Grassland Steward

We are seeking a Grassland Steward to improve the management of remnant native grasslands and conserve rare species in Virginia. The new hire will be based at the Institute’s office in Warrenton, VA and work in the 13-county region of the northern and central Piedmont. The term of the position will be 12 months. Pending a satisfactory performance review, the position may be extended if more funds become available.

The Project

Piedmont grasslands are the most diverse plant communities in Virginia and they host at least 21 rare or threatened plant species. But these irreplaceable habitats are being lost and degraded each year. The Grassland Steward will work with stakeholders to improve management of these special sites.

Duties

• Educate private landowners, public-lands managers, and utility company employees on the value of remnant grasslands (including which rare species are present) and how to manage them. Host education programs for the public at the grasslands.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to improve management. Discuss the possibility of thinning and burning adjacent woodlands to allow for the expansion of threatened plants.
• Collaborate with grassland stewardship staff at the Piedmont Discovery Center.
• Do on-the-ground management of woody encroachment and non-native plants in partnership with stakeholders.
• Do rapid informal assessments of plants, birds, and insects found in high-priority sites.
• Collect seeds of priority species and propagate plants for restoration projects.
• Explore opportunities for land purchase with landowners and funders.
• Manage unplanted grasslands at the Clifton Institute.

Qualifications

• Charismatic people-person who can work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in person. Willingness to knock on doors to spread the word about grassland conservation.
• Knowledge of the grassland flora of eastern North America or ability to translate knowledge of species of another region to Virginia species.
• Knowledge of grassland restoration, invasive species management, or related field required.
• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, natural resources, wildlife management, biology, botany or related field preferred.
• Insect identification skills, experience working with utility companies, knowledge of prescribed fire or plant propagation, a plus (not required).
• Ability to work in excessive heat and deal with ticks required.
• Driver’s license and well-maintained personal vehicle capable of long-distance driving required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English required.
• Must be authorized to work in the US.

Compensation

• The salary will be $55,000 per year.
• Mileage for your personal vehicle will be reimbursed at the current federal rate (currently $0.70 per mile).
• Full-time employees accrue 160 hours of paid time off annually. We also recognize 10 paid holidays.
• The employee will enjoy a flexible work schedule and a generous compensatory time policy.
• We have competitive health, dental, and retirement benefits as well as life insurance.

Timeline

The target start date is 17 February 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the closing date for applications will be 5 February 2026.

How to Apply
Please send applications to jobs@cliftoninstitute.org. Write your last name and “Grassland Steward” in the subject line. Please include a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the position. Please also provide the names and email addresses of at least three references.

Eastern Box Turtle Tracking Technician

Description

Eastern box turtle populations in the Mid Atlantic appear to be in steep decline and it seems that mortality from cutting hay and mowing fields is an important, yet little studied, contributor to declines in rural areas. We will track box turtles with GPS and VHF tags and conduct population abundance surveys to learn about the effects of mowing on box turtles.

This is a 9-month position beginning March 1, 2026 and ending December 1, 2026. The selected applicant will assist with tagging turtles, tracking tagged turtles, surveying for turtles, and enter and analyze data. Properties included in the study will be located in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, Virginia. We expect about 90% of this position to be field-based.

Required Skills/Experience

• Strong interest in wildlife and applied conservation
• Experience with radio telemetry or GPS tracking of animals
• Demonstrated ability to work in challenging field conditions. The job will involve long days, 90+ degree heat, high humidity, thick thorny undergrowth, ticks and chiggers, and miles of hiking off trail.
• Experience with visual surveys of animals (e.g., transect surveys of reptiles/amphibians, searching for bird nests)
• Comfort with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets which will be used for data entry.
• Excellent communication skills, and professionalism when working with people from different backgrounds. Fieldwork will include interactions with landowners who are granting access to their property.
• Ability to work independently but an interest in collaborating with team members.
• Valid US Driver’s License and ability to use personal vehicle for travel among study sites. Well-maintained personal vehicle that can travel 800 miles per month.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Research experience with turtles (searching for turtles, notching shells, attaching radio tags)
• Data analysis in R
• GIS skills

Compensation

• $1,654 per month
• Free housing and utilities
• Reimbursement for mileage driven on their personal vehicle for fieldwork ($0.70 per mile/current federal rate)

To apply: Please send the following materials in an email to jobs@cliftoninstitute.org. Send your materials as a single PDF, with your last name and “Box Turtle Tech” in the subject line and file name (very important). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2026.

1. A 1-page cover letter describing your interest in the job. We much prefer to read a cover letter about how this position fits in with your interests and goals rather than a letter trying to convince us of your qualifications.
2. A brief resume/CV.

In the administration of its employment policies and practices, The Clifton Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, matriculation, political affiliation or genetic information.

Updated 6 January 2026.