Open Positions

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.

Director of Project Management | Roanoke, VA

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for a full-time, nontenure-track position as Director of Project Management. The successful candidate’s primary role will be to manage a four-year, $14M National Park Service (NPS) project that aims to restore thousands of acres of grassland habitat on National Park property across 40 National Parks. The Project Director will work closely with our NPS partners, oversee report writing, scheduling, purchasing equipment, budget management, relationship building, and assist with the oversight of restoration and management activities across the project’s parks in multiple states. This will require setting priorities, high attention to detail, and excellent project management skills. In addition to on-the-ground work in grasslands and coordination of broader efforts, this position will work hand in hand with the Director of Ecological Restoration to ensure project deliverables are being met, contract work is being completed and billed on time, and all the needs of both individual parks and the regional offices at NPS are being met. This position may require travel throughout the year to project sites ranging from Mississippi to Vermont. This position will also manage and organize data related to the project, including but not limited to field data, monitoring data, maps, and more. This position will be based out of Clarksville, TN, and report directly to SGI’s Director of Ecological Restoration.

Find more information here: Director of Project Management

Mid-Atlantic Grasslands Coordinator | Roanoke, VA

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) 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 being 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.

Find more information here: Mid-Atlantic Grasslands Coordinator

Field Technician | Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for two full-time Field Technician positions to study and restore native grasslands on national parks across the Eastern United States as part of our Grasslands Restoration, Inventory, and Monitoring team. Field Technicians will be responsible for collecting baseline data from grassland remnants and proposed grassland “reconstruction” sites at a diverse array of national parks across the Eastern U.S., as well as carrying out restoration and land management work, and collecting post-treatment data from all sites. Field Technicians will travel extensively throughout the year, often working alternative work schedules to reach the different project areas (up to 90% of time will be spent in the field), with overnight stays and travel expenses covered by grant funds. This position will be remotely based in Clarksville, TN (45 miles from Nashville, TN). Field Technicians will receive daily direction from a Lead Field Technician and directly report to SGI’s Interior Low Plateau Grasslands Coordinator.

Find more information here: Field Technician

GIS Specialist | Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for a GIS Specialist. This is a part-time, 12 month position for 25 hours/week, $30/hour. The GIS Specialist will be responsible for creating user-friendly GIS applications, tools, and visualizations that streamline data collection, mapping, and analysis for the Native Seed Program. A key component of this role will include developing an informational and member hub for the Southeastern Native Seed Network (SENSN), a collaborative group focused on finding solutions for the issues surrounding native seed supply, research, and the restoration of diminishing natural systems. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in creating ArcOnline apps, utilizing ArcPro for geospatial analysis, and ensuring that the tools and resources developed are accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter, and portfolio to kristin.hopkins@segrasslands.org with “GIS Specialist - SGI Native Seed Program Application” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please describe your experience with ArcOnline and ArcPro, especially in developing user-friendly GIS products and collaborative hubs, and explain how your skills will contribute to the Southeastern Grasslands Institute’s Native Seed Program and the Southeastern Native Seed Network.

Find more information here: GIS Specialist

Native Seed Program Field Technician | Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for a seasonal part-time Native Seed Program Technician position, funded by an assistance agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The part-time Technician will be part of the Native Seed Program team at SGI and will report to the Native Seed Collections Manager. Specifically, the Technician will be responsible for scouting plant populations and collecting seeds for the Seeds of Success (SOS) national program, as part of a field crew led by the Native Seed Collections Manager. The Technician will also be expected to assist with indoor activities, primarily native seed cleaning and processing. The Technician is expected to spend approximately half of their time in the field and the remaining time in indoor facilities to perform the other activities. Extensive traveling will be expected to reach plant populations across multiple states, including Alabama and Kentucky, with occasional overnight stays. Expenses related to traveling, such as transportation, lodging, and per diem, will be covered through the Program’s funding. This is a part-time, seasonal, nontenure-track position for 29 hours/week for $20/hour for 30 weeks (8 months), paid bi-weekly. The position is expected to be filled from mid-June 2025 to January 2026, for a total of 30 weeks.

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter via email to gus.rasich@segrasslands.org with “Native Seed Program Field Technician” in the subject line by June 15, 2025.

Find more information here: Native Seed Program Field Technician

Botany Field Technician | Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University’s (APSU) Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) invites applications for a Botany Technician position located in Clarksville, Tennessee. Funding is available for six months at $20/hour for 37.5 hours/week. The position will conduct plant surveys and map habitats for several SGI projects. The Botany Technician is expected to spend 70-90% of their time in the field and 10-30% in indoor facilities to perform data management and other activities. Frequent travel will be expected to reach the different project areas with some overnight stays, with travel expenses covered. Working from home will be possible for a few specific, desk-based tasks. The position will report to SGI’s Director of Stewardship (Clarksville, TN).

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter via email to holly.latta@segrasslands.org with “Botany Technician” in the subject line. Position Dates are July - December 2025, but may be flexible.

Find more information here: Botany Field Technician