Weather Modelling Scientist and Forecaster at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Weather Modelling Scientist and Forecaster

Requisition ID: 565
Duty Station: Cameroon
Organization: African Union Commission – AUC
Reports to: Project Coordinator, ECCAS Unit
Directorate / Department: Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Division: Sustainable Environment
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Grade: P2

Purpose of Job

• The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Application (ClimSA) programme.
• The programme addresses the issue of climate information throughout the entire supply chain of climate services covering generation and provision of climate services, access to information, user interface platforms, and capacity enhancement of critical players including, but not limited to, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Member States, and Regional Climate Centres (RCCs). It aims to enable Member States to develop and incorporate science-based climate information and prediction into development planning and decision-making at all levels, and to better manage risks of climate variability and change, Furthermore, it enhances policy and decision-making at continental, regional, national, community, and individual levels.
• The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the programme implementation, which includes the development and application of weather and climate information services; facilitation of capacity building for RECs and Member States; fostering sharing of best practices and coordinating knowledge management; procurement and supply of equipment for Member States and Regional Climate Centres; establishing and operationalization of the continental monitoring and reporting framework; facilitation of preparation of Africa State of Climate Reports and Outlooks; prudent management of financial resources; and monitoring and evaluation. The AUC is also directly responsible for the management and implementation of the project in the ECCAS region.
• The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Application (ClimSA) programme.
• The programme addresses the issue of climate information throughout the entire supply chain of climate services covering generation and provision of climate services, access to information, user interface platforms, and capacity enhancement of critical players including, but not limited to, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Member States, and Regional Climate Centres (RCCs). It aims to enable Member States to develop and incorporate science-based climate information and prediction into development planning and decision-making at all levels, and to better manage risks of climate variability and change,
• Furthermore, it enhances policy and decision-making at continental, regional, national, community, and individual levels.
• The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the programme implementation, which includes the development and application of weather and climate information services; facilitation of capacity building for RECs and Member States; fostering sharing of best practices and coordinating knowledge management; procurement and supply of equipment for Member States and Regional Climate Centres; establishing and operationalization of the continental monitoring and reporting framework; facilitation of preparation of Africa State of Climate Reports and Outlooks; prudent management of financial resources; and monitoring and evaluation.
• The AUC is also directly responsible for the management and implementation of the project in the ECCAS region.

Main Functions

• Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator and in close collaboration with the members of the Project Unit, the Weather Modelling Scientist and Forecaster is responsible for production system development and tailoring

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop advanced weather and climate modelling and prediction production system;
• Develop tailored products through the applications of specialized analytical, dynamical and statistical methods; provide training and technical skills in product development, data analysis, and variational data assimilation to CAPC-AC staff and NMHSs;
• Running regional model based on specific parameterization (convection permitting, …), develop and improve digital and computer models to predict atmospheric processes and improve forecast accuracy;
• Conduct daily, sub-seasonal to seasonal forecast;
• Support the establishment and effective functioning of sectoral User Interface Platforms (UIPs), regional Climate Services Information Systems (CSIS), Climate Data Management Systems (CDMS), infrastructure and other systems;
• Designing, development, production and dissemination of Weather forecast and climate monitoring products;
• Designing of tailored products for different development sector namely health, agriculture and DRM, collaborate regarding product development and dissemination;
• Coordinating all aspects regarding modeling (running models on HPC and all meteorological equipment) and scripting of all designed product agreed with users (DRR, Agriculture and Health sectors);
• Recommending every new procedure to partners in order to implement the creating and putting together all different aspects regarding new predictors in the ECCAS region, and finally, putting together all results from others projects in meteorology and climate in order to improve forecasts (doing seamless prediction)
• Collecting meteorological data from satellite images, radars, remote sensors and weather stations from the CEEAC sub-region;
• Analyzing, disseminating and exploiting meteorological information (temperature, rainfall, sunshine, humidity, wind speed and air pressure / flow, etc.);
• Coding weather reports for their transmission on international networks;
• Produce weather graphs, maps and animations for weather presentations;
• Monitor the variability of the seasons;
• Strengthen the capacities of national systems (NMHSs) and CAPC-AC;
• Conduct research on weather change patterns and write reports;
• Present the results of the work to the public and to special interest groups;
• Represent the project and the CAPC-AC at the international weather meeting.
• Execute any other duties related to the programme as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s University Degree in one or more of the following fields: Meteorology, Atmospheric Physics, and Higher Mathematics with at least three (3) years of relevant professional experience. A Master’s degree qualification with two (2) years of relevant professional work experience is also acceptable. Higher academic qualification is preferred. Two (2) years should be at an international level.
• Have computer training and demonstrable training in computer modeling;
• Experience working in the fields of meteorology, climate change, environment, atmospheric modeling, and disaster risk reduction
• Modelling and prediction experience is preferred, with solid experience in anchoring and producing meteorological information, in observing and forecasting weather conditions, climate risks and disasters and reporting on the issues.
• Must have experience in the ECCAS region.
• Able to demonstrate abilities in the precise analysis of meteorological and climate data and in making solid and essential operational decisions.
• Able to use computer and mathematical, meteorological and climatic models to make short, medium and long term forecasts and prove professional experience in the aviation industry, maritime transport or in the armed forces.
• Able to demonstrate good mathematical and computational problem-solving skills.
• Experience in project management.

Required Skills:

• Have a good command of the project cycle (formulation, supervision, self-evaluation by the beneficiaries, mid-term and final evaluation);
• Have a great capacity for analysis, synthesis and drafting of reports;
• Have proven skills in using the IT tool;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Sound planning and organizational skills;
• Advanced knowledge of climate change and meteorology technical processes;
• Have experience and knowledge of one of the sectors of the application of meteorological data (agriculture and food security, health, forestry or disaster risk management);
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish) and fluency in another is an added advantage;
• Good knowledge of LINUX, Windows Operating Systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher).

Desired Skills

• Ability to work under pressure within a multidisciplinary team
• Have excellent teamwork skills and the ability to interact with a range of people;
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate specialized information to non-specialists;
• Have high attention to detail and precision in the work.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight.
• Developing others.
• Change Management.
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship.
• Foster Accountability Culture.
• Learning Orientation.
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking.
• Job Knowledge and information sharing.
• Drive for result.
• Continuous improvement orientation.

Tenure of Appointment

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Remuneration

• The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 85,212.07 (P2 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$  66,751.81  inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
1st July, 2021.