Research Director - National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)

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

About the role

The Research Director (RD) is the research leader of NAWI, responsible for developing and leading a substantive research portfolio. The RD works closely with the Executive Director, Topic Area Leads, and DOE technology managers to ensure alignment with DOE’s mission goals. The RD builds connections between projects and personnel at national labs, academia, industry, and utilities, bridging the research and practitioner realms to advance DOE priorities. The RD may also lead a new proposal to extend NAWI beyond its current 2029 end date.

Responsibilities

• 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 Principal Investigator for a Berkeley Lab-directed research program integrating NAWI’s research and application efforts.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in research, leadership, research administration, and/or practice in water-treatment technology development, regional water planning, or closely related fields.
• 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 diverse expertise, skills, and backgrounds, respecting differences and leveraging varied perspectives to strengthen the applied research program.
• Track record of responsible stewardship of federal and other funds.

Skills

• Subject-matter expertise: Thorough understanding of the water industry, water policy and planning, finance, and business administration.
• Technology development and commercialization: Experience leading teams that develop new technologies and guiding them from early-stage applied research to commercial adoption, market acceptance, and end-user acceptance.
• Leading through change: Ability to effectively guide individuals and stakeholders through shifts in research direction, particularly based on user needs and research advances.
• Motivational leadership: Inspirational and compelling communicator who can articulate and promulgate an organizational vision that engages multiple stakeholders. Models behaviors and values consistent with the organization’s vision and proactively recognizes positive contributions by team members.

Qualifications

An advanced degree in a relevant discipline is strongly desirable.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $197,628 – $246,996, annualized based on full-time work. Final salary will depend on the candidate’s skills, knowledge, abilities, education, certifications, and years of experience.

Schedule

• Appointment type: 3-year term with the possibility of extension or conversion to a career appointment based on performance, funding, and operational needs.
• Work modality: May be performed on-site, hybrid, or remote (remote workers must reside in the United States and within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab). Intermittent on-site work, meetings, and training at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in Berkeley, CA, will be required. Work schedules depend on business needs.
• Primary location: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Work must be performed within the United States.
• This position may be part-time or full-time, depending on the incumbent’s portfolio.

Benefits

• Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans.
• Paid vacation, sick time, and a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year.
• Parental bonding leave for both mothers and fathers.
• Pet insurance.