Groundwater Science Leader

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Role Highlights

• Be a global leader in groundwater science!
• Play a key leadership role in guiding impact, capability science and world-class talent within a critical research group
• Unique opportunity to join CSIRO Environment’s Water Security Program within the Groundwater Management Group

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity

We have a dynamic and inclusive team within the Groundwater Management Group and are seeking applicants for the role of Groundwater Science Leader. If you have established national and international networks and a desire to develop a project portfolio of activities with a national focus on impact, we would love to hear from you.

This position sits within the CSIRO Environment Research Unit, within the Water Security Program and the Groundwater Management Group.

As the successful candidate, you will be a national leader in groundwater science and will strengthen CSIRO as a national leader in water science, and in particular, groundwater science. You will bring your established national and international networks and develop a project portfolio of activities with a national focus on impact. You will work across CSIRO and the broader water science innovation system. 

​You will demonstrate skills in leadership at a national level, a record of scientific impact, with a track record of leading teams, successful business development and leading partnerships and collaborations. 

Your high-level duties will include:

• Provide national and international leadership in groundwater science, positioning CSIRO as a national and global lead in developing and delivering science for groundwater resources, as part of a broader understanding of hydrological science.
• Lead the delivery of a nationally consistent scientific foundation to map, characterise and model Australia’s groundwater resources.
• Deliver a national approach to define the current and future state of groundwaters (including evapotranspiration and recharge) to underpin the future sustainable use of Australia’s groundwaters, considering drivers such as climate change.
• Lead the development and delivery of methods and tools to quantify groundwater resources spatially and temporally, using fit-for-purpose models and environmental tracer capabilities.
• Lead the development of methods and tools to quantify uncertainty where existing groundwater data is sparse, with specific, focused investigations to reduce uncertainty.
• Lead the application of this knowledge to assess future sustainability of regional groundwater supply and water security more broadly.
• Other duties as directed.

Role Particulars

Location and office arrangements: Adelaide, SA (Kaurna Country) preferred; Other CSIRO sites may be considered. Flexible work options available. 

Salary: AU$188k – AU$236k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; Full time (Options for part-time and flexible work arrangements can be discussed based on needs of role and individual circumstances)

Reference: 98554 

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

• A PhD (or an equivalent combination of qualifications and research experience) in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated international recognition as a national science leader in groundwater.
• Successful development of a project portfolio and generation of projects as a leader, leading multi-site teams.
• Ability to undertake original, creative and innovative research in groundwater science, with impact at a national scale.
• Established networks in groundwater and more broadly in water science, working with complex settings.
• History of authorship of high impact scientific outputs and demonstrated impact at a national scale.
• A demonstrated commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing of staff, willing to challenge the status quo in pursuit of Zero Harm.

Desirable 

• Experience working across disciplines and organisations to achieve impact at a national scale.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description. 

We are also committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable & accessible to everyone, and we recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact the TA Partner to discuss how we can support you.  

Eligibility

Applications are open to all candidates (visa sponsorship may be offered if required).  Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.   

Life at CSIRO and Flexible Work Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and Belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role. 

Applications close

20 May 2025, 11:00pm AEST