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

The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute.

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 polyfluoroalkyl 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.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Set a rolling 3–year research and outreach agenda aligned with state priorities and faculty strengths across the university; steward an external advisory cadence to keep the agenda responsive to WV needs.
• Build and lead research teams to develop proposal pipelines to secure external research grants as PI or co-PI; ensure on-time, high-quality deliverables and publications/tech transfer.
• Administer the state’s USGS Water Resources Research Act base program (e.g., internal seed/RFP processes, compliance, reporting) and oversee the execution of statutory grants and grantmaking requirements.
• Lead an interdisciplinary professional staff; build high-performing teams inclusive of WVU faculty and students; manage budgets, safety, QA/QC, and data governance; mentor early-career researchers.
• Develop and implement results-oriented and service-minded approaches that facilitate collaborations.
• Cultivate trust-based partnerships with WV state agencies, USGS/EPA and other federal partners, local governments, watershed groups/NGOs, utilities, and industry; represent WVWRI in regional and national forums.
• Serve as spokesperson; expand workshops and practitioner convenings; grow public data/reporting platforms; translate science to decision-makers and communities.

• 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 (10) 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management certification (e.g., PMP)
• Master's or PhD in a related discipline

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel in-state and regionally

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.