Weather Modelling Scientist and Forecaster at African Union(AU)

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 five (5) years of relevant professional experience of which at least two (2) years should be at an equivalent or higher level at an international level.
• OR
• Masters Degree in the above indicated areas of study, with at least two (2) years of relevant professional experience at an international level.
• A higher academic qualification will be an added advantage.
• 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 and fluency in another is an added advantage;
• Good knowledge of LINUX, Windows Operating Systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher).

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...