Nuclear Waste Services is looking for a Research Manager: Groundwater Chemistry to join the team at Harwell in Oxfordshire.
Within this management position, you will be responsible for obtaining solutions by defining and delivering research programmes in specified areas of expertise in support of internal end-users’ needs (Site Evaluation, Site Characterisation, Permitting, Engineering and Design and Environmental Safety Case and the generic and site-specific disposal system).
You will also be responsible for collaboration with users and collectors of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical information across the organisation.
Intelligent Client for collection and analysis of hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical information
- Responsible for understanding hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical parameters / information requirements needed to support evaluation and characterisation of sites
- Responsible for planning, managing and delivering hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical investigations
- Responsible for planning and delivering laboratory and underground research laboratory (URL) research and subsequent interpretation and synthesis of results
- Responsible for identifying supply chain capability and resources required to deliver hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical testing and analysis to support the GDF programme
- Responsible for development of hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical tools and techniques needed to support the GDF programme
- Responsible for identifying data management and QA/QC tools and approaches
Intelligent Client for conceptualisation and representation of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical information
- Responsible for the management (scope, cost and schedule) of work packages being executed through the supply chain or academia
- Responsible for defining hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical information and delivering to stakeholders
- Responsible for conceptualisation of hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical settings at regional and local scales using laboratory and/or field data
- Responsible for evaluating the past and future evolution of the site, considering GDF and naturally induced perturbations using numerical representations of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical information
Intelligent Client for procurement of hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical services
- Responsible for specification of work, assessment of tenders and management of contracts for hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical services
- Responsible for review and challenge of work undertaken by suppliers to ensure that work is of appropriate quality, is checked and verified to meet stakeholder needs
- Responsible for oversight and management of supply chain delivering hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical projects
Technical authority
- Responsible for delivering hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical technical reports
- Responsible for developing workflows and procedures for the selection, collection and use of hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical information
- Responsible for delivering hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical information to internal/external stakeholders
- Responsible for specifying hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical information outputs from site characterisation
- Responsible for understanding and communicating the output of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical projects to stakeholders
- Responsible for providing input to site specific evaluations of environmental safety and permitting applications
- Ability to represent NWS on hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical issues in internal fora:
- Responsible for working with internal stakeholders to ensure that work meets organisational needs
- Responsible for communication of outputs and needs of the work programme
Ability to represent NWS on hydrogeological / hydrogeochemical issues in external for a:
- Responsible for acting as a representative at national and international fora and events (including involvement with communities involved with NWS’s programme, regulators, and on EC projects)
- Responsible for engagement with learned societies and the general public, as appropriate
- Good first degree in geology, natural sciences, Earth sciences or environmental sciences. An MSc and/or PhD in a hydrogeology/hydrogeochemistry discipline is strongly preferred
- Experience of specifying, and using, tools and techniques needed for collection and interpretation of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical data
- Experience of using laboratory and/or field-based based techniques to parameterize hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical models
- Experience of using geostatistical methods in the collection of field data and population of numerical hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical models
- Experience of using, and reviewing outputs from, numerical hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical modelling codes to evaluate baseline and future groundwater evolution
- Experience of using data analytics/data science methodologies in the interpretation and population of hydrogeological/hydrogeochemical models would be considered beneficial
- Experience of collaborating with field staff, numerical modelling experts, supply chain and researchers to deliver integrated site evaluation and characterisation (groundwater) projects could be beneficial
- Significant experience in translating a technical challenge into specific knowledge gaps, identification of research needs and objectives and formulating appropriate research activities to further NWS’s understanding
- Experience of technical project management, including project scoping, budgeting, contracting and supply chain management.
- Effective communication of technical aspects to either a specialist or non-technical audience
- Proven ability to influence collaborative and contracted projects to gain the requisite outcomes
- Chartered, or working toward chartership, with a relevant professional institute, with a demonstrable and up-to-date Continued Professional Development (CPD) log
Aside from the huge professional scope at Nuclear Waste Services, the personal benefits are excellent, these include:
- Very competitive salary
- Generous bonus scheme
- Holiday allowances
- Attractive defined contribution pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
- Group life assurance scheme
We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, included and able to perform at their best. At Nuclear Waste Service we are committed to creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We value the diversity of our people and actively seek to have a workforce that represents the rich diversity of the communities we support. Currently we are underrepresented in some areas, and would particularly welcome applicants from Women, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities, LGBTQ+ and candidates who have a disability.
In promoting equal opportunities, Nuclear Waste Service welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We select people according to their abilities and our needs. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria, Nuclear Waste Service will interview the best candidates from within that group.