Welcome to the EurActiv JobSite

ECMWF: Consultant on Forecast Verification

ECMWF - 24 June 2009

E-mail job | Printer-friendly version|

Job Description

Reference no.: AP09-08

Location: ECMWF Headquarters at Shinfield Park, near Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom Environment: The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an international organisation supported by 31 States*.

Its prime objectives are the operational production of analyses, medium-range forecasts of weather and ocean waves and seasonal forecasts, as well as scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of these forecasts.

ECMWF operates a large computing facility including supercomputers, data archiving systems and networks.

For details see: www.ecmwf.int

Main duties:

The vacancy is in the Meteorological Operations Section of the Operations Department. The work of the Meteorological Operations Section includes the operational verification of all forecasts produced at ECMWF.

A comprehensive verification suite has been developed, providing a wide range of procedures to monitor different aspects of the forecasts. The main aim of this post is to extend the current operational verification to include new parameters and introduce new methodologies, with a particular focus on evaluating early warnings of severe weather events.

The main duties are:

To carry out research on verification methods with application to the ECMWF forecast system and to introduce new verification procedures into operations

To assist with the maintenance and development of the operational verification system for ECMWF deterministic and probabilistic forecasts

To provide guidance and support for users of the verification software

To ensure the operational verification conforms to WMO guidelines and to contribute to the revision of these guidelines

To monitor the operational verification scores and contribute to ECMWF verification reports

To participate in any on-call support provided by the section

Qualifications:

A university degree or equivalent in meteorology or a related subject is required, together with experience in the verification, use or development of weather forecast products, and experience of developing computer applications in a UNIX environment.

Knowledge of numerical weather prediction and object-oriented programming would be an advantage.

Fluency in one of the working languages of the Centre (English, French and German) and a good knowledge of at least one of the other languages are also required.

Remuneration:

Typically within the range of £3,674.00 to £5,090.00 per month net of tax, depending upon qualifications, experience, personal situation and eligibility for expatriation allowance. A deduction of either £33.62 per beneficiary or 4.38% of the monthly remuneration will be made for the supplementary health insurance scheme.

Starting date:

As soon as possible.

Length of contract:

Two years, with the possibility of further extension.

Applications:

Application forms in word format can be downloaded from here (162kb) and completed on-line. If you download, you may (if near to the closing date) e-mail the completed form only back to ECMWF at jobs@ecmwf.int. Please note, however, that you must still send your full application form together with all the attachments to ECMWF by post.

Under no circumstances should you e-mail your attachments.

Closing date:

Completed applications for this post must reach the Director of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts not later than 10 July 2009. [Version française] [Deutsche Fassung] Employers want to know how you found their job advert so please state that you found this position advertised in EurActiv.

Get the Euractiv JobSite newsletter and receive the latest EU jobs.

E-mail job | Printer-friendly version |