Lead Ecological Scientist

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicantsGet AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.At Australian Integrated Carbon (AiC), we're more than a carbon project developer - we're a national team of ecologists, geospatial scientists, and land sector experts driving practical, science-led solutions.
We partner with landholders and Traditional Owners to deliver carbon projects that regenerate landscapes, enhance productivity, and create long-term environmental and economic value.Join us in shaping a future where environmental restoration is not only essential - it's a viable and thriving business opportunity.The Role :As the Lead Ecological Scientist, you will provide critical ecological expertise into our project pipeline and build internal capability across land condition assessment, monitoring design, and evidence-based decision making.You'll play a key role in designing and refining methodologies, supporting complex projects, and translating field and remote sensing data into scientific insights.Key Responsibilities :Lead ecological evidence for carbon projects.
Translate vegetation condition, regeneration potential, and disturbance history into ACCU-compliant project designs (HIR, IFLM modules, Soil, EP).
Develop and operationalise land condition / "Gap Test" frameworks.
Define metrics, sampling designs, and thresholds to show suppressed vs recoverable states and track change over time.Build ecological baselines and monitoring protocols.
Design stratified field programs; integrate plot, photo, and historical land use records; ensure methods are audit ready.Fuse field + remote sensing.
Interpret LiDAR, satellite, and UAV data alongside ground measurements to quantify biomass, structure, and recruitment, flag data quality issues.Decision support.
Provide clear go / no-go ecological calls for project eligibility areas (CEA selection), management interventions, and expected carbon trajectories.Scientific integrity and innovation.
Work with the Chief Scientist to test assumptions, stress-test models, publish internal technical notes, and contribute to method submissions (IFLM development, regulator RFIs).
Team uplift and QA.
Train staff / contractors in vegetation ID, plot methods, photo standards, data logging, and error tracking; implement QA / QC checks that withstand CER audit.Stakeholder interface.
Represent Ai Carbon science with regulators (CER, DCCEEW), research partners (universities, CSIRO), pastoral clients, and corporate buyers; communicate evidence plainly.Continuous improvement.
Capture lessons from field campaigns; update SOPs, data schemas, and decision rules to tighten uncertainty and improve credit yield confidence.About you :Ideally, you'll be PhD-qualified in a relevant field such as ecology, environmental science, plant science, rangeland systems, or geospatial science (e.g. LiDAR, CHM).
What you'll bringExtensive field experience in Australian rangelands or comparable dryland systems.Demonstrated ability to design repeatable ecological surveys at landscape scale (>100k ha).
Comfortable reading & critiquing LiDAR / RS outputs; can ground-truth and reconcile discrepancies.Strong data handling (R / Python / GIS) and statistical interpretation for heterogeneous datasets.Ability to brief executives in plain English and defend methods to skeptical regulators.Willingness to travel to remote properties and work in tough field conditions.Nice-to-HavesExperience with ACCU / ERF methodology implementation (HIR, Soil Carbon, EP, Savanna).
Familiarity with FullCAM, carbon stock modelling, or growth / recruitment modelling.Past involvement in method development, policy submissions, or large research consortia.Experience building training materials and SOPs for distributed field teams.Additional benefits include opportunities to work on high-profile sites across Australia, subsidised wellbeing programs, professional development, memberships paid for, and a competitive remuneration package.Apply now to be part of a team transforming landscapes and livelihoods through science-informed carbon solutions.We welcome applications from candidates across Australia.
Relocation support may be offered for the right candidate.Seniority level: Mid-Senior levelEmployment type: Full-timeJob function: Research, Analyst, and Information TechnologyReferrals increase your chances of interviewing at Australian Integrated Carbon by 2xSign in to set job alerts for "Lead Scientist" roles.Location: Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaSalary: A$168,109.00-A$189,184.00Posted: 1 week ago
#J-18808-Ljbffr