Senior / Principal Groundwater Modeller

Job No: 108856
Location: Napier

  • Fantastic opportunity for an experienced Modeller - play a critical role in locally & nationally funded projects!
  • Growing regional council in one of the most picturesque regions of NZ! 
  • Competitive base salary circa $100,620 - $136,132 PLUS kiwi saver, relocation assistance & more!

About Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) is the regional authority for the Hawke's Bay region in New Zealand with key roles in environmental management and education; flood control and drainage; pollution and waste; and land, water and coastal management. Supporting approximately 150,000 residents, Council's vision is to enable a connected and vibrant region with resilient communities, a prosperous economy, and a clean, healthy environment.

Hawke’s Bay is a region of New Zealand located in the east of the North Island on the Pacific Ocean coast. With a mild Mediterranean climate, summer is quite often sunnier and hotter than the average for the rest of New Zealand.

If there were two words that summed up Hawke's Bay it would be 'Wine Country'. Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions and this has made it one of the country’s leading producers of wine and apples. As well as being a popular stop on numerous NZ wine tours, Hawke's Bay is also known as an art deco city, having been rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake.

There is also an extensive network of high quality off-road recreational walkways and cycleways to suit all fitness levels, boutique artisan food stores, and a variety of museums and galleries. 

The Kaweka Ranges and many forest parks provide fun opportunities including tramping, fishing, mountain biking, hunting, rafting, kayaking and more.

With glorious beaches and a family-friendly community, the Hawke's Bay region is as welcoming as it is unique, with universal appeal for people from all walks and stages of life. 

About the Opportunity

Hawke's Bay Regional Council now has a rare opportunity for a full-time Senior / Principal Groundwater Modeller to join their team in Napier.

Reporting to the Team Leader Principal Scientist Hydrology/Hydrogeology, you will provide input to the activities and functions of the Environmental Science Team, ensuring the Science Section achieves its objectives

This role is one of technical expertise, responsible for developing fit for purpose numerical models that will assist with the management of water resources in the region, specifically groundwater quantity and quality.

Some of your day to day key duties will include (but will not be limited to):

  • Constructing appropriate conceptual groundwater models as required;
  • Applying specific and appropriate knowledge to the interaction between surface water and groundwater resources, effectively assessing field practices, and providing quality information for wider Council use;
  • Providing methods for determining the extent of the connection between surface water and groundwater to assist with resource assessment, allocation and regulation of abstraction;
  • Delivering techniques and modelling of nutrient transport, which shows the impact on surface water and groundwater resources;
  • Managing surface water and groundwater modelling components of complex technical projects; and
  • Developing online tools that are appropriate for rapid and simple replication of model functionality.

To view the full position description please click here.

About You

To be considered for this position you will hold tertiary qualifications at a postgraduate level in Environmental Science, Engineering or other relevant discipline, along with significant experience in a similar role.

The ability to use and build numerical models including MODFLOW for groundwater modelling, along with development of web-based tools, is imperative. You will have a thorough understanding of the interactions between surface water and groundwater resources, as well as experience in managing surface water and groundwater modelling components of complex (multi-disciplinary, multi-agency and multi-objective) technical projects.

Although not essential, experience with modelling to support regional water management would be highly regarded.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council is looking for someone to hit the ground running - you'll be well versed in identifying both needs and problems, and able to find solutions with initiative. A confident communicator, you will be skilled in stakeholder engagement and possess excellent report writing and presentation skills to a high level.

About the Benefits

This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in critical projects, working with cutting edge technology within a brand new, open plan office. As part of an innovative team who are seen as thought leaders in this space, you'll enjoy ongoing professional development opportunities to ensure you remain at the forefront of the industry!

With over 80% of employees consistently rating Hawke's Bay Regional Council as a great place to work in recent staff surveys, it's no wonder that the average employee tenure is 12 years! Council has succeeded in creating a welcoming, fun and family-friendly environment for its people, who leave work each day knowing they have contributed to a prosperous and ecologically friendly future for the region. 

The Environmental Science Team itself is a close-knit and hard working group that place value on support, collaboration and communication. Council is well resourced and tapped into a number of large, nationally funded, multi-million dollar projects you'll play a critical role in!

In return for your hard work and dedication, you will be rewarded with a competitive base salary circa $100,620 - $136,132 (commensurate with skills and experience) plus kiwisaver. Candidates moving to Napier will be offered relocation assistance, and you will also have access to many staff benefits.

Ready to hit the ground running in this key modelling position? Apply Now!

Apply Now

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