INTERNAL SEARCH 

Director, North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute (NDWRRI)

Water is a natural resource with tremendous importance for the state of North Dakota, the nation and across the globe.  We are seeking candidates for the NDWRRI Director who will advance interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary water studies and potentially build campus grant support for the NDWRRI.  

Water fits squarely in the 4 strategic research priorities at NDSU, making now a timely point to create intersecting, transdisciplinary collaborations among the state’s researchers who focus on water or water-adjacent topics, especially those of critical importance to North Dakota. With NDSU prioritizing its Carnegie R1 classification, the NDWRRI Director will play a key role in our efforts to maintain R1 status and in developing and nurturing a strong foundation of research infrastructure that provides support across disciplines and builds collaborative capacity that addresses state and societal needs.

Under the leadership of outgoing NDWRRI Director Xinhua Jia, new water-related initiatives at NDSU have included the establishment of a cross-college water certificate for undergraduate students, a cohort of cross-disciplinary Water Faculty Fellows, and programming bringing together researchers, practitioners and federal agency leads around important regional topics like PFAS and the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project. A new Director will have the opportunity to build off that momentum and engagement.

The Institute’s grant base consists of a single current funding mechanism, which is through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), providing the equivalent of a month salary for administrative support. Currently that funding base supports student research fellows. Using the funding in this way creates high administrative burden for managing proposal and report writing.  Funding disbursement from the agency has also been inconsistent in timing, creating complications needing strategic resolution for the optimal usage of the funds. The opportunity exists to engage stakeholders (the advisory committee and participating faculty at NDSU and UND) to revisit the effectiveness of that funding model to find solutions to North Dakota’s water research needs. With a bold vision, there could also be a potential, modest investment, from dedicated internal funding to increase water research capacity and competitiveness for NDSU, that would provide support for a Director in visioning, planning, and carrying out opportunities to secure additional external grant support. In rethinking the investment of the USGS funds, there is the potential to increase external funding from federal and other grants, and to increase research capacity and competitiveness for water research in our jurisdiction.

The NDWRRI is one of 54 Institutes, one in each state and territory, throughout the nation and was established through the authority of Water Resources Research Act (Water Resources Research Acts of 1964, 1972, 1984, and 1990) of the US Congress.  The Institute operates under the leadership of the Director with the help of an advisory committee consisting of representatives from state and federal water-related agencies (USGS, ND Water Commission, ND Department of Health), and reports to the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity (RCA). In addition, the Institute also seeks advice from the faculty of the two research universities of the State: North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota. 

The Institute is uniquely positioned to assist state and federal governments in managing our water resources. Institute researchers on these issues cover areas such as basic and applied natural and physical sciences and engineering, social sciences and the humanities, law, policy, public health, design, resource economics and management.

Nature of Appointment
This appointment is an opportunity for leadership development in a transdisciplinary field. The expectation is that the NDWRRI Director will develop a longer-range plan, secure external funding to enable the expansion of this role from beyond the current approximately 1-month salary from the Institute’s USGS annual base grant. The Office of Research and Creative Activity will work with the new NDWRRI Director (and the successful candidate’s unit head) to determine the shorter-term resources needed to advance the next stage of the Institute’s growth. The expected start date is February 1, 2025 if possible; the timing will need to include the new Director’s involvement in developing the next USGS base grant proposal and preparing for the reporting, with additional support from the outgoing Director. The expected term is 3 years with annual reviews.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and direction for the NDWRRI’s collaboration with local, state, regional, national, and international agencies and organizations. 
• Identify, facilitate and if appropriate, lead transdisciplinary, multi-investigator research projects. 
• Secure and expand financial resources through a diversity of funders.
• Award and manage grants to University researchers on water issues through the USGS 104B program. 
• Work with Water Faculty Fellows during their tenure to advance the NDWRRI vision and goals, including potential external funding.
• Work closely with the NDSU Vice President for Research and Creative Activity to provide effective leadership in water research, outreach and education, and to effectively liaison with faculty.
• Develop an annual budget, submit application for the USGS Water Resources Research Institute annual base grant, administer the grant, submit annual report, submit 3-year review report and manage the institute budget and supervise staff.
• Communicate regularly with stakeholders through the newsletter (one or two per year), LinkedIn and the NDWRRI website.
• Develop a Call for Proposals, set up proposal review criteria, and organize review panels for the proposal review of the 104b proposals.
• Help prepare, review, and submit USGS National Competitive Grants (104g), Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grants, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Grants from NDSU and UND.
• Prepare and submit various reports and attend monthly, semi-annual, and annual meetings that are required by the USGS and the National Institute for Water Resources (NIWR). 
• Conduct outreach activities on water-related issues in the state and the region.
• Communicate regularly with stakeholders through the newsletter (one or two per year) and update the NDWRRI website.
• Prepare 1-2 posts per week for the NDWRRI LinkedIn website.
• Manage and administer the Water Resources Certificate Program and arrange internships and career opportunities for the enrolled students.

 Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a field that informs the study of water as a natural resource to ND and the world
• Experience in or academic commitment to conducting and publishing peer-reviewed work in water-related research
• A record of or commitment to securing extramural funding in support of water-related research projects
• Established or emerging experience in research leadership 
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect
• Demonstrated effectiveness in inter- and/or transdisciplinary settings
• Experience with engagement on water resources with diverse audiences and stakeholders ranging from agency leaders and commodity groups to elected officials and industry leaders
• Written and oral communication skills and interpersonal effectiveness

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Vision for growing a transdisciplinary research program.
• A track record of cross-unit research collaborations resulting in peer-reviewed inter- or transdisciplinary research.
• Experience collaborating with fellow researchers (faculty peers) and/or external stakeholders (end users, industry, etc.) in carrying out externally funded water research.

Addendum: Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act requires the NDWRRI to apply its Federal allotment funds to:

1. Plan, conduct or otherwise arrange for competent research that fosters: (A) the entry of new research scientists into the water resources field, (B) training and education of future water resources scientists, engineers, and technicians; (C) the preliminary exploration of new ideas that address water problems or expand understanding of water and water-related phenomena; and (D) the dissemination of research results to water managers and public.
2. Cooperate closely with other college and universities in the state that have demonstrated the capability for research, information dissemination and graduate training, in order to develop a statewide program designed to resolve State and regional water and related land problems.
3. Cooperate closely with other institutes and other organizations in the region to increase the effectiveness of the Institute and for the purpose of promoting regional cooperation.

In the last 18 years, NDWRRI has been using all its annual base grant 104(B) amount to cover its administrative cost and fund a Graduate Fellowship research program. The institute also continues its efforts to enhance communications between the State and Federal agency personnel and university faculty and students.

The institute is required to submit a proposal for the base grant (104B) each year and is subject to a 3-year review by the umbrella organization of the institutes, the National Institutes of Water Resources (NIWR), and the US Geological Survey.