Chief Scientist

Join our senior science leadership team to lead NIWA's freshwater research and applied science services, where you will guide and inspire some of the most talented and high performing research and applied science teams in the science sector.

NIWA is a dynamic mission-led research and applied science organisation and New Zealand's largest and pre-eminent provider of climate, water and marine science. NIWA aims to guide the nation to a prosperous and resilient future by growing the economy, protecting people, assets and ecosystems, and enabling effective responses to environmental change.

**What you will be doing**:
This position's main purpose is to provide the leadership, including securing revenue and ensuring the financial sustainability, of NIWA's freshwater research and applied science services, and to promote NIWA's status as New Zealand's leading freshwater science provider. As Chief Scientist Freshwater, you will ensure that NIWA continues to provide the science needed to enable New Zealand's economic, social, and environmental needs for water (quantity and quality, including ecosystem health) to be met under an evolving context, including changing climate. This is an influential senior role, contributing to NIWA's strategic direction, securing the revenue to deliver that strategy, and ensuring that opportunities to generate value for our stakeholders through research, consultancy services and development of products are maximised.

As Chief Scientist you will drive the highest standards of quality, excellence and innovation in NIWA freshwater science, adopting and adapting advanced technologies where appropriate. You will ensure that NIWA's freshwater science is designed to deliver impact and revenue. Effective management of relationships with key stakeholders will be critical, including central and regional government, the private sector including primary industries and energy, proposals and negotiating contracts with key clients, and ensuring our customers are delighted with the service they receive.

**What you will bring**:
To be successful in this role you will have:

- A PhD or equivalent experience, and extensive track record in an area of water, or water-related, science.
- Advanced competency in developing and leading large scale multi-agency multi-disciplinary research programmes.
- Extensive experience in business development and delivery of consultancy contracts.
- A future-oriented outlook and agility, able to provide vision and direction within a changing context.
- An extensive network of contacts in water science, domestic and international.
- Experience in leading others, and fostering collegiality, agility and innovation.
- The ability to work effectively as a leader within a team environment with exceptional collaboration skills.
- Experience in joint projects with iwi will be an advantage.

**What we will offer**:

- Varied, challenging and important work with talented colleagues in an organisation devoted to making impact from science.
- A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing
- Generous leave entitlements and employee benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, NIWA offers generous leave entitlements and employee benefits. These include a paid health insurance plan, 4 weeks annual leave plus five additional days company leave, Life Insurance to the value of 2x annual salary, supportive personal and family sick leave provisions and an annual Wellness Allowance.

**About us**:
NIWA's core purpose is to enhance the economic value and sustainable management of New Zealand's aquatic resources and environments, to provide an understanding of climate and the atmosphere, and increase resilience to weather and climate hazards to improve safety and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

NIWA offers a flexible workplace environment with an "office first" culture. We believe teamwork and collaboration happen best when our people can interact in person - that's where the magic happens

Salary range for this position is $171,000- $255,000.

Job Details
- Crown research institute
NIWA- Reference #
56273- Posted on
30 Aug 2024- Closes on
30 Sep 2024 23:55- Location(s)
Hamilton, Christchurch, Porirua, Wellington, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Central Wellington- Expertise
Marine & Freshwater Science- Job level(s)
Senior scientist, Senior management- Work type(s)
Permanent- More details (document)
Chief Scientist Freshwater PD - August 2024.pdf