Research Director - National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI

The Earth and Environmental Sciences Area (EESA) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is seeking a Research Director to lead the research program for the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI). NAWI is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub dedicated to securing America's water future through innovative water treatment technologies and regional water planning.

The Research Director (RD) for NAWI is the research leader of the organization, with responsibility for developing and leading substantive research mostly through others. The RD works closely with the Executive Director (ED), the Topic Area Leads (TALs), and the relevant technology manager(s) from the Department of Energy (DOE) to maintain alignment with DOE’s mission goals through its research portfolio. The RD ensures that NAWI’s mission and vision are met through developing and leading a research portfolio with strong and compelling research projects that combine together to advance the sponsoring DOE office priorities.

The RD works to build connections between projects and their personnel at national labs, academia, industry, and utilities. The RD skillfully works both in the research realm and the practitioner realm and connects the two, critically working to build trust between the people involved. The RD may also lead a new proposal to extend NAWI into the future beyond its current 2029 end date.

We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!

Why join Berkeley Lab?

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits , including pension or 401K-style plans
• A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
• In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
• Pet insurance

You Will

• Oversee NAWI’s research portfolio in close collaboration with Topic Area Leads and project leads.
• Partner closely with the NAWI executive team, including the Executive Director, Operations Director, and Topic Area Leads.
• Build strong relationships with researchers across water technologies, regional water systems, and related fields such as hydrology, economics, and public policy.
• Support and oversee Topic Area Leads, including hiring and performance management.
• Develop annual research budgets and manage resources responsibly within approved guidelines, laws, and regulations.
• May serve as PI for a Berkeley Lab-directed research program integrating NAWI’s research and application efforts.

We Are Looking For

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in research, leadership, research administration and/or practice in roles in water treatment technology development, regional water planning, or closely related fields is required.
• Familiarity with a wide range of water treatment processes and technologies, water regulatory policy and law, and global trends in water resource development and management.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate with and lead teams with different expertise, skills, and backgrounds. Showing respect for differences and utilizing different perspectives and experience to build a stronger applied research program.
• Track record of responsible stewardship of federal and other funds.
• Critical competence in technology development and commercialization, regional water planning, leading change and motivational leadership:
• Subject matter expertise:
  The RD is an experienced leader in research and/or practice with a thorough understanding of the water industry, water policy and planning, finance and business administration.
• Technology development and commercialization:
  The RD is an experienced leader of teams that develop new technologies and has experience guiding technology development from early-stage applied research to commercial adoption and market and end user acceptance is preferred.
• Leading through changes:
  The RD is an experienced change leader and can effectively guide individuals and stakeholders through changes in…