1. Position information
Vacancy No.: VN15-15
Department: Copernicus Services
Grade: A4
Service: C3S
Job Ref. No.: STF-PL/15-15
Reports to: Head of C3S
Closing Date: 21 April 2015
2. About ECMWF*
ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating
numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical
research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of
observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ
observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the
atmosphere, ocean and land surface.
For details, see www.ecmwf.int/.
ECMWF has been entrusted to operate the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and
the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on behalf of the European Commission until the end
of 2020. Copernicus is the European Union (EU) flagship Earth-observation programme. The
programme ensures operational monitoring of the atmosphere, oceans, and continental surfaces,
and will provide reliable, validated information services for a range of environmental and security
applications.
3. Summary of the role
The C3S includes the provision of data and services from a multi-model seasonal forecast system.
ECMWF is responsible for providing one of the models, and for co-ordinating the overall multi-model
system and its data and products. The C3S Seasonal Forecast Team Leader will be responsible for
the C3S multi-model seasonal system, and for managing a small team involved in delivering the
ECMWF contribution to C3S seasonal activities.
4. Main duties and key responsibilities
The post-holder will work with the ECMWF staff, C3S personnel and external contributors to ensure
a high quality multi-model seasonal forecast system is delivered to C3S, including a high quality
ECMWF contribution.
Key responsibilities:
- Taking responsibility for the operational implementation of the ECMWF seasonal forecast system as a contribution to the C3S multi-model products
- Maintaining links with scientific teams in charge of seasonal systems from different contributors
- Supervising the delivery and quality control of data received from other contributors to the C3S multi-model products
- Supervising the production and dissemination of multi-model products
- Interacting with external stakeholders and users of seasonal forecast data and products, to ensure future developments meet user requirements
The work will be a combination of various scientific and management tasks, together with a
requirement to supervise and where necessary supplement the technical work of the team.
5. Personal attributes
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage and motivate a team of scientists
- Dedication and enthusiasm to work in a team
6. Qualifications and experience required
Education
PhD in meteorology or the physical/computational sciences.
Experience Demonstrated scientific expertise with seasonal forecast systems.
At least three years of experience of project/team management.
Experience of working in an operational forecasting environment.
Experience of interacting with users of seasonal forecast products would be
advantageous.
Language
Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be
conducted in English.
A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or
German) would be an advantage.
7. Other information
Grade remuneration
The successful candidate will be recruited at the A4 grade, according to the scales of the
Co-ordinated Organisations and the annual basic salary will be £78,525.24 net of tax. This position is
assigned to the employment category STF-PL as defined in the Staff Regulations.
Full details of salary scales and allowances are available on the ECMWF website at
www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the Centre’s Staff Regulations regarding the terms and
conditions of employment.
Starting date: As soon as possible.
Length of contract: Four years.
Location: The position will be based in the Reading area, in Berkshire, United Kingdom.
8. How to apply
Please apply by completing the online application form available at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.
ECMWF has an Equal Opportunities Policy and applications from all suitably qualified candidates are
welcome.
Staff are usually recruited from among nationals of the Member States and Co-operating States.
Staff from non-ECMWF States may be considered in exceptional cases where there is a strong need
for a particular competency.
Interviews for this position are expected to take place week commencing 1 June 2015.
* The ECMWF Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
The ECMWF Co-operating States are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania and Slovakia.