Jobs

(Hybrid) Director - West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) 28422 

WVWRI is seeking a collaborative, experienced, mission-driven leader to serve as Director. The Geological Survey (USGS)-designated Water Research Institute is responsible for the execution of the USGS Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) in the state. WVWRI represents West Virginia as the state member of the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR).

About the Opportunity

The Director leads WVWRI’s portfolio of applied research, education, and outreach that supports faculty research and WV’s priority water needs. The Director leads program development and strategic stakeholder engagement across federal, state, academic, and private sectors. This role also convenes multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary teams that grow sponsored research across the university and deliver economic or health benefits to communities consistent with WVU’s land-grant mission. Focus areas of research include watershed management, source- and drinking-water protection, emerging contaminants (e.g., per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), water and watershed restoration, flood resilience, and water infrastructure modernization. The Director also serves on the WV Department of Environmental Protection Special Reclamation Advisory Council. This role reports to the Associate Vice President in charge of Tech Transfer and Economic Development in WVU’s Research Office and collaborates closely with WVU’s colleges, centers, and statewide partners.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in an appropriate academic discipline such as environmental engineering/science, hydrology, geology, watershed science, or a related field.  
• A minimum of ten years of experience in the following:

  • Leading water or environmental research/programs in a university, national lab, agency, or industrial setting. 

  • Technical expertise in at least two of the following: watershed and drinking-water protection; watershed restoration and mitigation activities; water-quality monitoring & informatics; hydrologic/watershed modeling; flood risk & resilience; water infrastructure planning; contaminants of emerging concern; Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation; community-engaged research.

• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

• Demonstrated program development (from concept to funded execution), team leadership (hiring, coaching, performance), and strategic stakeholder engagement (federal, state, academic, and private sectors).
• A track record of success in leading multi-disciplinary teams and multi-partner initiatives with clear outcomes for communities and decision-makers.
• Knowledge about and/or experience with coal mining practices, the coal industry, and subjects related to legacy mine lands and waters such as acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation and rare earth/critical mineral (REE/CM) recovery.
• Knowledge about and/or experience with USGS WRRA and the NIWR.  
• Knowledge about environmental liabilities associated with resource extraction within WV and the Appalachian Basin.

Learn more and apply online.