The ACT Office of Water is seeking an experienced and motivated water resource modeller to join the Water Information Services section to aid in the delivery of the Integrated River Model Uplift (IRMU) project.

This role will deliver high quality water resource and catchment models of the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment to meet the needs of the Integrated River Model Uplift (IRMU) project, and to advance the interests of the Office of Water.

This role will be required to deliver on developing water resource models, while also engaging with relevant policy and technical experts within and outside of Government to ensure that water resource models are well-designed and appropriate for their required tasks.

You will have skills, knowledge, and experience in developing, refining, and using water resource and catchment models in the Source modelling platform, implementing water resource assessment and accounting methods, water take and environmental requirements. Experience in implementing policy and legislation into models, and good project management skills are highly desirable. Knowledge of the Commonwealth Water Act, State and Territory water legislation, water management operations and water policy are a distinct advantage.

The role will involve all elements of conceptualising, building, calibrating, refining and documenting water resource and catchment models. Elements of collaborative work practices and project management will be required, including working with modellers and analysts in ACT Government, and other jurisdictions, along with reporting and stakeholder liaison.

You will work closely with the Principal Hydrological Modeller, Water Information Services team of modellers, data analysts and policy officers to develop solutions to new and emerging water management issues in the ACT and region. You will be responsible for ensuring existing Commonwealth, ACT legislation and policies are implemented into water resource models in addition to developing model scenarios of future and/or proposed policies.

The role will also involve communication of models results, model limitations and methodologies to a range of audiences, both lay and technical. The IRMU program is funded to June 2025.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

Essential:

• Extensive knowledge and experience with conceptualising, building, and calibrating and refining water resource and catchment models. Development of water resource model scenarios to inform policy development or evaluation is an advantage.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of Commonwealth and/or ACT/NSW water policy and legislation.
• Desirable: A tertiary qualification in water resource management, or similar technical background.

Notes: This is a temporary position available immediately to 30 June 2025. A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only. This position will be moving to a new workplace designed for activity-based working (ABW). Under ABW arrangements, officers will not have a designated workstation/desk.