| 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 Southeastern 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 beginning to realize the extent of our once widespread grasslands. To reverse the decline in grassland biodiversity, our response must be rapid and unprecedented in magnitude. This immensely complex and ambitious challenge will require some of America’s brightest and most creative minds in 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 full-time, non-tenure-track position as Chief of Ecological Restoration (CER). The CER will be a visionary leader responsible for directing and expanding SGI’s ecosystem restoration initiatives across the Southeast. This strategic role will oversee large-scale habitat restoration programs, build and manage partnerships, supervise numerous technical and field staff (e.g., Director of Ecological Restoration, Native Seed Program Director, and Director of Project Management), and ensure the scientific integrity and impact of restoration work. The CER will play a central role in shaping the culture of the restoration program and the future of southeastern grasslands conservation at the regional and national levels. This position is located in Clarksville, TN, and reports to SGI’s Executive Director and collaborates closely with all other SGI staff.
Austin Peay State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment. |
| Primary Duties and Responsibilities | - Lead the development and execution of SGI’s restoration strategy in alignment with the organizational mission and goals.
- Serve as SGI’s public face and subject matter expert on restoration issues.
- Identify emerging restoration opportunities, threats, and partnerships across the Southeastern region.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of restoration projects, including site assessment, native plant propagation, invasive species control, fire management, and long-term stewardship.
- Guide the integration of ecological science, traditional knowledge, and innovation into SGI’s restoration practices.
- Lead, manage, and support a growing team of directors, restoration ecologists, field technicians, and program managers.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-conscious work environment.
- Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for staff.
- Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with agencies, NGOs, tribes, universities, and private landowners.
- Develop and manage project budgets.
- Lead visionary fundraising campaigns focused on uplifting grassland conservation.
- Ensure compliance with all grant, contract, and regulatory obligations.
- Monitor team performance and provide solutions and guidance when needed.
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| Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities | - Demonstrated ability to write or contribute to successful restoration funding proposals.
- In-depth knowledge of Eastern grassland communities.
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| Physical Requirements | - 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.
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| Required Minimum Qualifications | - A Master’s degree in Biology, Natural Resources, or related field preferred, with at least 3-5 years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated success in leading large-scale ecological restoration projects.
- Strong leadership and management skills, with experience supervising multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proficient in project management, ecological monitoring, and restoration techniques.
- Demonstrated success in leading funding proposals for large-scale ecological restoration projects.
- Prior experience with prescribed fire training or certification, seed mix design, providing technical assistance to private, corporate, or agency stakeholders, and experience with drafting management plans are all strongly preferred.
- Extensive hands-on experience with ecological restoration in eastern or southeastern grassland systems.
- Proven success managing multi-year or large-scale restoration projects.
- Experience with the following: prescribed fire, seed mix design, management planning, or technical assistance to landowners or agencies.
- Familiarity with native plant propagation, ecological monitoring, and land stewardship best practices.
- Ability to frequently travel across the SGI focal region (30–40%) to visit project sites, and attend partner meetings and conferences. Occasional national travel may be required.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and public speaking skills.
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