Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin (KWB) is a non-profit company for applied research and innovation with over 40 employees which was founded in 2001. We develop innovative solutions by merging future oriented topics such as digitalization, resource efficiency, smart city and climate resilience with the traditional disciplines of the urban water cycle (www.kompetenz-wasser.de).

As part of an interdisciplinary research team, you will develop, lead and implement research and innovation projects in the field of digitalization and urban water management.

You will address key issues of infrastructure maintenance, resilience and rehabilitation planning and will harness the potential of data, machine learning, artificial intelligence and modelling to support public decision-making. You will work at the interface between software and research teams to contribute to the development of robust, scalable and transferable software solutions for asset management (for example our SEMAplus suite). You will contribute to the adoption of our data-driven solutions by European water utilities and municipalities, ultimately contributing to infrastructure resilience, cost savings and transparent decision making.

More specifically, you will be the scientific coordinator of a large Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) led by KWB. The project brings together >20 partners across Europe - universities, companies and cities - and aims to improve the asset management of sewer networks by developing a range of digital solutions. Some of the more interesting innovations include the use of satellites to monitor ground movements, drones for sewer inspection and AI modelling for rehabilitation planning. These solutions will be tested on a large scale in major European cities. The project goes beyond technology by addressing critical societal dimensions such as acceptance, trustworthiness and accountability of AI solutions, and contributes to the successful adoption of digital solutions with a novel data governance framework. Finally, it explores perceptions of AI among utility workers and addresses broader digitalisation challenges such as potential job losses, skills mismatches and increased workplace pressures.

Main tasks as project coordinator are:

• Scientific leadership: define the vision, objectives and methodology of the project.
• Research coordination: oversee and guide all scientific activities across work packages and facilitate seamless collaboration between consortium partners.
• Quality assurance: ensure that deliverables meet high scientific standards; track milestones to ensure timely completion, identify and mitigate scientific and technical risks.
• Be the voice of the project: lead scientific reporting, publications and stakeholder engagement; communicate and disseminate project results at national and European level.
• Innovation focus: translate research results into practical applications and ensure that research outcomes contribute to sustainable societal impacts.

More general task as senior team member

• Conduction and coordination of research and consulting projects in the areas of urban water management, digitalization and smart cities.
• Support in research project development as well as in the acquisition of consulting contracts
• Contribution to the elaboration of new project ideas and innovative services
• Close cooperation and networking with research partners, the water industry and municipalities
• Elaboration of statistical models, machine learning and planning tools for municipalities*
• Data engineering, data preparation, data analysis and interactive data visualization*

*potential tasks, depending on background and interest

Must have

• Degree in the field of Computer Science, Data Science, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Management, or similar (Diploma, Master's degree or PhD)
• >5 years of professional experience, ideally in the fields of digitalization, infrastructure or water management
• Proficiency in planning, organizing, and tracking complex, multi-partner projects
• Ability to lead diverse teams, inspire collaboration, and align partners toward common goals
• Grant writing experience in securing funding through well-crafted, competitive proposals; proven ability to assemble and coordinate diverse, multidisciplinary consortia
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Passion for collaborating in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international environment

Nice to have

• Comprehensive knowledge of Horizon Europe priorities, objectives, and administrative procedures.
• Strong network with academic institutions, industry and municipalities
• Familiarity with EU policies relevant to the project's themes, such as digitalization, infrastructure resilience and water management
• Experience in programming and/or software development
• Practical experience working in software development teams utilizing agile methodologies
• Strong expertise in data science, statistics, machine learning, and modeling
• Professional working proficiency in German

• Join a leading international research and innovation centre addressing the most pressing challenges of water management, environmental protection and urban planning
• Work in an interdisciplinary team of experts in the environmental, engineering and digital fields
• Excellent working atmosphere and premium coffee from our high-end machine every day
• Relaxed communication with peers; agile, fast and efficient communication thanks to small and dedicated teams
• Continuous development of your skills and expertise with tailored training opportunities
• Professional development opportunities: there is no shortage of challenges in the field of water management and urban transformation