Research Project Coordinator - 531046
About The Position
The Research Project Coordinator supports the development, design, management, and implementation of research projects. The role promotes projects and serves as a liaison between project teams and internal and external contacts. Duties may also include supervising students, providing general office assistance, creating promotional materials, and helping develop potential projects. At the Alabama Water Institute (AWI), the CONSERVE Research Group conducts applied research and field implementation projects supporting the USDA Agricultural Research Service mission to improve agricultural water management, watershed health, water-use efficiency, conservation practice evaluation, and environmental resilience. This position provides operational and technical support for USDA ARS-funded research, demonstration, conservation, and workforce development activities. Work may support field monitoring, greenhouse and native plant production, environmental data collection, geospatial analysis, conservation practice implementation, and decision-support tool development for agricultural water challenges in humid-region watersheds. Continuation is contingent on the availability of external research or project funding.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher.
- Some experience coordinating projects.
- Valid U.S. driver's license.
- Must be at least 19 years of age at the time of hire.
- Must have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report compliant with University policies; applicants under 21 will have some driving restrictions.
- Knowledge of agricultural water management, watershed processes, conservation practices, and environmental monitoring techniques.
- Knowledge of native plant propagation, seed collection and processing, greenhouse production, and vegetation establishment practices.
- Knowledge of research support activities, including field logistics, equipment maintenance, data documentation, inventory management, and technical reporting.
- Familiarity with water-quality monitoring, erosion assessment, soil health evaluation, runoff management, and conservation practice implementation.
- Strong organizational and communication skills to coordinate with researchers, students, federal partners, agricultural producers, and landowners.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and environmental data management systems.
- Ability to collect, process, and manage environmental, hydrologic, agronomic, and ecological field data.
- Ability to operate field equipment, GPS units, trailers, utility vehicles, monitoring equipment, and hand tools according to safety protocols.
- Ability to work independently outdoors and in varying weather conditions while conducting research and conservation activities.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in natural resources, environmental science, biology, agriculture, forestry, wildlife sciences, plant sciences, environmental engineering, watershed management, or a related field.
- Experience conducting field research, environmental monitoring, and data collection.
- Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and other data management or reporting software.
- Experience with greenhouse, nursery, agricultural, or conservation plant production operations.
- Experience with native plant propagation, seed collection, seed processing, and seed handling.
- Familiarity with GIS, GPS, ecological monitoring methods, watershed assessment, and environmental data collection protocols.
- Experience supporting conservation, restoration, erosion control, water quality, or watershed management projects.
- Experience with databases, digital inventory systems, seed bank management, or environmental data management platforms.
Responsibilities
- Support the overall development, design, management, and implementation of research projects.
- Promote projects and serve as a liaison between project teams and internal and external contacts.
- Provide operational and technical support for USDA ARS-funded research, demonstration, conservation, and workforce development activities.
- Support field monitoring, greenhouse and native plant production, environmental data collection, geospatial analysis, and conservation practice implementation.
- Assist with developing decision-support tools addressing agricultural water challenges in humid-region watersheds.
- May supervise students, provide general office assistance, create promotional materials, and assist in developing potential projects.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
