Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?
Working to protect the state’s environment and heritage.

NRARs Spatial and Data Analytics Team is seeking to appoint a skilled and innovative Senior Spatial Analyst (EXTRACTOR) to join our team for the proactive detection of potentially non-compliant water take through the state-wide integration of GIS, remote sensing, water licensing, water accounting and other datasets.

About EXTRACTOR:

EXTRACTOR is an advanced, farm-scale water balance tool developed for NRAR. It enables the identification of properties where satellite estimates of annual water requirements (derived from crop evapotranspiration models, BoM climate data and estimates of on-farm storage volume flux) differ significantly from total metered water take. In this role, you will assess EXTRACTOR’s effectiveness through case study applications across the Northern and Southern Murray-Darling Basin. This includes varied crop types, irrigation systems, and water sources including surface water, groundwater, and floodplain harvesting.

A focus area for the role is collaboratively publishing the case study results in leading scientific journals. You will also collaborate with EXTRACTOR’s developers to refine the tool, user and technical guidelines, facilitating its integration into NRAR’s water take monitoring initiatives.

About Our Team:

The Spatial and Data Analytics Team, part of NRAR’s Innovation, Systems and Intelligence Branch, provides geospatial ‘eyes in the sky’ intelligence that supports NRAR’s ‘boots on the ground’ operations. Our current suite of annual and continuing projects include monitoring unmetered floodplain harvesting take in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin, unmetered groundwater and surface water take in the Namoi Basin, and assessing ‘future risks’ for metered water take along the Lower Murray-Darling where recent increases in permanent crop plantings pose a risk to water delivery and availability during periods of peak demand. Our team brings expert analytical insights into NRAR’s operational realms through the provision of integrated spatial and database analytics to focus NRARs water take compliance monitoring activities across NSW.

About You

You bring a passion for applied science in water resource management together with a strong foundation in GIS, hydrology, remote sensing and knowledge in programming. You are proficient in leveraging GIS, Python, Sentinel Hub EO Browser, Google Earth Engine, ELVIS, Geoscience Australia Data Cube and related tools, enabling you to seamlessly integrate, analyse and automate complex datasets – such as time series remote sensing, metered water take, water entitlement allocations and cadastral boundaries. Ideally, your background includes research or industry experience with remotely sensed crop evapotranspiration methods.

Alongside your technical expertise, you are a skilled communicator, able to deliver clear technical advice and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. You work well independently on challenging, large-scale spatial projects, with an eye toward innovation and best practice. Your commitment to quality ensures that your work provides high-impact, reliable, geospatial intelligence analytics for NRAR. If you are excited to apply your skills in spatial science, hydrology, and remote sensing to support water compliance, this role offers an impactful opportunity within a small, high-performing team.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant Honours, Masters or PhD degree level tertiary qualification in Spatial Sciences, GIS, Remote Sensing, Science, Natural Resources or related disciplines or equivalent experience.
• Research-by-thesis experience, including publication of first author scientific papers

Who we are

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) Act 2017 enacted by the NSW Parliament in November 2017 provides for the establishment of a new independent water regulator in NSW focused on establishing best practice water regulation underpinned by ethics, good governance and stakeholder engagement to deliver effective and reliable water regulation for the people of NSW.

NRAR enforces the NSW water laws and offers guidance and education to help water users comply. We strive to be an efficient and effective regulator that celebrates and reflects the diversity of the community we serve. Working with NRAR provides a chance to make sure water is used lawfully so that all communities and the environment get a fair share.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

Our goal is to build a workforce that not only represents but also understands and serves the diverse communities of New South Wales. We are committed to making our state a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive for everyone. Our workforce represents people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI+ community, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.