Chief Meteorologist

TEGNA • Grand Rapids, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

WZZM 13 On Your Side, the ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is searching for a dynamic, energetic and engaged Chief Meteorologist to lead our passionate weather team. The ideal candidate thrives in sustained severe weather coverage during major events, while still being able to tell a relevant audience-focused forecast daily. Our next Chief Meteorologist should be as familiar with lake-effect snowstorms as they are tracking tornadoes, predicting flood levels and telling a compelling weather story even on bright sunny days. We seek a true leader who has mastered every aspect of meteorology, from forecasting to preparing graphics, to reporting in the field, to being an integral part of severe weather coverage reaching our community on television, mobile and social media platforms. The Chief Meteorologist must have a passion for winning severe weather and the desire to truly grow and mentor the weather team. She or he needs to be willing to explore new ways to present the weather story while also being a key leader in promoting community involvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in meteorology; AMS Certification; NWA Seal preferred
• Minimum 5 – 7 years of on-air experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Strong communication skills (written/oral)
• Ability to work under pressure while meeting daily assigned deadlines
• Applicable knowledge of multiplatform newsgathering tools and resources
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays when necessary
• Ability to be a team-player and to lead with fairness, clarity and consistency
• Fluent with social media platforms and social management tools, including Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Tik Tok

Responsibilities

• Work with the News Director to create and implement strategic direction and plan for weather coverage
• Understand the importance of Weather Impact Alert brand and execute it consistently, with urgency, aggressiveness, and the savvy to strike the right tone with each individual event
• Build and deliver daily engaging weathercasts for on-air and digital audiences, including building clean, creative and informative graphics to tell the weather story
• Supervise the weather team, including scheduling, mentoring and setting goals for growth
• Interact live with fans and the audience on multiple platforms, especially during severe or inconvenient weather
• Assist News Director with recruiting and hiring for the weather team when necessary
• Coach and mentor weather team with regular feedback
• Work with the News Director and News Managers to develop plans for severe weather coverage
• Pitches and turn original weather content for all platforms
• Leads coordination and implementation of technological advances related to graphics
• Participates in community outreach efforts including live shots and station appearances
• Coordinate with external agencies, such as the National Weather Service or emergency management organizations, to exchange critical weather information and collaborate on emergency response plans

Benefits

• Two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
• Access to dental and eye care coverage
• Fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) program with company match
• Nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc
• 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit
• Nine paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior