Urban Field Science & Data Systems Associate (Contract)

Urban Field Science & Data Systems Associate (Part-Time Contractor | Hybrid)

Salary: $20.00/HR - $25.00/HR with a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Must be located in Atlanta, GA metro area to qualify.

Roots Down is reimagining cities as living climate solutions. We work with municipalities, universities, and public agencies to transform urban land from cost centers into value centers—restoring soil, biodiversity, and community while turning parks, libraries, rights-of-way, and campuses into measurable ecological assets.

We are looking for a sharp, organized, ecology-grounded professional to help deliver this work on the ground. This role sits at the intersection of client success, field science, and grant execution. You will be a core connector between city partners, university researchers, field crews, and reporting systems—helping ensure projects are not only beautiful and inspiring, but scientifically sound, well-documented, and contract-ready.

Role Overview

This position blends client success, field science, and grant delivery. The role serves as the primary bridge between municipal clients, university research partners, field teams, and reporting systems. The focus is on executing grants and contracts with strong organization, clear communication, and solid ecological understanding.

Key Responsibilities

Client Success and Partnerships

• Serve as day-to-day point of contact for municipal, university, and nonprofit partners
• Guide clients through deliverables, timelines, and reporting requirements
• Coordinate with Parks and Recreation, Sustainability, Public Works, Stormwater, Urban Forestry, and landscape contractors

Grants and Reporting

• Track grant milestones, metrics, and compliance requirements
• Support preparation of progress reports, final reports, dashboards, and documentation
• Help build and maintain reporting systems and workflows for funders and public agencies

Field Science and Data

• Conduct site visits and ecological assessments
• Collect, quality-check, and organize field data, photos, and site documentation
• Support MetaImpact and other data platforms
• Coordinate with university partners on monitoring, research, and data interpretation
• Maintain organized project files and datasets

Education and Capacity Building

• Support outdoor education, staff trainings, and workshops
• Assist in developing SOPs, toolkits, and crew-ready workflows for regenerative land management

Systems and Organization

• Maintain project timelines, task tracking, and document control
• Help standardize client success and grant delivery workflows

Ideal Background

Required

• Degree or equivalent experience in environmental science, ecology, sustainability, natural resources, landscape management, planning, or related field
• Experience working with local government, universities, environmental nonprofits, or landscape and grounds management teams
• Strong writing and reporting skills
• Comfort working outdoors and in professional client settings
• Familiarity with GIS and mapping platforms such as ArcGIS, QGIS, ESRI Online, or Google Earth

Preferred

• High level of organization and attention to detail
• Experience supporting research, monitoring, or grant-funded programs
• Experience developing SOPs or training materials

Position Type & Timeline

Part-time contract role, up to 20 hours per week, tracked hourly. Initial contract term starts in late/February to early March for one month, with strong potential to extend the contract or transition into a full-time position based on performance, project needs, and mutual fit.

Work Format

Hybrid role combining in-person collaboration, on-site field work, and remote coordination. Expect time at project sites as well as professional engagement with municipal and university partners.

Availability

Must be available to start late-February and commit to up to 20 hours per week during the initial contract term.