The European Commission’s Directorate-General International Partnerships (DG INTPA) is funding a project to “Enhance the capacity to produce and deliver space-based services and applications, data and information, for early warning systems related to hazardous weather or climate events” (Space for Early Warning in Africa) EUMETSAT is one anticipated implementing partners. The EUMETSAT activities under this project will contribute to ease access to and visualisation of satellite meteorological data by African users involved in providing Early Warning information. They will also support establishment of regional capacities to generate satellite-based products for immediate forecasting (nowcasting) and further applications. There will be also a significant training element to this project. The EUMETSAT activities will be implemented in close cooperation with other key partners, notably the African Union Commission and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

This post is on a fixed-term contract until December 2028 in the User Support and Climate Division of EUMETSAT and will work in close collaboration with colleagues in the Strategy, Communication and International Relations Division, as well as several divisions of the Technical and Scientific Support and Administration Departments.

Duties

As the Project Manager you will

• Manage the EUMETSAT activities in accordance with the agreement between EUMETSAT and DG INTPA on the implementation of the Space for Early Warnings project, and with the allocated resources.
• Lead the initiation and management and monitoring of the implementation contracts.
• Ensure that the project implementation is compliant with the rules of EUMETSAT and the terms in the project agreement – you will draw on the support of colleagues in the project control, finance, contracts, and legal teams.
• Coordinate with other EUMETSAT staff and divisions supporting the project.
• Provide the planning and reporting as required by the European commission and to the Project Steering Committee put in place by DG INTPA and the African Union Commission.

• Prepare annual report to the EUMETSAT Delegate bodies.
• In close cooperation with SCIR, support the project storytelling and communication activities, and represent EUMETSAT in meetings or conference related to the project activities.
• Work with the other implementing partners to ensure the activities are well coordinated.
• Continually seek to build the team and ensure that the perspectives of the African partners are continually taken into account for the evolution of the project.
• Ensure involvement of African experts as appropriate to facilitate ownership of the project outcomes by African institutions.

Skills and Experience

• Proven (more than 5 years) project management experience in a weather service and/or development assistance or similar context including contract management, financial and narrative reporting, problem solving, and team building. Experience of working on institutionally funded projects, including reporting.
• Experience of working with European Commission project would be an additional asset.
• Significant experience (more than 3 years) of working in international partnerships, including with African partner organisations.
• Understanding of the role and function of a national weather service and the contribution of early warnings to society.

• To be successful in this role you will have very strong strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills; excellent coordination and organisational skills. This will be underpinned by excellent partnership building, communication (including written), networking, and inter-personal skills.

• The EUMETSAT core values are integrity, collaboration, empowerment, excellence and open-mindedness. They are all relevant to this project.