REC - Associate Scientist (Lead Scientist/Coordinator)

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

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.

• 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.

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

Contact:

Brent Pease, [e-mail]