Associate Scientific Officer, P.2 (Fixed-Term - 1 year)new

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) · UN agency

Internship & Volunteer
Geneve, Switzerland
FTA International

Closes in 22 days — 31 Jul 2026

Background

This position is located in the Atmospheric Composition & Environmental Services (ACES) Section of the Science, Services and Capacity Development (SSCD) Department. The " ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC OFFICER supporting Atmospheric Composition - Sand and Dust Storm (AC-SDS) activities” will report to the Scientific Officer of the Atmospheric Composition & Environmental Services (ACES). The focus of this position is to contribute atmospheric composition activities under the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme, specifically, to the support its Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) initiative.

WMO, through its SDS-WAS initiative under the GAW Programme, supports international coordination and scientific cooperation to improve monitoring, forecasting, and early warning capabilities related to sand and dust storms, contributing to disaster risk reduction, public health protection, and resilience-building efforts worldwide. In this context, WMO is leading the activities on monitoring, forecasting and early warning systems under the UN Coalition for Combating Sand and Dust Storms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Scientific Officer of the Atmospheric Composition & Environmental Services Section, the Associate Scientific Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

a.Support the implementation and coordination of activities related to the SDS-WAS within the framework of the GAW Programme including:

Support to the organisation of the different meetings of expert groups including SDS-WAS global steering committee and its regional nodes/centers that includes academia, research institutions, operational forecasting centres, and WMO Members;
Coordinating the preparation of scientific and technical reports, guidance documents, training materials, and policy-relevant information products relevant to SDS-WAS activities;
Assistance to the preparation of the relevant publications including the annual Airborne dust bulletin and other scientific and technical reports, guidance documents, training materials, and policy-relevant information products;
Assist in organizing international conference and technical workshops, in the framework of SDS-WAS activities;

b. Assist in advancing Early Warning Systems for Sand and Dust Storms through improved scientific coordination, forecasting capabilities, observational integration, and capacity building including:

Assist in organizing training events, and capacity development activities in the framework of SDS-WAS Trust Fund activities;
Support outreach and communication activities aimed at enhancing the visibility and societal benefits of SDS-WAS;

c. Support reporting of SDS-WAS activities (including the representation of WMO within the UN Coalition for Combating Sand and Dust Storms) and other related duties as required supporting activities of the GAW Programme (e.g. GAW communication tasks, e.g. Newsletter, meetings, reporting).

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters degree or equivalent in Atmospheric Sciences. A first-level university degree or equivalent in combination with two years of additional directly relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in scientific and/or technical management of project, including reporting and communication scientific results and achievements.
• Proven experience with financial monitoring, reporting, and compliance in line with international donor requirements.
• Demonstrated track record in organizing multi-stakeholder meetings and supporting international partnerships.
• Experience of working across multi-disciplinary teams / inter-agency teams.
• Knowledge of aerosol science and technologies or atmospheric modelling would be a plus.

Other Requirements:

• Familiarity with the UN system and global environmental governance processes and with WMO.
• Ability to work collaboratively across institutions and adapt to complex, multi-partner environments.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English (both oral and written). Knowledge of other official languages of the Organization would be an advantage, especially Arabic.
(Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

Competencies:

The Associate Scientific Officer must demonstrate individual-level proficiency in the following competencies:

• Communication & Influence

• Collaboration & Team Dynamics

• Inclusive Mindset & Cultural Awareness

• Decision Making & Problem Solving

• Integrity & Accountability

• Innovation & Digital Agility

• Stakeholder Understanding & Engagement

Salary and Allowances

The position is funded from extra-budgetary funding.

Annual net base salary on initial appointment is: US$ 56,046.

Annual post adjustment on initial salary is: US$ 48,648 (in addition to the net base salary)

Additional Information:

WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age is 65. Pursuant to WMO Standing Instructions, the minimum age to be eligible for consideration for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before reaching mandatory age of separation.

Probation

Possibility of renewal subject to the availability of funds and pending satisfactory performance after an initial probationary period of one year which can be extended up to a maximum of two years.

Applications:

Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system.

Do not send your application via multiple routes. WMO no longer accepts applications via post or email. Only applicants for whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Scam alert

WMO does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). WMO will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.