Employment Opportunities

Conservation Projects Coordinator

Location: Tall Timbers • Tallahassee, Florida
Job Classification: Full-time, with benefits
Supervisor: Land Conservancy Director
Compensation: $70,000 annually with benefits that include sick leave, paid time off, and health, vision, and dental insurance.
Tentative Start Date: December 2025 – January 2026
Contact: Ben Naselius, Tall Timbers Red Hills Planner bnaselius@talltimbers.org, 850-868-1929

Position summary
Tall Timbers is seeking a motivated individual to be part of a cohesive team working together to increase the pace of land conservation and ensure the sustainability of rural lands and wildlife habitat connectivity throughout North Florida and South Georgia. The Conservation Project Coordinator’s main task is to seek potential conservation easement opportunities, educate the public about opportunities for conserving their land, meet with prospective conservation easement landowners, and facilitate applications for conservation funding through federal, state, and local processes.
The ideal candidate has the ability to work independently towards identifying, educating, and facilitating conservation opportunities with private landowners to establish habitat connectivity throughout North Florida and South Georgia. This is a grant-funded position with guaranteed funding for a minimum of three years, with the possibility to be extended indefinitely.

Specific duties:
Project Development: Time allocation- 40%
Oversee all aspects of conservation project development, including, but not limited to:
biological surveys, management plan drafting, and conservation easement document review.
Ensure that all conservation easement projects comply with Tall Timbers’ policies and Land
Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.
Project management: Time allocation- 20%
Facilitate project documentation, application, and compliance with Federal and State agency
conservation programs. Establish relationships with relevant agency staff, and guide
landowners through negotiations to project completion.
Advocacy and outreach: Time allocation- 20%
Provide education and outreach opportunities to landowners in targeted conservation areas.
Provide landowners with information on funding opportunities and promote conservation
throughout North Florida and South Georgia. Coordinate closely with Planning and Advocacy
staff on issues related to land use, policy, and local government relations.
Public education: Time allocation- 10%
Coordinate and participate in tours and programs for groups and organizations that support
Tall Timbers’ mission. Assist in providing content for Tall Timbers publications, website, and
other media outlets.
General support for Tall Timbers: Time allocation- 10%
Assist in jobs and duties as appropriate and requested by the Land Conservancy Director or
the President/CEO.

Required Knowledge, skills and abilities
Minimum education requirement: 

• Bachelor of Arts or Science with at least five years of relevant experience or
• Master of Arts or Science, JD, MBA, and at least two years of relevant experience.
• Degrees relevant to the position include, but not limited to: natural resource
  management, wildlife ecology, forestry, urban and regional planning, real estate,
  business, environmental policy, public administration, and law.
• Other postsecondary degrees/certificates with extensive experience may qualify.

Other skills and requirements 

• Working knowledge of conservation easements and land transactions.
• Working knowledge of the principles of land use planning and natural resource conservation.
• Experience with property research, title review, mapping, and GIS.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with landowners, land managers, attorneys, Board and Committee members, and staff.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize workload, meet deadlines, and handle multiple issues simultaneously.
• Ability to make public presentations and speak in public forums to elected and appointed officials, business and nonprofit leaders, and the public on behalf of Tall Timbers’ conservation interests.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Excellent diplomatic skills and the ability to exercise discretion regarding privileged
  communications.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
• Passion for being a resident of the Red Hills and a desire to help conserve the rural working lands and rural land use traditions of the region.
• Clean driving record.

About Tall Timbers
For 65 years, Tall Timbers has served the Greater Red Hills region and beyond with research, conservation, and education focused on prescribed fire, wildlife, and management of southeastern ecosystems, especially upland pine savannas. For more information about Tall Timbers: http://www.talltimbers.org

RCPP Field Biologist/Forester (Biologist Level II)

Location: Tall Timbers • Tallahassee, Florida
Job Classification: Full-time, with benefits
Supervisor: Conservation Program Liaison
Compensation: $50,000-$56,000 per year with benefits that include sick leave, paid time off, and health, vision, and dental insurance.
Length of Service: This position has funding available through December 2029.
Deadline to apply: September 29, 2025

Introduction and position description 
The Land Conservancy at Tall Timbers was established in 1990 to ensure the conservation of natural and cultural resources and protection of rural land-use traditions of the Red Hills region of southwest Georgia and north Florida and in other strategic areas. As an accredited land trust holding over 160,000 acres in conservation easements, Tall Timbers is one of the largest and most respected land trusts in the Southeast.
In 2025 Tall Timbers entered into a partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to further Tall Timbers’ mission: “to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education.” Through NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), private landowners and producers within the Big Bend region of Florida may be eligible for technical assistance and financial assistance for conservation practices. RCPP Land Conservancy staff perform site visits with private producers, develop conservation plans, assist with NRCS contracting, implement conservation practices, document project outcomes, and track progress of land management project contracted activities.

Position Responsibilities
Evaluate natural resource conditions on lands contracted through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Time Allocation (45%)
– Communicate with NRCS District Conservationists and field staff and/or private lands biologists, as appropriate, to coordinate site visits, when feasible.
– Conduct site visits with other Tall Timbers’ staff or independently to establish baseline conditions, survey species present, evaluate the quality of wildlife habitats, document resource concerns, and identify practices that will address resource concerns on a diverse array of private lands in Florida’s Big Bend region.
– Meet with private landowners to discuss program objectives and increase their understanding of the RCPP objectives and process. Maintain communication through the contracted period to ensure work is being completed in a timely manner and advise or assist when there are obstacles to progress.
– Evaluate impacts of conservation practices on resource concerns and land management activities on State Wildlife Action Plan-listed species and their habitats.
– Create and apply Geographic Information Software (GIS) applications for field monitoring activities.
– Assist with implement of environmental outcomes monitoring.
– Coordinate with the Conservation Program Liaison and/or Coordinating Biologist to assist with projects as needed.

Assist in the development of land management plans, forest plans, NRCS contracts, and checkout reports for landowners enrolled in the NRCS-RCPP program

Time Allocation (40%)
– Complete Implementation Requirement forms/Job Sheets for primary practices that will be used on contracted properties.
– Develop natural resource management plans and other planning documentation to address documented resource concerns, for landowners and NRCS field office staff.
– Utilize GIS software to create shapefiles and produce maps and supporting documents for planned and completed land management activities.
– Work with Tall Timbers staff on the development of conservation management plans related to RCPP-funded entity-held easements.
– Perform practice checkout inspections and prepare inspection reports and maps for submittal to NRCS District Conservationists and field office staff.
– Coordinate with the Tall Timbers Geospatial Lab to identify properties that have high conservation value and assist with relevant geospatial projects.
– Create and maintain strong relationships with private landowners, NRCS staff, private consultants, contractors, and other parties involved with the RCPP project.
– Review and provide input on NRCS resource concern priorities, practice lists, program ranking criteria, and other NRCS publications, as needed.
– Develop and utilize applications through Smartsheets and other platforms to track program and landowner client activities, implementation progress, and financial information at both the client and program levels.

Contribute to the Land Conservancy and Tall Timbers extension services and community outreach efforts

Time Allocation (10%)-
Coordinate and participate in tours and programs for groups and organizations that support Tall Timbers’ mission.
– Assist in content for Tall Timbers’ publications, website, and other media outlets.
– Provide extension services to Tall Timbers’ membership, regarding land management and other areas of expertise.
– Participate in occasional land management activities, including prescribed burning.
– Help to plan and coordinate RCPP outreach events.
– Develop and deliver educational materials and presentations at Tall Timbers’ and RCPP community outreach events.

Provide general support for the Land Conservancy and Tall Timbers

Time Allocation (5%)
– Contribute to a healthy and productive work culture.
– Assist in jobs and duties as appropriate and requested by the Conservation Program Liaison and Conservation Coordinator.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
– Proficiency with personal computers and Microsoft programs, including Word and Excel.
– Ability to work independently outdoors in conditions that may involve extreme temperatures and humidity, traverse challenging terrain, and manage insect and wildlife encounters.
– Ability to operate four-wheel drive vehicles.
– Knowledge of/experience with land management, forestry, and/or agricultural concepts and various implementation techniques.
– Familiarity with vegetation and wildlife surveying and monitoring techniques.
– Ability to effectively develop reports, management plans, stewardship documents, technical papers, popular articles, social media posts, and other writings, as assigned.
– Ability to work well with a team of others to implement tasks both collaboratively and individually.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
– Knowledge of Florida ecosystems, plant and wildlife species, and resource management techniques required to manage and restore natural communities.
– Knowledge of/experience with specific forestry and/or agricultural land management practices including mechanical equipment operation, herbicide application, stand management, and prescribed fire.
– Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS software including ArcGIS Pro, and ability to use mobile field applications, such as Avenza, ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Survey 123, ArcGIS Online, QuickCapture and Landscape.
– Ability to trailer equipment and operate ATVs/UTVs.
– Experience with prescribed fire in Southeastern landscapes.
– Experience identifying and managing invasive species.
– Familiarity with private land conservation and the conservation easement process.
– Knowledge of, and experience with, NRCS conservation practices and programs, in particular the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and/or RCPP.
– Knowledge of land records available through county property appraiser websites and databases.

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, forestry, environmental science/studies, wildlife ecology, urban/regional planning, or related field. Individuals must be able to drive Tall Timbers vehicles and, as such, need a valid driver’s license and a clean three-year driving. Tall Timbers will require a review of your driving record.

Application
1. Cover letter including:
– Your interest in the position,
– Unique qualifications not evident in your resume, and
– Your career aspirations.
2. Resume or C.V.
3. Contact information for 3 or more professional references.
4. A writing sample, report, article, website, blog, or other media that highlights your writing abilities, passions, and/or career interests.

Position Inquiries:
Tyler Macmillan, Conservation Program Liaison
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32312
tmacmillan@talltimbers.org

RCPP Biological/Forestry Technician

Location: Tall Timbers • Tallahassee, Florida
Job Classification: Full-time, with benefits
Supervisor: Conservation Program Liaison
Compensation: $39,000-$42,000 per year with benefits that include sick leave, paid time off, and health, vision, and dental insurance.
Length of Service: This position has funding available through December 2029.
Deadline to apply: Open until filled

Introduction and position description 
The Land Conservancy at Tall Timbers was established in 1990 to ensure the conservation of natural and cultural resources and protection of rural land-use traditions of the Red Hills region of southwest Georgia and north Florida and in other strategic areas. As an accredited land trust holding over 160,000 acres in conservation easements, Tall Timbers is one of the largest and most respected land trusts in the Southeast.
In 2025 Tall Timbers entered into a partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to further Tall Timbers’ mission: “to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education.” Through NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), private landowners and producers within the Big Bend region of Florida may be eligible for technical assistance and financial assistance for conservation practices. RCPP Land Conservancy staff perform site visits with private producers, develop conservation plans, assist with NRCS contracting, implement conservation practices, document project outcomes, and track progress of land management project contracted activities.

Essential Responsibilities
– Conduct site visits to establish baseline conditions, survey species present, evaluate the quality of wildlife habitats, document resource concerns, and plan conservation practices to address documented resource concerns on a diverse array of private lands in Florida’s Big Bend region.
– Evaluate impacts of conservation practices and land management activities on State Wildlife Action Plan-listed species and their habitats.
– Work with RCPP program staff to produce maps, monitor land management activities, and develop land/forest management plans.
– Contribute to Tall Timbers and RCPP community outreach, including attending events and developing educational materials.
– Assist in the day-to-day management of the Land Conservancy, including performing necessary administrative tasks and public information requests.
– Participate in occasional land management activities, including prescribed burning.
– Assist in the overall work of Tall Timbers, as appropriate and as requested by the Conservation Coordinator and Director, and perform other related duties, as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
– Proficiency with personal computers and Microsoft programs including Word and Excel.
– Ability to work independently outdoors in conditions that may involve extreme heat or cold weather, traversing challenging terrain, and insect and wildlife encounters.
– Ability to operate four-wheel drive vehicles.
– Knowledge of/experience with land management, forestry, and/or agricultural concepts and various implementation techniques.
– Familiarity with vegetation and wildlife surveying and monitoring techniques.
– Ability to effectively develop reports, management plans, stewardship documents, technical papers, popular articles, social media posts, and other writings as assigned.
– Ability to work well with a team of others to implement tasks both collaboratively and individually.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
– Knowledge of Florida ecosystems, plant and wildlife species, and resource management techniques required to manage and restore natural communities.
– Knowledge of/experience with specific forestry and/or agricultural land management practices including mechanical equipment usage, herbicide application, stand management, and prescribed fire.
– Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS software including ArcGIS Pro, and ability to use mobile field applications, including, but not limited to, Avenza, ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Survey 123, and Landscape.
– Ability to trailer equipment and operate ATVs/UTVs.
– Experience with prescribed fire in Southeastern landscapes.
– Experience identifying and managing invasive species.
– Familiarity with private land conservation and the conservation easement process.
– Knowledge of, and experience with, NRCS conservation practices and programs, in particular the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and/or RCPP.
– Knowledge of land records available through county property appraiser websites and databases.

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, forestry, environmental science/studies, wildlife ecology, urban/regional planning, or related field. An Associate’s Degree with relevant experience may meet minimum qualifications. Individuals must be able to drive Tall Timbers vehicles and, as such, need a valid driver’s license and a CLEAN THREE-YEAR DRIVING RECORD. Tall Timbers will require a review of your driving record.

Application
– Cover letter including: Your interest in the position. Unique qualifications not evident in your resume. Your career aspirations
– Resume or C.V.
– Contact information for 3 or more professional references.
– A writing sample, report, article, website, blog, or other media that highlights your writing
abilities, passions, and/or career interests.

Position Inquiries
Tyler Macmillan, Conservation Program Liaison
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
13093 Henry Beadel Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32312
tmacmillan@talltimbers.org

Savanah River (Georgia) Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator

Location: Remote, Statesboro, Augusta, Savannah, GA area preferred
Application Timeline: Open until filled
Preferred Start Date: October, 2025 (Term Position)
Salary: Depending on Experience

Position Summary
This term position will include improving upon previous work to establish a successful Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) in the Savannah River Area of Georgia. Utilizing the PBA to conduct prescribed fires, hosting training and workshops, and working with partners to provide technical assistance will be key to seeing success in this region. This will be a limited term, full time position with benefits and the potential to extend depending on funding.

The specific duties of the position include:
– Continues to formalize and act as a full-time coordinator of The Savannah River PBA at the
behest of Tall Timbers and the Association.
– Formalizes a Board for the Association and works with other partners (to include Tall
Timbers regional projects) to coordinate and ensure prioritization and safe execution of
prescribed burns on private lands within the Association boundary.
– Uses Burn Association to facilitate fire use, pool risk to create cost-effective insurance
coverage and annually plan burns to mitigate smoke emissions and ameliorate limited
workforce capacity.
– Serves as Tall Timbers’ liaison for smoke-related concerns in the Augusta/Savannah areas
of Georgia.
– Leads the effort to create communication and collaboration with private land participants
within the Association through regular landowner site visits and facilitating quarterly
outreach and/or training workshops.
– Assists in reducing the backlog of NRCS cost-share burn acres, when and where feasible,
within Association in part through coordinating landowners with vendors and other
burning options (such as burn teams).
– Oversees local extension and outreach services to private landowners, agencies, and public land managers through weekly landowner visits, quarterly workshops, participation in
conferences, and Georgia Prescribed Fire Council meetings.
– Assists with burn implementation as needed as a team member of the Tall Timbers Private
Lands Fire Initiative.
– Seeks funding from agencies and landowners to support efforts and assists with land
management through cooperation with other groups and agencies.
– Host field days and workshops to demonstrate successes and provide hands-on training.
– Participates with other Tall Timbers outreach and training staff to implement fire or assist
in other fire related activities as needed.
– Facilitates increased capacity of Certified Burn Managers in Georgia by facilitating
Georgia Certified Burn Manager Training(s), working with partners at the Georgia
Forestry Commission.

Qualifications and Experience That Will Help You Succeed
– Dynamic personality with a demonstrated ability to deliver high quality classroom and field
instruction on topics such as fire behavior, operational safety, fire effects, smoke
management, fire planning, and fire weather to diverse audiences.
– High degree of interpersonal and communication skills, emotional and professional intelligence, self-motivation, creativity, organizational skills, and a positive reputation within the fire and/or forestry community.
– Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences such as, but not limited to, wildland fire, forestry,
and/or wildlife management.
– At least 2 years of professional experience working in wildland fire or natural resource
field.
– State certified burn manager is a plus.
Benefits:
Tall Timbers provides a package of standard benefits including health care, dental care,
vision insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and medical flexible spending account. These benefits are subject to employee contributions according to Tall Timbers’ policy.

Vacation and Sick Leave: Up to 5 days of leave is available in your first year, following a 90- day probationary period. Employees accrue up to 10 days of annual leave for calendar year two, then 15 days in calendar years three and four, followed by 20 days at year five.

How to Apply: To apply to this position, submit a resume and cover letter explaining why you are the best applicant for the job to: George Jensen gjensen@talltimbers.org on or before September 18, 2025. Questions to the same address.

All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status.

About Tall Timbers
Tall Timbers is recognized as the home of the study of fire ecology and an advocate to protect the right to use prescribed fire for conservation. It is also recognized as one of the nation’s leading land trusts. Since 1958, Tall Timbers has been using prescribed fire science to solve land management problems. Our unique perspective is rooted in this long-term practice of working cooperatively with partners to conduct research and apply results on the land.

Louisiana Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator

Location: Within ≈1 hour of Leesville, Louisiana
Preferred Start Date: October 1st, 2025 (Term Position)

Position Summary:
This position will work in collaboration with existing Tall Timbers staff and local partners to include the American Bird Conservancy, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, Quail Forever, United States Forest Service, Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Longleaf Alliance, or other fire delivery organizations in the region to grow demand and implementation of prescribed fire activities on private lands.

Job Description:
– Leads and develops the concept of “neighbor-helping-neighbor” via Prescribed Burn
Associations (PBA’s) in order to facilitate fire use and gather resources on techniques to pool risk and availability of cost-effective insurance coverage. Annually plan burns to mitigate smoke emissions and ameliorate limited workforce capacity.
– Works closely with Board of the Burn Association and other partners to coordinate and ensure prioritization and safe execution of prescribed burns on private land within the Association, especially private landowners that are Farm Bill recipients.
– Leads the effort to distribute place-based communication and collaboration with private
landowners through regular site visits and facilitating quarterly workshops and/or trainings.
Work closely with Tall Timber’s East Texas Prescribed Fire Coordinator and appropriate partners to ensure production of high quality, relevant and accurate prescribed fire outreach and training modules.
– Assists in reducing backlog of NRCS cost-share burn acres within region and/or in other priority areas of LA through coordinating landowners with relevant burn contractors, QF Habitat Team, Tall Timbers Private Land Burn Team, or the PBA sweat equity model.
– Oversees local extension and outreach services to private landowners, agencies through weekly landowner visits, quarterly workshops and participation in conferences and LA Prescribed Fire Council meetings.
– Seek funding from agencies, partners, and landowners to support workshops and/or training.
– Host field days and workshops to demonstrate successes and provide hands-on training.
Facilitate increased capacity of Certified Burn Managers in Louisiana by assisting individuals, who have passed the LA Certified Burn training class, with finalizing the certification process by completing their 5 required Burn Boss certification burns under a Supervisory Burn Boss. Assist with the Louisiana certification training courses as needed.

Qualifications and Experience That Will Help You Succeed:
– Dynamic personality with a demonstrated ability to deliver high quality classroom and field
instruction on topics such as fire behavior, operational safety, fire effects, smoke management, fire planning, and fire weather to diverse audiences.
– High degree of interpersonal and communication skills, emotional and professional intelligence, self-motivation, creativity, organizational skills and a positive reputation within the fire and/or forestry community in Louisiana.
– Bachelor’s degree in natural science such as, but not limited to, wildland fire, forestry and/or wildlife management.
– At least 3 years of professional experience working in wildland fire or natural resource field.
– State certified burn manager is a plus.

Salary: $60,000.00

Benefits: Tall Timbers provides a package of standard benefits including health care, dental care, vision insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and medical flexible spending account. These benefits are subject to employee contributions according to Tall Timbers’ policy.

Deadline: Applications accepted until position(s) filled.

Vacation & Sick Leave: Up to 5 days of leave is available in your first year, following a 90-day probationary period. Employees accrue up to 10 days of annual leave for calendar year two, then 15 days in calendar years three and four, followed by 20 days at year five.

How to Apply: To apply to this position, submit a resume and cover letter explaining why you are the best applicant for the job to: Kyle Carrington kcarrington@talltimbers.org on or before (September 15, 2025). Questions to same.
All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status.

About Tall Timbers:
Tall Timbers is recognized as the cradle of the study of fire ecology and is an advocate to protect the right to use prescribed fire for land management. It is also recognized as one of the nation’s leading land trusts. Since 1958, Tall Timbers has been using prescribed fire science to solve land management problems. Their unique perspective is rooted in this long-term practice of working cooperatively with partners to conduct research and apply results on the land. More information on Tall Timbers can be found here: https://talltimbers.org/

Accounting Specialist

Location- Tall Timbers main campus, Tallahassee, FL.
Employer: Tall Timbers
Position Type: Full-Time, pay depending on experience
Reports To: Melissa Proctor, Controller, Chief Financial Officer

Position Description
Currently there are two positions open. The position(s) of Accounting Specialist show proficiency in basic accounting functions with a focus on accuracy over all things and ability to work as part of a team providing customer service to Tall Timbers employees/department heads. Must have excellent organizational skills and attention to details. Must be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word, basic email correspondence. Sage Intacct experience is a plus.

Position one: Accounting Specialist Revenue Recognition
Job Duties include but not limited to:
– Recording and reconciliation of incoming e-payments (Paypal, Square, Stripe)
– Utilizing Sage – recording cash receipts/ daily deposits
– Monthly revenue reconciliation with other departments
– Digitizing/Archiving revenue records
– Basic journal entry – data entry
– Assist with preparations for audits, pulling cash receipting support documents on demand.
– Contributes to team efforts by accomplishing related tasks as needed.

Position two: Accounting Specialist Grant Tracking
Job Duties include but not limited to:
– Set up and update monthly grant records
– SEFA report management
– Digitize and manage executed grant agreements and modifications
– Utilizing Sage – prepare monthly and/or quarterly grant invoices
– Work with Assistant Controller to track unpaid invoices – grants receivable
– Assist with new grant kickoff meetings

Minimum Training and Experience
– Associates degree; high school diploma/equivalent and experience equal to four years. (Note: post-high school education may substitute for experience at the equivalent rate.)
– Knowledge of GAAP (General Accepting Accounting Principles).
– Communication skills – Ability to document and convey basic accounting information to
accounting and non-accounting users.
– Willingness to learn new concepts and skills.

Salary and Benefits: Competitive salary. Full Time. Inhouse. 10 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Medical and dental/vision benefits.

Deadline: Applications accepted until position(s) filled.

For additional information, please contact Melissa Proctor at mproctor@talltimbers.org. No phone calls
How to apply: Please email all of the following information to mproctor@talltimbers.org
1. A cover letter explaining your interest and salary requirements;
2. Resume
3. Two Professional References

About Tall Timbers – The mission of Tall Timbers is to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education. Our primary research focus is the ecology and management of fire- dependent ecosystems and wildlife, including bobwhite quail, in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Our conservation efforts are dedicated to helping protect the distinctive rural landscapes and traditional land uses of South Georgia and North Florida. Our Tall Timbers Land Conservancy is an accredited land trust, protecting more than 157,000 acres of high-quality habitat in North Florida and Southwest Georgia.

_________________________________________________

PhD Graduate Assistantship, Avian Community and Population Responses to Northern Bobwhite Management- Tarleton State University

Application Deadline: 06/30/2025
Education Required: Masters
Start fall 2025
Stipend approx. $30,000/year and tuition waiver

Dr. Heather Mathewson (Department of Wildlife and Natural Resources, Tarleton State University, Stephenville TX) and Dr. Brad Kubecka (Tall Timbers) are seeking an ambitious and motivated student to contribute to a collaborative research project on population restoration of northern bobwhite following pine savanna restoration in the Pineywoods of Texas.

The research will be primarily quantitative analyses of temporal and spatial trends of species of conservation concern, with a focus on northern bobwhite, using acoustic monitoring and other available data. The student will take advantage of pre-existing data sets (e.g., burn units, telemetry, ARU, timber, point counts, etc.) collected as part of Tall Timbers Western Pineywoods Quail Program which has overseen population recovery of northern bobwhite via habitat restoration (e.g., timber thinning, prescribed fire) and translocation to the study site since 2023. The PhD student will be responsible for developing their own specific research topics which need to generally be centered around the population restoration of northern bobwhite and-or broader avian community as it relates to habitat management of bobwhite.

This position starts in August 2025 in the Animal and Natural Resources Ph.D. graduate program at Tarleton State University’s main campus (Stephenville, TX). There are no online options available for these positions; all course instruction and research are in-person. This is a full-time, 12-month position for at least a 3-year contracted period. Students will receive an annual stipend with tuition waived. The program requires 45 credit hours of courses, serving as the instructor of a 3-credit undergraduate course each semester, presentations at professional conferences, mentorship of undergraduate or MS students, development of future research initiatives, grant writing, early publication of peer-reviewed publications, preliminary and comprehensive exams, and production of a dissertation.

Qualifications: MS in wildlife and natural resources, biology, or closely related field; production of a research thesis, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). Strong data management and quantitative skills required (R statistical software preferred), ideally with knowledge of acoustic monitoring and population and-or community modeling. Demonstration of strong verbal and written communication; leadership experience; ability to work independently and as a productive collaborator with a research team; ability to drive long distances and in the dark (current US driver’s license required); and ability to work under adverse field conditions. Prior bird handing experience preferred but not required. GRE is not required.

To apply for this position or for more information, contact Dr. Heather Mathewson (mathewson@tarleton.edu). We expect to fill this position by early June 2025; do not delay on submission of application materials. To apply please include (1) a cover letter describing your research interests, career goals, reason for applying, and highlighting your relevant experience; (2) CV, not limited to any number of pages; (3) email contact information for 3 references, (4) unofficial transcripts, and (5) an independently produced writing sample (thesis chapter, publication).

Contact Heather Mathewson at mathewson@tarleton.edu (preferred contact method)

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Background: Tall Timbers, in collaboration with the University of Missouri and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are recruiting a Post-Doctoral Research Scientist to develop state-and-transition models that incorporate plant community flammability for eastern US forests. The incumbent will focus on priority ecosystems and work with a team including researchers with expertise in fire regimes and forest ecology. The position is funded for 18 months, with additional support possible beyond that based on performance and funding availability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will lead efforts on quantifying community flammability using species-specific data. The candidate will primarily be responsible for collecting, measuring, analyzing and modeling data and writing manuscripts. The position may include administration, other field activities, supervision of technician(s) and intern(s), data management, and analysis. Collaboration with Tall Timbers research and management staff, University of Missouri research staff, and NRCS staff are critical for the success of the project.

Minimum Qualifications: A completed Ph.D. degree (ABD- all but dissertation- acceptable) in either forestry, plant ecology, plant physiology, geospatial analysis, fire behavior, climatology, or a related field. Candidate should be highly motivated with the ability to work independently. The successful candidate should have skills in two or more of the following: statistical analyses, vegetation analyses, measuring field and laboratory fire behavior, micrometeorology, geospatial analysis, and scientific writing. Valid state driver’s license required.

Preferred Qualifications: Ph.D. in aforementioned fields of study. The candidate should have experience designing and implementing laboratory experiments, as evidenced by publication in peer-reviewed outlets. A strong understanding of fire and forest ecology of eastern US fire-prone ecosystems or similar is preferred, though not required. Experience with multivariate statistical analyses and familiarity with state-and-transition models is preferred.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort: Ability to perform routine office, field, and some laboratory work and fieldwork in inclement weather under strenuous conditions.

Instructions for Applying: Applications should include (in a single PDF): 1) a letter of interest that includes educational and experiential preparation and 2) a current CV. All applications should be emailed to Dr. Morgan Varner (mvarner@talltimbers.org).

Contacts: J. Morgan Varner, Director of Research & Senior Scientist

Contact Email: mvarner@talltimbers.org

Applications Reviewed: February 1st, 2025 or until a suitable candidate can be found

Position Start Date: Winter/Spring 2025 (negotiable)

Salary: $62,500 (negotiable if housing needed)

Work Location: The position will ideally be based at the main campus of Tall Timbers in Tallahassee, Florida (www.talltimbers.org) or can be a remote post for the right candidate. Tallahassee is a vibrant community in the Red Hills region, notable for its education (Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College), conservation and recreation opportunities, and is the state capital of Florida.

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