About ECMWF

ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to- date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface.
ECMWF staff benefit from a teleworking policy which allows them to work remotely up to ten days per month (rules and line management approval apply).

For additional details, see www.ecmwf.int

About Copernicus

​​​​​​​Copernicus is the flagship Earth-observation component of EU’s space programme, which through operational monitoring of the atmosphere, oceans, and continental surfaces, provides validated environmental data, products, documentation and tools for anyone to use on a full, free and open basis. Exploiting space-based and in-situ observations and models, Copernicus consists of six information services, covering: land, marine, atmospheric and climate monitoring, as well as emergency management and security. ECMWF has been entrusted to operate two of these Services – the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) – on behalf of the European Commission for a second term, until the end of 2027.

For details see https://www.copernicus.eu/en

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) was established to provide society with comprehensive, quality-assured data and information related to air pollution and health, solar energy, greenhouse gases, and the impacts of changing atmospheric composition on climate, anywhere in the world. CAMS is truly an international and collaborative effort involving over 200 entities distributed in over 30 European countries and elsewhere and, in addition to its tens of thousands of direct users, reaches over 200 million end-users worldwide through smartphone applications, websites and TV bulletins. The Service is growing and entering an exciting phase as it also works to develop with partners a new global monitoring and verification support capacity of anthropogenic CO2 and CH4 emissions (CO2MVS). This new component of the Service will help pinpoint anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions for the first time and support nations in their reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement and the Global Stocktake process.

For details see https://www.copernicus.eu/en/copernicus-services/atmosphere

Summary of the role

The Director of Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is responsible for the leadership of ECMWF’s CAMS services and for managing their delivery as agreed with the European Commission. CAMS is developing and operating innovative atmospheric composition modelling and data assimilation systems to harness information from satellite and in situ observations.

CAMS has a portfolio of activities worth about 25M€/year, covering activities at ECMWF and in over 30 procured contracts supporting the delivery of a variety of Service elements. The role will work with relevant ECMWF departments to coordinate and motivate a distributed team of approximately 30 matrix-managed staff contributing to the delivery of the CAMS services at ECMWF.

The successful candidate will be a member of ECMWF’s leadership team. They will develop, in liaison with ECMWF’s Strategic EU (European Union) Coordinator and the wider ECMWF Directorate, plans for the evolution of CAMS, as well as concepts for new service elements. They will also take an active role in the definition of the future agreement on operating the service with the European Commission covering 2028-2034. They will also contribute to ECMWF strategic plans and to the alignment of CAMS activities with other activities at ECMWF.

The Director of CAMS will represent ECMWF at the European Commission for Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring related purposes, working closely with the ECMWF Strategic EU Coordinator. They will strengthen stakeholder relationships with the Council Members of the ECMWF Member and Co-operating States, national governmental agencies, and other stakeholders with an interest in the work of CAMS.

​​​​​​​Main Duties and Key Responsibilities

• To provide leadership to maintain CAMS at the leading edge of atmospheric composition modelling and data assimilation enabling high-quality service provision.
• To deliver CAMS in line with the agreement and strategy that has been established with the European Commission
• To plan and monitor the operational budget and the procured activities.
• To ensure through matrix-management that teams at ECMWF deliver in line with the objectives of the service.
• To actively contribute to ECMWF strategic plans and coordinate the service integration with other activities.
• To work closely with the EU Strategic Coordinator in the negotiations with the EC for future agreements in liaison with the ECMWF Directorate
• To foster a positive partnership with the European Commission, its agencies, other CAMS partners and suppliers and ECMWF Member and Co-operating States

What we’re looking for

• Strong leader with the ability to build excellent stakeholder relationships and who enables their team of world-class experts to perform to the best of their abilities.
• Sharp strategic vision
• Ability to motivate and direct a large, matrix-managed team without direct reporting relationships in a collaborative spirit.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, openness to feedback
• Exceptional project delivery skills, tenacity, diplomacy, and project delivery focus
• High level of personal drive, tenacity, and dedication
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to anticipate risks and develop risk mitigation plans across complex environments.

Qualifications and experience required​​​​​​​

• Advanced university degree (EQF7) in a relevant subject to this vacancy or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working at strategic level in an international environment or a technology company
• Substantial demonstrated experience in the management of a large portfolio of complex contracts
• Extensive experience of representing an organisation at senior, strategic level
• Extensive experience working with the European Commission and its Agencies would be desirable.
• Experience working in the domain of Earth Observation, atmosphere composition modelling, data assimilation and other CAMS thematic areas would be highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of procurements of contracts of a scientific and technical nature would be an advantage.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English. Knowledge of other EU languages highly desirable.

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidate will be recruited at the A5 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. The annual basic salary will be EUR 139,287.36 NET (exempt from income tax). ECMWF also offers a generous benefits package, including a flexible teleworking policy. The position will be in the employment category STF-PL as defined in the ECMWF Staff Regulations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the ECMWF Staff Regulations and the terms and conditions of employment.

Starting date: 01 January 2024

Length of contract: 4 years with the possibility of extensions, depending on the next phase of the Copernicus programme at ECMWF.

Location: Bonn, Germany. The post-holder will be expected to travel to meetings, events and conferences, mainly within Europe.

As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office and teleworking. Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions in Germany.

Interviews are expected to take place in October 2023.

Who can apply

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States, as well as from all EU Member States.

ECMWF Member and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy. ​​​​​​​