Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

 

City: Ottawa 

Organizational Unit: Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering 

Classification: RO 

Tenure: Term

Duration: 5 years 

Language Requirements: English   

 

Work Arrangements:

Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework). Employees in this position who telework will be required to travel to the identified work site at least three times per week or a minimum of 60% of their regular work schedule at their own expense.
 
At NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the hiring team using the contact information below.

 

The Role

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada's largest research and technology organization.

 

NRC’s OCRE Research Centre supports a broad cross-section of industry sectors by developing creative and practical solutions to applied engineering challenges in rivers, lakes, and marine environments. We provide expertise and tools to identify, adapt, and integrate advanced solutions into systems that improve the performance and safety of ocean, coastal, and marine operations, management and effective utilization of inland water resources, address the challenges of climate change, and protect infrastructure, property and people from risks of severe weather and climate events.

 

We are looking for a Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer to support our Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering (OCRE) Research Centre. The Hydrologist/Research Engineer would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect, and Creativity.
 

The Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer is expected to have exceptional skills and creative thinking in leading and undertaking applied research in the fields of hydrology and water resources engineering and management. 
 

The primary responsibility of the Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer will be to advance and maximize the impact of OCRE Research Centre’s research nationally and internationally through developing new models, technologies, guides/standards, advanced data analysis techniques, and decision support tools. As a subject matter expert, the Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer will leverage expertise in deterministic and statistical hydrologic modelling, water resources engineering, interdisciplinary approaches to water management, data analytics, climate-hydrology integrated modelling, and climate change science to support our Research Centre’s R&D objectives.

 

The Hydrologist/Water Resources Research Engineer is also expected to: lead client/partner engagement meetings and development of project proposals, execute project management plans, disseminate research outcomes, deliver superior technical services, and provide expert review of project deliverables. Additionally, there will also be opportunities to explore independent research interests, participate in postdoctoral mentoring and development programs, and access ideation funds offered by the NRC.
 

Screening Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Graduate degree (MSc or MAppSc) from a recognized institution in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources/Hydrologic Engineering, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or other related natural science fields.

 

A PhD in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources/Hydrologic Engineering, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or other related natural science fields will be considered an asset. 

 

An equivalency may be considered for candidates who are 6 months to completing a Masters with minimum 7 years of experience in the desired fields, mentioned above. 
 

 

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

1. Significant* experience in undertaking and directing or overseeing the application of engineering and applied science principles, including problem and constraint identification, streamlined problem-solving approaches, modelling and simulation studies, data analysis, and clear and effective dissemination of technical findings to a range of audiences through written and oral forms of communication (e.g., reports, journal articles, and presentations at conferences/workshops).
2. Significant* experience with numerical modelling for a variety of topics related to hydrology and water resources engineering and management, including development of process-based models, development of water management models, development of streamflow modelling and forecasting tools for real-time operational applications, exploring and understanding the physical mechanisms associated with climate and hydrologic variability and extreme events, and climate change impacts assessment and adaptation planning. 
3. Significant* experience with statistical modelling and analysis of spatial and time series data originating from instrumental records, regional and global climate modelling experiments, integrated climate-hydrology modelling missions, re-analyses products, and watershed- and regional-scale simulation/modelling experiments, using both conventional and modern machine learning approaches/frameworks.
4. Experience in engagement/marketing activities, and/or in the development and management of effective research partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations on solving local, regional and national level water science problems.
5. Significant* experience in managing and executing complex technical projects, developing project proposals, and working with multidisciplinary, multi-institutional teams.

 

*Significant refers to at least five (5) years of experience.
Experience refers to at least two (2) years of experience. 

Condition of Employment

Secret (II)

 

A thorough security clearance process will be applied. 
For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process. 
 

Language Requirements

English

 

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical Competencies

1. Advanced skills in oral and written communication in English; ability to write clear and concise proposals, reports, conference and journal articles; ability to effectively communicate results to clients and/or at scientific conference/workshop forums.
2. Solid knowledge of the theory and fundamental principles of hydrologic modelling, especially modelling physical processes involved in overland flow generation, open channel hydraulics, hydrologic/hydraulic routing, lumped/distributed modelling, and climate-hydrology integrated modelling. Understanding of fresh water systems in a changing climate to support management of integrated water resources at the watershed and regional level is desirable.
3. Solid knowledge of the theory and fundamental principles of statistical hydrologic modelling, especially extreme value analysis, time series modelling, risk assessment, designing and implementing simulation experiments, quantifying uncertainty surrounding design values, multivariate analyses, and compound/joint frequency analyses. Knowledge of inferential statistics and their applications to data-driven and model-based investigations in hydrology and water resources engineering and management is also desirable.
4. Ability to conduct data-intensive research, especially competency in the application of modern machine learning architectures, to generate creative solutions for applied problems in hydrology and water resources management, with minimal supervision and guidance. Ability to understand and prioritise modular research activities in complex projects will be an asset.
5. Knowledge of climate variability and change and know-how of both regional and global climate models and their outputs and how they are integrated with impact models to predict future conditions to inform decision-making and climate change adaptation planning.
6. Understanding of project management principles, practices, and tools for completing assigned project tasks on time, within budget, and with the desired quality and impact.
7. Ability to effectively engage with NRC clients and partners (e.g., industry stakeholders, engineers and scientists from other government departments and academia, water managers, regulators, and policymakers) to identify strategic opportunities for collaboration and advancement of applied research in hydrology and water resources engineering and management.
8. Hands on experience with computer programming (e.g., Python, R, MATLAB, C/C++); applications of GIS software for processing, analyzing and understanding geospatial data; and visualization and graphical software tools for producing high quality graphics, maps, and animations.
9. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various administrative, management, and other colleagues towards achieving common goals.

Behavioural Competencies

• Research - Creative thinking (Level 3)
• Research - Results orientation (Level 3)
• Research - Teamwork (Level 3)
• Research - Partnering (Level 3)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s):  Research

 

View all competency profiles

Compensation

The purpose of this staffing action is to fill a position at the AcRO level. This is a mid-career position and the salary range is $117,341  to  $136,608.

 

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

 

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

​

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the National Research Council (NRC), recently named one of Canada’s 2025 Top Employers for Young People, a 2025 Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

 

As Canada’s leading research and technology organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

 

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada, persons with an Open Work Permit or Indigenous people living in the United States. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
   

 

 

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (23877) to:

E-mail: NRC.NRCHiring-EmbaucheCNRC.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Telephone: 3439907905 

Closing Date: 15 May 2025 - 23:59 Eastern Time 

 

 

For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources

 

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careers module from your NRC computer.