Your role 

This position is at the forefront of delivering up-to-date, world-leading European and global hydrological forecast service, generating reference datasets and working with others to explore how to integrate Machine Learning techniques into the processing chain for the delivery of computationally effective, high impact forecast products.  Joining us as an Associate Data Analyst you will be part of a dynamic and diverse, matrix-managed group developing and running the CEMS Hydrological Forecast Computational Centre. You will have an opportunity to work at the core of delivering the EFAS and GloFAS Early Warning Systems. You will conduct critical analyses associated with the EWS cycle releases (generally every one to two years) so that the resulting hydrological forecast products retain their world-leading edge and continue to respond to the needs of users. This includes contributing to setting-up and upgrading the hydrological model, generating reference datasets, developing new products and running experiments to test new forecast developments. You will also contribute be involved in to enlarging the hydrological monitoring and forecasting data offering made freely available to anyone through the Climate Data Store (CDS), enhancing the breadth of data and functionalities offered by the most exhaustive archive in the world of near real-time modelled hydrological data. You will support work to investigate and integrate the use of Machine Learning to improve the quality and robustness of global hydrological forecasting.    In addition to technical activities, you will also be part of a roster of other associates and scientists to monitor CEMS-Flood services and coordinate any required responses, and you will engage with users as required. 

You will work in the Environmental Forecast team which is part of our Evaluation Section. This is an outstanding opportunity to benefit from hands-on experience with hydro-climate data and forecast production closely interacting with scientists and experts in a science driven, world-leading and innovative international organisation. In your role you will actively contribute to delivering the next generation of Early Warnings Systems, helping to mitigate against some of the most devastating impacts of the climate crisis. 

Your responsibilities 

• ​​​​​​​Maintain the CEMS-Flood Geospatial Database and GIS datasets
• Develop software for hydrological data analysis and visualisation and contribute to cycle upgrade activities, including benchmarking against previous cycles
• Run hydrological forecast experiments and analyse results
• Contribute to general CEMS-Flood activities, including generation of maps and graphs for outreach activities, or data preparation and station mapping for the modelling as required
• Contribute to the archiving and dissemination of CEMS-Flood data through the CDS
• Contribute to CEMS-Flood shared operational duties
• Write scientific documentation and extract visual outputs
• Contribute to reporting activities and engage to projects meetings

CEMS Hydrological Forecast Computation Centre 

ECMWF has long recognised the value of high-quality forecasts in mitigating the effects of natural disasters. Recognising that floods are among the costliest natural disasters in Europe, the European Commission instigated the development of the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) at its Joint Research Centre (JRC). Development and testing were carried out in close collaboration with national hydrological and meteorological services, European civil protection agencies (through the Emergency Response and Coordination Centre, ERCC), and other research institutes. 
Since 2011, ECMWF has been part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service - Early warning for floods (CEMS-Flood), becoming the Hydrological Computational Centre (COMP) responsible for the operational production and dissemination of EFAS forecasts data and services first, and from 2018, those of the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS). COMP also provides data for the CEMS-Drought EWS. 
CEMS-Flood helps to protect citizens, the environment, property and cultural heritage when major floods occur by providing:

• Added value early flood forecasting products for hydrological services
• Unique overviews of current and forecast floods in Europe (EFAS) and the world (GloFAS) more than three days in advance and
• A network of operational hydrological services

More than 140 hydrological services and civil protection services in Europe are part of the EFAS network, whilst there are over 10000 registered GloFAS users. ECMWF is also part of the Aristotle- partnership delivering multi-hazard information to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission on possible upcoming floods in Europe and the world.

What we’re looking for

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive and constructive approach
• Flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and as part of multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Enthusiastic for engaging and collaborating with others
• Organised  with the capacity to work on a diverse range of tasks to tight deadlines.
• Genuine interest in ECMWF, especially on hydro-meteorological climate services and Early Warning Services

Education and experience

• ​​​​​​​University degree (EQF level 6), or recent advanced university degree (EQF Level 7 or above  ) or equivalent professional experience or professional qualification in Earth System Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline
• Experience in working with observations and modelled hydrological data
• Understanding of Early Warning Systems, Climate Services and their users is desirable
• Some knowledge of meteorology and hydrology would be an advantage
• Some experience with communicating scientific results to a general audience would be beneficial
• Some experience in working with scientists of different backgrounds would be an advantage

Knowledge and skills 

• Experience developing with Python is required
• Experience in shell-scripting in a UNIX environment would be desirable
• Knowledge of the software management practices would be an advantage
• Experience in environmental geospatial data analysis with Python would be an advantage
• Experience in Machine Learning would be an advantage

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English. A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) is an advantage.

Other information 

Grade remuneration:  The successful candidate will be recruited at the A1 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. The annual basic salary will be GBP 53,512 NET of tax (ECMWF salaries are exempt of national income tax). ECMWF also offers a generous benefits package, including a flexible teleworking policy. The position is assigned to 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:              As soon as possible

Length of contract:   4 years up to June 2027

Location:                      Reading, UK

As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office and tele-working. Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions. Interviews by videoconference (MS Teams) are expected to take place in July, likely during week of 10 July.

Who can apply 

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form. 

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.  

Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.