Welcome to Tall Timbers
Employment Opportunities
Avian Research Technician
Area of Specialization: Pine savanna and coastal species
Background
The Stoddard Bird Lab of Tall Timbers is recruiting an Avian Research Technician to assist in Bachman’s Sparrow and Henslow’s Sparrow research at sites in the Red Hills Region of Florida and Georgia and Nokuse Plantation. The research will investigate nonbreeding and early breeding season space use in pine savanna ecosystems. The findings are expected to offer insight into whether pre-lightning season fire influences site fidelity. The incumbent will be supervised by Dr. Kate Richardson and work closely
with other technicians and volunteers. The position is initially funded for 4 months, with an extension through at least summer 2027 available for high-performing technicians. This extension includes conducting black rail broadcast surveys and vegetation collection. Free, shared on-site housing is provided.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The candidate is primarily responsible for collecting field data and data management, but there will be the opportunity to contribute to manuscripts. Additionally, the candidate will assist in project coordination, including administration, outreach, and report writing.
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of at least 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and knowledge of the scientific principles of avian biology, ecology, and conservation. Candidate should be highly motivated and organized with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Candidate has (or must have the proclivity to develop) the following skills: bird banding, nano-tagging, telemetry, point count surveys, behavioral observations, and geodatabase management. The successful candidate maintains a positive, professional demeanor and effectively communicates with private landowners and Tall Timbers staff.
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience handling, banding, and tagging songbirds is strongly desired. A completed bachelor’s degree in a biological science and interest in statistical analyses and scientific writing. The candidate should have previous field work and data management experience.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Ability to perform routine office work and fieldwork in inclement weather under strenuous conditions in southeastern climates, including long hours and occasional weekends. Ability to drive a 4WD truck daily and over long distances.
Workplace Environment and Commitments to Diversity
Tall Timbers has a commitment as an equal opportunity employer, and rejects racism, prejudice, discrimination or hate toward any race, ethnicity, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, national origin, veteran status, socioeconomic class, religion, or professional status. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and those that add to and engage the local communities.
Contact: Kate Richardson
Contact Email: krichardson@talltimbers.org
Contact Phone: 850-868-1011
Position Start Date: 12-1-2026
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time, Non-exempt
Duration 4 Month with possible extension
Salary: $19 per hour plus on-site housing
Work Location: Based out of Tall Timbers, Tallahassee, FL.
Benefits: On-site housing, health and dental insurance coverage is available.
How to Apply
Please email a single pdf to Kate Richardson (krichardson@talltimbers.org) that includes (1) a cover letter that explains your interest in the position, relevant skills and experience, (2) an up-to-date resume, and (3) at least three professional references. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and the position will be filled as the appropriate candidate is found.
About Tall Timbers Tall Timbers, a 4,000 acre site founded in 1958, is located in Tallahassee, Florida. Research at Tall Timbers is focused on fire ecology, vertebrate ecology, Northern bobwhite ecology, and applications of fire modeling and training to meet next-generation fire management needs. Tall Timbers also owns and manages the 9,100 acre Livingston Place, near Monticello, Florida. Both sites are frequently burned and have a diversity of ecosystems where fire is a dominant ecological process. More information on Tall Timbers can be found here: https://talltimbers.org/
Land Management Technician
Location: Rollins Ranch Osceola County, Florida
Hours: Full time
Salary: Negotiable per year with benefits that include sick leave, paid time off, health, vision, dental insurance and option for on-site housing.
Position Summary
This position will be responsible for conducting land management activities on Rollins Ranch, a research site managed for wildlife and fire related research located in Kenansville, Florida. The main responsibilities of this position include conducting land management activities that support and align with research projects on the property and assisting with quail hunts. The position will be heavily focused on tractor work so the applicant should be comfortable operating equipment such as tractors as well as weed eaters, lawn mowers,
chainsaws, UTVs, and ATVs.
Other duties will include but are not limited to herbicide application, prescribed burning, predator trapping, helping with hunts, and vehicle maintenance. The person hired for this position should be comfortable with dogs and horses as they will be expected to care for both, as well as ride horses during quail hunts. The position will be required to work frequent weekends and holidays as well as long hours during quail hunting season. The hired individual must understand that Rollins Ranch is a research site and they may occasionally be asked to help with research projects.
Qualifications
- An interest in fire-dependent ecosystem ecology and management and
bobwhite habitat management - Previous experience driving and maintaining heavy equipment
- Experience caring for dogs and horses
- Experience with power equipment operation and maintenance (chainsaw,
lawnmower, etc.) - Wildlife research experience (radio-telemetry, quail trapping, small mammal
trapping, etc.) - Predator trapping experience
- ATV and Truck/Trailer operation and maintenance
- Clean driving record (no points on license)
Benefits
Tall Timbers provides a package of standard benefits including health care, dental care, life insurance, voluntary tax sheltered 403(b) plan, and medical flexible spending account. These benefits are subject to employee contributions according to Tall Timbers’ policy. Additionally, the candidate has the option for on-site housing, will be provided access to a work truck or UTV as needed, and receive a phone stipend.
How to Apply
Send up to date resume to Matt Kunkle at mkunkle@talltimbers.org.
Land Management Technician
Location: Livingston Place, Jefferson County, Florida
Hours: Full time
Salary: Negotiable per year with benefits that include sick leave, paid time off, health, vision, dental insurance and option for on-site housing.
Position Summary
This position will be responsible for conducting land management activities on Livingston Place, a research site managed for wildlife and fire related research located east of Monticello, Florida. The main responsibilities of this position include conducting land management activities that support and align with research projects on the property and assisting with horseback wild quail hunts. The position will be heavily focused on tractor work so the applicant should be comfortable operating equipment such as tractors as well as weed eaters, lawn mowers, chainsaws, UTVs, and ATVs.
Other duties will include but are not limited to herbicide application, prescribed burning, predator trapping, helping with hunts and field trials, and vehicle maintenance. The person hired for this position should be comfortable with dogs and horses as they will be expected to care for both, as well as ride horses during quail hunts and on field trials. The position will be required to work frequent weekends and holidays as well as long hours during quail hunting season. The hired individual must understand that Livingston Place is a research site and they may occasionally be asked to help with research projects.
Qualifications
- An interest in fire-dependent ecosystem ecology and management and bobwhite habitat management
- Previous experience driving and maintaining heavy equipment
- Experience caring for dogs and horses
- Experience with power equipment operation and maintenance (chainsaw, lawnmower, etc.)
- Wildlife research experience (radio-telemetry, quail trapping, small mammal trapping, etc.)
- Predator trapping experience
- ATV and Truck/Trailer operation and maintenance
- Clean driving record (no points on license)
- Experience with data entry using Microsoft products and mapping software (ArcGIS) is preferred
Benefits
Tall Timbers provides a package of standard benefits including health care, dental care, life insurance, voluntary tax sheltered 403(b) plan, and medical flexible spending account. These benefits are subject to employee contributions according to Tall Timbers’ policy. Additionally, the candidate has the option for on-site housing, will be provided access to a work truck or UTV as needed, and receive a phone stipend.
How to Apply
Please email a single PDF to Livingston Place Natural Resources & Property Coordinator Holly Lott, hlott@talltimbers.org, that includes (1) a cover letter that explains your interest in the position, relevant skills, and experience, (2) an up-to-date resume, and (3) at least three professional references. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and the position will be filled as the appropriate candidate is found.
Internships
Livingston Place Quail Management Internship
- Quail hunting and field trials,
- Preserving the historical, cultural and natural features, and
- Education and training.
The internship is a 16 week program usually from Jan-April that is designed to indoctrinate young people to Tall Timbers land ethic of Exemplary Land Stewardship. The student will be housed and employed at Livingston Place and exposed to a wide array of activities in a short time. The end result is expected to be placement of the intern in a position on a managed quail property. A checklist of activities/skills the intern will be exposed to includes the following:
- Tractor driving (roller chopping, mowing, fire break harrowing, planting, etc.)
- Basic power equipment operation and maintenance (chainsaw, limb pruner, lawnmower, etc.)
- Horseback hunting for wild quail
- Assisting with wild quail field trials
- Introduction to horse care and maintenance
- Prescribed burning
- Supplemental feeding including grain handling/storage
- Wildlife research (radio-tracking quail, avian census, predator index, small mammal trapping, etc.)
- Nest predator trapping
- Quail trapping for research and translocation
- Feral hog trapping
- ATV and pickup operation and maintenance
Interested parties should have completed an A.S. or B.S. in wildlife management or be very close to doing so. A cover letter and resume can be sent to the Livingston Place office at 1583 Livingston Road, Greenville, FL 32331. TEL 850.997.1957, or emailed to LivingstonPlace@talltimbers.org.
Fire Ecology Internships
The Fire Ecology Program seeks to provide field and laboratory experience for college students and recent graduates in the areas of plant ecology, ecosystem ecology, and fire ecology. Our research focus includes effects of fire regime on plant communities, soil chemistry and carbon sequestration, long-term pine and hardwood forest dynamics, and natural history of the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain and Red Hills Region.
Duties:
Most internships last 8-16 weeks and are largely fieldwork based but include some lab and computer work. Specific activities vary from year to year.
Summer interns (May-August): Summer interns are usually focused on fieldwork in pine savannas with emphasis on identifying, measuring, and collecting plants to characterize changes in vegetation in response to fire regime or land-use history. Summer interns also often help conduct prescribed burns. Fall interns (October-December): We hire fall interns focused on measuring trees for a long-term census in an old-growth beech magnolia forest, longleaf pine savanna, and a shortleaf pine-oak-hickory upland community. We will consider having summer interns continue to work through the fall if interested.
In addition to the above tasks, interns may also help with mapping burned areas with a GPS unit, entering and processing data using database and GIS software, entering data in Excel or Access, collecting and processing soil samples, adding information to a database on local native plants, and drying and weighing fuels. Interns also typically have educational experiences, including an intern exchange with other regional research and conservation organizations, and opportunities assist with research in other programs at Tall Timbers.
Qualifications:
Applicants should be college students or recent graduates in biology, wildlife, forestry, natural resources, environmental studies/science, or related fields and have an interest in a career in natural resources. Applicants will be evaluated based on the potential benefit of the experience to his or her career plans and satisfactory references regarding work habits, professionalism, attitude, and physical fitness, as work is sometimes strenuous and conducted in difficult outdoor conditions. Employment will be contingent upon passing a driver’s record background check (no points on driver’s record for the past 3 years) for insurance purposes, although exceptions are sometimes made. We encourage students of varying backgrounds to apply. Deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants are welcome.
Compensation:
Internships are technically unpaid but provide a stipend of $295 per week. Limited on-site housing is available at no cost to full-time interns. For interns that commute, some compensation is provided. Interns will be expected to work full 8 hour days (8-4:30, with a half hour lunch).
Deadlines:
Summer internships: Review of applications begins March 1 each year and are filled as appropriate candidates are found.
To apply
please submit:
- A resume
- A 1-2 pg. cover letter describing your qualifications, interests, and how you expect the experience to benefit your career. At the end of the cover letter, please be sure to state the beginning and ending date of your availability and note whether or not you require housing on station.
- Updated academic transcript (does not have to be official).
- Full contact information for two or more references from previous employers or educators.
Email application materials to: Brandi Griffin
Brandi Griffin, Fire Ecologist
Tall Timbers
13093 Henry Beadel Road
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Fire Science Internships
No internships at this time
