Executive Director Alabama Water Institute - 529700

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $127,300 - Midpoint: $184,600 (Salaried E17)

Department/Organization: 750501 - Alabama Water Institute (AWI)

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Job Summary: The Executive Director of the Alabama Water Institute provides a vision for collaborative water research through effective leadership that embraces the full range of disciplines represented by Alabama Water Institute (AWI). Develops and elevates AWI’s national and international profile. Coordinates closely with federal water agencies. Partners with University staff to identify, promote, and contribute resources to strengthen AWI and manage its portfolio. Stimulates the development of new research centers consistent with the AWI research focus. Fosters and supports high quality research and scholarly activities within AWI by ensuring a stimulating, collegial, and well-managed environment. Engages a range of internal and external stakeholders to identify research opportunities and partnerships.

Additional Department Summary: The Alabama Water Institute (AWI) stands as a cornerstone of the University of Alabama’s research enterprise. AWI’s mission is to develop and implement transformative, interdisciplinary solutions that ensure water security for communities, industries, and ecosystems in Alabama, the nation, and the world. Through partnerships with federal agencies, academic collaborators, and private-sector innovators, AWI promotes research and technology development in areas such as hydrologic forecasting, water quality, groundwater and surface water assessment, hydroinformatics, and risk communication. The institute supports the University’s broader commitment to resilience, environmental stewardship, and sustainable economic development.

The scope and impact of AWI are both broad and deep. In 2022, the institute led a national consortium to secure a $360M, five-year Cooperative Institute award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) unites more than two dozen academic and agency partners to advance the nation’s hydrologic modeling, forecasting, and decision-support capabilities. Also in 2022, the Global Water Security Center, operating under AWI’s umbrella, received significant Department of War support to expand its work at the intersection of national security, environmental intelligence, and data science. Building on this foundation, AWI also leads the Community Oriented Nature-based Science for Ecosystem Restoration and Versatile Engineering (CONSERVE), a strategic initiative that advances integrated research and education to improve the resilience of coupled human-natural systems. CONSERVE strengthens UA’s leadership in global sustainability by connecting water research to the critical interdependencies of agriculture, energy, and environmental stewardship. These landmark accomplishments underscore AWI’s growing influence as a trusted partner to government, industry, and research organizations worldwide. The Institute’s success is amplified by the unparalleled ecosystem for water research on UA’s campus. The National Water Center (NWC) develops and delivers state-of-the-science hydrologic analyses and forecasts from a facility located on the University’s campus. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently opened the new Hydrological Instrumentation Facility (HIF), a state-of-the-art laboratory and testing complex that anchors collaborations in measurement science, modeling, and field instrumentation. Together, these two federal centers, combined with UA’s world-class faculty and facilities, create a research environment unmatched in the nation for innovation in hydrology and water resources.

The University of Alabama (UA) invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director of the Alabama Water Institute (AWI). This is a singular opportunity for a visionary leader to shape the future of water research, innovation, and impact at one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most dynamic flagship universities.

This position serves as the chief architect of AWI’s vision, strategy, and operations. Works closely with the Vice President for Research and the leaders of UA’s other signature research institutes to advance the institute’s national and international reputation for excellence in water science and policy. Strengthens and expands relationships with NOAA, USGS, NASA, the Army Corps of Engineers, NSF, and other federal and state partners. Fosters multi-disciplinary collaborations that connect UA’s faculty expertise to emerging global water challenges. Develops sustainable funding models that ensure the long-term growth and stability of AWI. Champions a culture of innovation and impact