Water Resources R&D Manager - 135018

The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) is leading the development and implementation of new research and applications capabilities focused on extreme weather and climate events in the Western US. CW3E is developing and implementing weather and climate observations, numerical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and decision support tools focused on atmospheric, land-surface, and hydrologic conditions related to extreme weather events and their impacts. CW3E is an interface between UCSD departments, other universities, and local, state, and federal agencies in the operation, utilization and expansion of a new state-of-the-art weather observing network recently deployed in California. Efforts undertaken by the Center include scientific research, technology development, numerical and neural network model development and testing, and the development/deployment of smart tools that aid decision makers affected by extreme weather, water, and climate events. A key activity of the Center is the development of methods and systems to aid reservoir operations for flood control, water supply, and sustainable ecosystems. CW3E is a focus of national and international research on atmospheric rivers (ARs)

The Water Resources R&D Manager will need to possess advanced water resource engineering skills, combined with a track record leading and managing a team of experts in water resources engineering and hydrology. Incumbent would ideally also have prior experience working in a supervisory capacity with research scientists in an academic setting. Uses advanced engineering concepts to advance CW3E's research and operational objectives, setting team goals and performance deliverables for an engineering team responsible for providing forecast products to reservoir managers responsible for implementing Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO). Leads teams who regularly work on highly complex research questions requiring multivariate analysis of large datasets. Exercises independent judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

Under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, the Water Resources R&D Manager will plan, develop, and execute advanced water resource engineering solutions to implement research objectives for FIRO.

• Provides leadership and critical support for water resource engineering, reservoir operations modeling, reservoir operations design, and hydrologic analysis at CW3E;
• Manages a team of water resource engineering professionals to develop, integrate, test, and evaluate water resource engineering models that will inform the implementation of FIRO at different reservoirs or system of reservoirs;
• Directs concept development by supervising the design, development, testing, and application of reservoir operations models in order to control the quantity of water with the goal of meeting human and ecological needs;
• Supervises water resource engineering research in support of FIRO applications;
• Reviews and provides input into federal, state, and local water agencies reports, and makes recommendations on the use of water resource engineering models in support of FIRO applications;
• Performs analysis and calculations of advanced complexity to model reservoir operations for a variety of operational goals and constraints, and develops a reservoir operations decision support system based on contemporary approaches such as the Ensemble Forecast Operations (EFO) model for managing multi-purpose reservoir operations;
• Provides and manages a decision support framework that could be adapted and applied to other multi-purpose reservoirs and systems of reservoirs;
• Stays informed of reservoir modeling technology and, as needed, creates new, cutting-edge, multi-purpose reservoir modeling systems relevant to FIRO projects;
• Provides documentation, reporting, and publication of experimental results;
• Contributes and owns responsibility for report writing related to project deliverables;
• Leads or contributes to proposals for CW3E research and development in water resource engineering;
• Represents the PI with sponsoring agencies and organizations in engineering and technology aspects of water resource engineering;
• Represents CW3E in regular follow-up meetings with multiple partner organizations and agencies, presents results to partners, conducts project trainings, and delivers presentations at conferences;
• Uses advanced modeling concepts to develop an adaptable decision support framework for FIRO;
• Considered a subject matter expert at CW3E and is recognized externally as an expert in the industry;
• Provides guidance to subordinates to achieve goals in accordance with established policies. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve goals on time results in reputational and personnel costs, and serious delays in the agreed schedule of deliverables.

• Advanced knowledge associated with the planning, development, and fabrication of engineering systems.

• Advanced knowledge of specialized design work as well as the overall field.

• Strong creativity and problem solving abilities to apply principles, practices and procedures within discipline to complete difficult assignments.

• Strong project management skills needed to assume responsibility for accomplishment of research objectives.

• Advanced communication skills, both written and verbal, to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.

• Advanced interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner; readily assess complex challenges and barriers and recommend effective resolutions.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and influence others.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

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