ecology or conservation biology, commensurate with the university-level Associate Scientist classification
• Broad field competency to sufficiently evaluate work quality and provide substantive scientific guidance to specialists on both the biological and wetland teams
• Working knowledge of Illinois and federal regulatory frameworks applicable to environmental review, including Sections 7 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and Illinois state incidental take provisions
• Strong technical writing skills, with experience authoring or reviewing compliance reports and scientific manuscripts
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel regularly within southern Illinois and beyond

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in transportation ecology, road ecology, or environmental compliance review for linear infrastructure
• Direct experience working with state or federal transportation or natural resource agencies, including IDOT, IDNR, USACE, or USFWS
• Background in wildlife sampling protocols, with a particular interest in threatened and endangered species
• Background in wetland delineation and functional assessment methods or stream ecology
• Demonstrated experience mentoring scientists or graduate students toward peer-reviewed publication
• Familiarity with Illinois flora, fauna, and natural communities, particularly in the southern Illinois region

Required Documents:

Please submit a letter of application, CV/Resume, Statement describing your research program in transportation and road ecology, and three references.

Contact:

Brent Pease, [e-mail]