Senior Groundwater Modelling Scientist

The Opportunity

• Provide scientific leadership in groundwater modelling for resource management
• Leverage scientific professional networks and lead through science
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s National Science and Innovation Agency!

CSIRO’s Land and Water works across the domains of land, water, ecosystems and communities to deliver outcome-focused biophysical and socio-economic research. In collaboration with partners, we deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges that arise from the demands and impacts of human activities on the environment.
As a Senior Groundwater Modelling Scientist, you’ll be a part of the Perth-based Water for Regional Development Team. The Team is in the Groundwater Management Group in the Water Security Research Program within CSIRO Land and Water.
You’ll own, lead and develop projects in groundwater modelling research delivering novel methods to inform regulators and industry on fit-for-purpose, evidence-based, groundwater management options. Being a scientific leader in this discipline you’ll have the benefit of leveraging your professional networks whilst interacting with government, industry and universities and showcase your abilities to lead science and grow business.

Your duties will include:

• Under general direction, use professional expertise, knowledge of other disciplines and research experience to provide scientific leadership in groundwater modelling for resources management.
• Grow opportunities, revenue and partnerships by responding to and creating funded opportunities with government, industry and the private sector. Develop and maintain relationships with funders, collaborators and delivery partners.
• Develop efficient tools for optimal, robust groundwater management under uncertainty of objectives, constraints, and parameters, while reducing conceptual and parameter uncertainty in model predictions.
• Develop fit-for-purpose groundwater management models through analysis, integration, upscaling and synthesis of information from multiple sources and scales, employing big data analytics and machine learning techniques.
• Design optimal groundwater data acquisition, based on data-worth and data value analysis and experimental design strategies.
• Apply information theory methods for causal inference, hypothesis testing and prediction and for understanding dynamical complex systems and models of complex systems.
• Engage with regulators and industries managing groundwater resources, presenting research verbally and in reports and publications for clients and the scientific community.
• Collaborate and ensure informed uptake of research outputs, advising policymaker makers and facilitating the transfer of knowledge to non-scientific audiences.

Location: Perth, WA
Salary: AU$117,917-$138,176 per annum plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Indefinite / Full-time
Reference: 87498

To be considered you will need:

Essential

Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.

• A PhD in Water Resources Engineering, Groundwater, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources or an equivalent discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to form productive and enduring collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders and to identify and influence critical stakeholders to gain support for contested proposals/ideas.
• Demonstrated record of developing project opportunities, responding to project calls and having projects funded.
• Experience leading research teams and mentoring junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students.
• Proven expertise in fit-for-purpose groundwater model development and conceptualisation of aquifers and groundwater flow, supporting robust groundwater management under uncertainty and optimal groundwater data acquisition.
• Experience in management of cumulative impacts from the resources and agricultural sectors on water resources and groundwater dependent ecosystems within a triple bottom line framework.
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific programming (Python), data visualisation, and high-performance computing.
• A demonstrated publication history of authorship of scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, reports and grant applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, evidenced by high-level reporting, presentation and negotiation abilities.

Desirable

• Experience in GIS, big data analytics and machine learning techniques.
• Knowledge of groundwater processes and social/economic management issues in Western Australia.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description.

Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to all candidates. Visa sponsorship will be provided if required.
Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible Working Arrangements
We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work.