Global Water Security Center

Providing decision makers with the most reliable, ground-breaking research, applied scientific techniques, and best practices so that the hydrologic cycle and its potential impacts can be put in a context for appropriate action and response by the United States

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Assistant Director of GWSC Technology

The Assistant Director of Global Water Security Center (GWSC) Technology (ADT) serves as subject-matter expert and technical lead for software applications, computing, networking, web and cyber-security technologies, and the application and integration of these into multi-disciplinary water/environmental security programs, projects, and/or developmental activities. 

The ADT supervises research software engineers, computer programmers, and web developers; manages cloud services; and ensures continuity of operations.

GWSC is a small and evolving applied research and operational center commissioned to respond to the nation’s need for water and environmental security insights. GWSC informs national security partners and others with global interests in water and environmental security. Our partners include the Department of Defense (DoD), other US Government agencies, private companies, and data producers from federal agencies and academia.

This position provides responsive and positive support so that the wider GWSC staff can work effectively and efficiently. 

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Manages cloud services and IT contracts
  • Maintains and administers cloud and database services
  • Leads the development of IT projects in support of environmental analysis
  • Undertakes strategic planning to strengthen the support, tools, and technology that underlies GWSC’s analysis activities
  • Plans and executes complex, multi-faceted projects in support of and in conjunction with a wider user community
  • Coordinates activities and evaluates analytic methodology together with GWSC analysts and leadership

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of IT experience; OR master’s degree and four (4) years of IT experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree or PhD in an applicable technical, scientific, MIS, or engineering discipline and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in a senior technology management role, to include five (5) years of experience in a supervisory capacity; OR bachelor’s degree in an applicable technical, scientific, MIS, or engineering discipline and ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in a senior technology management role, to include five (5) years of experience in a supervisory capacity.
  • Five (5) years of experience in data engineering, including significant experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS) services such as S3, EC2, and Lambda.
  • Experience with building and maintaining data pipelines for large datasets operating in data lakes, such as Databricks.
  • Experience in strategic planning of technical developments and leading proposal efforts in the science and technology fields.
  • Experience ensuring the health, monitoring, continuity of operation, and cyber-security for internal and external IT-related applications and networks.

About GWSC:

GWSC is an applied research and operational center commissioned to respond to our nation’s need for water and environmental security insights. GWSC will inform national security partners and others with global interests in water and environmental security.

Our partners include the Department of Defense (DoD), other US Government agencies, private companies, and data producers from federal agencies and academia.
 
GWSC is able to hire remotely, but we have a strong preference for in-person employees. UA is unable to hire remotely in some locations; if on your UA Jobs application you select to work remotely from one of those locations your application may be automatically screened out and GWSC staff will not have the opportunity to review it.

Please apply via the University of Alabama jobs site to the GWSC Cartographer position. In your cover letter, please note how you think your geospatial experience can inform water security.

Salary Range

Commensurate with experience. Minimum: $93,900 – Midpoint: $126,800

Application Deadline

July 26, 2026

Skills and Knowledge:
  • Strong knowledge of SQL, Python, R, and ETL processes.
  • Familiarity with web development, data visualization, and geospatial tools.
  • Knowledge of information management, software development cycles, communications networks and technologies, including a strong focus on broadband specific technologies and planning issues, and related emerging tools and technologies.
  • Ability to lead a collaborative, service-oriented team
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