Chief - Severe Weather Services Section

Overview

CHIEF - SEVERE WEATHER SERVICES SECTION (2393)

VACANCY NOTICE NO: 2393
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 21 September 2025

POST:
Chief - Severe Weather Services Section, GRADE: P5, DUTY STATION:
Geneva, Switzerland, COMMENCEMENT OF DUTY:
To be determined, NATURE OF APPOINTMENT:
Fixed-term - 1 year

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT:
Division of Meteorological and Sectoral Services - Department of Science, Services and Capacity Development. WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age after 1 January 2014 is 65. The minimum age to be eligible for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before mandatory separation.

NOTE:

The position is funded from the regular budget. New appointments on fixed-term contracts of one year or more shall be subject to an initial one-year probation period.

• Lead WMO's global response to severe weather and climate extremes to protect lives worldwide.
• Lead development and implementation of global strategies for severe weather and climate extreme forecasting and warning services.
• Coordinate WMO's response to major weather emergencies and extreme climate events through the WMO Coordination Mechanism.
• Provide expert guidance on tropical cyclone monitoring, forecasting and warning systems.
• Foster collaboration between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) during severe weather and climate extreme events.
• Support the development of climate-informed severe weather services that account for changing patterns of extreme events.
• Oversee the advancement of severe weather prediction capabilities for weather and climate timescales.
• Lead initiatives to improve understanding of high-impact weather phenomena including tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, extreme precipitation events, heat waves, and compound climate extremes.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and best practice sharing among Members on emerging climate-related severe weather patterns.
• Represent WMO at international forums on disaster risk reduction, emergency management, and climate adaptation; collaborate with UN agencies, international organizations and the private sector on severe weather and climate extreme initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with regional specialized meteorological centres, global centres, and climate service providers.
• Provide oversight for extrabudgetary projects focused on severe weather services, early warning systems, and climate extreme preparedness.
• Support capacity development initiatives for developing and least developed countries in managing weather and climate risks.
• Oversee the preparation of technical guidelines, manuals and training materials covering meteorological hazards and climate extremes.
• Supervise scientific and technical staff within the section.

• Education
  :
  Master’s degree or equivalent in Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, or a closely related field. A first-level university degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Experience
  : A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in severe weather forecasting, meteorological services, climate extremes, or related atmospheric sciences with demonstrated expertise in tropical cyclone forecasting, severe weather warning systems, climate extreme analysis, or operational meteorology/climatology.
• Other requirements
  :
  
  - Good understanding of the United Nations, including WMO programmes and activities and international organization processes.
  - Excellent managerial, supervisory, organizational, qualitative and quantitative skills.
  - Solid coordination, interpersonal and communication skills.
  - Demonstrated responsibility, maturity of judgement and initiative and originality of ideas.
  - Experience organizing and managing work programmes.
  - Ability to write clear and succinct reports, documents and correspondence.
  - Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to foster diversity and team spirit.

You are a senior meteorologist with extensive experience in severe weather forecasting, warning systems, and climate extremes. You have a proven track record in leading technical teams, coordinating international responses to weather emergencies and climate extreme events, and developing innovative approaches to weather and climate services. You understand the evolving nature of extreme events in a changing climate and have experience integrating climate information into operational weather services.

You excel at building partnerships across the meteorological and climate communities and have experience working with diverse stakeholders during high-pressure situations involving both immediate weather threats and longer-term climate risks.

• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Team Dynamics
• Inclusive Mindset &…