Programme Officer - Seasonal and Climate Forecaster (Climate Services Centre) – Job Grade 6
Environmental, Forestry Jobs
- Southern African Development …
- Expires 23 May 2022
- Bulawayo
- Full Time
Job Description
The Southern Africa Development Community Secretariat (SADC) is seeking to recruit highly motivated and experienced professionals who are citizens of Member States of the SADC to fill the following regional positions to its Organization Structure.
Programme Officer - Seasonal and Climate Forecaster (Climate Services Centre) – Job Grade 6
Primary Purpose of the Job
• Generate climate forecasts (seasonal) and early warning products to support practical and strategic decision-making in climate sensitive sectors
• Develop regional ensemble climate prediction based on new generation of improved and typically higher-resolution climate models, covering time scales from seasons to decades
• Avail services to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Member States and other stakeholders
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
Climate forecasts (seasonal)
• Acquire and archive, remote sensing, near real time and historical climate data;
• Process acquired data for verification of climate forecasts;
• Develop regional weather and climate forecasting models;
• Carry out climate forecasting using the developed models;
• Ensure timely preparation and dissemination of weather and climate products and advisories;
• Assist NMHSs in the training of users on the application and on implications of Long rang forecast products;
• Assist in professional capacity building of climate experts for generating user-targeted products;
• Promote studies of regional climate variability and change driven, predictability and impact;
• Validate regional climate models forecasts, methods of downscaling and interpretation of global output products.
Early warning products
• Monitor climate forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres
• Assess the ability of the climate forecast system to simulate unprecedented and extreme events (eg ENSO and other climate drivers)
• Prepare regional early warning bulletins at different time scales (eg. 5days, 10days, monthly and seasonal)
• Evaluate forecast quality (both skill and reliability) on a range of time
Research, analysis and dissemination of information
• Collect data and information from Member States, using primary and secondary research techniques
• Assist in research projects
• Analyse the data and generate plausible information
• Populate the regional database
• Prepare data for publishing on the SADC website and other forms of media
• Promote studies of the economic value of climate information
Mainstream cross cutting issues (e.g. Gender, HIV / AIDS, poverty etc.) in own programmes
- Integrate cross cutting issues in all programme documents
- Invite relevant stakeholders on these to participate in discussion on this matter in meetings and workshops
- Monitor and draft a report on the extent of mainstreaming
Technical and administrative support in programme / project implementation
• Contribute in research papers, concept notes and minutes of meetings.
• Assist in promoting the relevant SADC programme portfolio, pipeline, specific projects and programme impact
• Contribute in organising relevant Technical & Policy Meetings & Workshops
• Engage in presentations to various stakeholders / audiences on climate forecasting
• Assist in procuring consultancies and in supervision of consultants
• Assist in monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programmes/projects and preparation of M&E reports
• Assist in organising relevant Technical & Policy Meetings & Workshops
• Support in capacity building activities including data management
• Liaise with other programme directorates, as and when there is a need for joint / synergised programme implementation
• Liaise with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) and users of climate information and prediction services in SADC Member States
• Liaise with Regional and National Climate Services as and when required
• Liaise with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) as and when required
• Research and adopt best practices in own specialised area of work, and maintain high level of knowledge in order to effectively undertake the duties of the post
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervising officer
Qualifications and Experience
Position requirements
Qualification
At least a Masters in Meteorology from a recognised institution
Specialised knowledge
• Good knowledge in climate science and seasonal climate forecasting
• Proficient in the use of computers and computer software relevant to the
position
• Good knowledge in programming languages such as R and Python
• Ability to work with Linux
• Understanding of integrated programme planning, budgeting, development, administration and monitoring for weather and climate
Experience
At least 7-10 years’ experience in climate research and forecasting within a public sector or a regional organisation
Skills requirements
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation, networking and relationship building skills
• Organisational skills (planning, budgeting, time management, work prioritisation)
• Research, analytical and problem-solving skills
Competency Requirements
• Capable of maintaining quality whilst working under pressure and adhering to deadlines
• Conceptual and practical thinking
• Customer focused
• Decisive
• Demonstrate ability to work independently and largely unsupervised
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas in an international or multi-cultural environment
• Maintain confidentiality and respectful of sensitive situations
• Methodical and organised, with a high level of attention to details
• Organisational awareness with an understanding of how to engage theorganisation to get things done
• Professionalism and adherence to good work ethics
• Question conventional approaches and encourage new ideas and innovations for progress
• Resilience and personal drive, self-motivation
• Results and performance driven
• Team player
How to Apply
The positions are open to qualified applicants who:
• Are 50 years old or younger. This requirement is based on the Organization’s need to recruit staff who can serve for a reasonable period of time before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
• Are from the following eligible Member States: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Closing Date and Submission of Applications: Applications must be submitted to the SADC National Contact Point https://www.sadc.int/opportunities/employment/national-contact-points/ of the eligible Member States not later than or on 23 May 2022.
Applications should be accompanied by the following:
a) a cover letter stating the position that you want to be considered for and describe how your qualifications, experience and competencies are relevant to the position;
b) Not more than five (5) pages updated curriculum vitae;
c) certified copies of your degree(s), Diploma(s) and Certificate(s); and
d) duly signed and completed SADC Application Form.
Should you be shortlisted, you will be required to produce evidence of educational and professional qualifications supporting your application, on the day of your interview.
Gender Mainstreaming
SADC is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from female candidates.
If you are results orientated, you have a passion for the transformation and development of Southern Africa, and possess the required competencies, please submit your application.
Only applicants who meet the requirements of the SADC Secretariat and being considered for interview, will be contacted. Should you not hear from the SADC Secretariat within two months after the closing date, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.
For further details on the position that you want to apply for, job profiles and SADC Application Form, refer to the SADC Website: www.sadc.int
Details can also be obtained from the National Contact Point in your respective country.
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