The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) seeks a highly qualified water scientist to serve as Chief Water Scientist for advancing research and extension programs responding to high-priority water management needs in Texas and the South-central US. The position requires a senior-level scientist dedicated to leading multi-disciplinary teams of faculty scientists and researchers.

About TWRI

First established in 1952, TWRI was designated as the water resources institute for the state of Texas in 1964 by the Texas Legislature and Texas Governor after Congress passed the Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) of 1964. The WRRA established water resources institutes in each state and provided funds for research on solving water issues. Today, TWRI is one of 54 institutes in the National Institute for Water Resources, which serves as the contact between individual institutes and the federal funding sponsor, U.S. Geological Survey. Working with university faculty and water resources professionals, TWRI helps address priority water resources issues in the state. TWRI collaborates through joint projects with universities; federal, state and local governmental organizations; and numerous others, including engineering firms, commodity groups and environmental organizations.

Responsibilities

The Chief Water Scientist will report to Texas Agrilife Research and the Texas Agrilife Extension Service through the Director of the Texas Water Resources Institute. He/She will:

1. Pursue new water research programs through development of collaborative and interdisciplinary teams of research partners within Texas AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M University System, and other research institutions (state, national and international) and regional and national NGOs;
2. Provide organization, structure, and leadership to the water science programs of TWRI and Texas Agrilife Research and Texas Agrilife Extension Service;
3. Establish direct engagements with Texas AgriLife Extension Service via programs that directly integrate Extension education outcomes into water research efforts;
4. Develop competitive proposals that integrate across the biological sciences, geosciences, engineering, and social sciences;
5. Initiate and coordinate field-oriented research programs addressing a series of high-priority water management challenges;
6. Create a research program leading directly to efficient management solutions for meeting future municipal water demands while sustaining agricultural and natural resource systems;
7. Participate in the development of advanced water technologies for meeting the priorities of agriculture, natural resources, industry, municipal water systems, and specialty water uses;
8. Support training programs for building Extension response capacity;
9. Coordinate project management duties including negotiating contracts, developing budgets, determining project scope, establishing schedules, recruiting project staff, and other duties required to ensure quality of research deliverables;
10. Publish and communicate research results in peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, general interest outlets, and the media;
11. Supervise support staff, technical staff, and graduate students.

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD degree in water science, earth science, natural resource management, hydrology, or water resources management with a strong background in agriculture and/or natural resource management and/or environmental engineering
• At least 10 years of post-PhD experience in water science, water policy/economics, or water management
• Nationally-recognized and/or internationally-recognized research record
• Strong record in obtaining extramural funding, including federal competitive grants
• Strong record of team development for water-related research programs

Disciplinary Expertise

The successful applicant will have demonstrated expertise in several of the following disciplines/topics:

• Comprehensive assessments of surface water and groundwater resources;
• Applications of ecosystem science and climate science into drought preparedness strategies;
• Structure and functioning of aquifers at a regional scale;
• Water budgets in response to cumulative changes in land use, human activity, and climate variability;
• Ecology and management of freshwater ecosystems;
• Economics and policy of water resource management;
• Problem-solving for water use in energy development, production, and generation.
• Advanced water technologies for meeting the priorities of agriculture, natural resources, industry, municipal water systems, and specialty water uses; and

Experience and understanding of advanced measurement and modeling techniques in the context of water quantity and/or quality (e.g., remote sensing, distributed sensor networks, data assimilation techniques, and synthesis).