CPAESS Scientist III

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research•College Park, MD

About The Position

UCAR is hiring a CPAESS Scientist III to support NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) under NOAA’s Early Warning Systems (NEWS) program. The role independently applies advanced forecasting methods, including AI/ML and ensemble post-processing, to improve sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) predictions of extreme climate events. The scientist serves as a primary stakeholder-engagement contact, co-developing impact forecasts and training programs with partners in the Caribbean and Latin America, or Africa. Professional bilingual proficiency in English and French is required by the role description. The scientist designs and executes scientific analyses; develops, adapts, or tests hypotheses, models, and tools; and contributes to publications, reports, technical documentation, datasets, findings, and proposals. The position includes mentoring less experienced colleagues, cross-disciplinary collaboration, proposal development, and mission-aligned scientific service, education, and outreach. Role-specific work includes post-processing global ensemble forecasts such as GEFS and NMME with model calibration, bias correction, and AI/ML tools; improving precipitation and temperature forecasts at week 2–4, monthly, and seasonal timescales; verifying forecasts statistically; and applying multivariate and spectral analysis to observations and model outputs to investigate sub-seasonal predictability and extreme events. The scientist uses GIS tools to map extreme-event forecasts and collaborates with stakeholders to co-develop impact forecasts for agriculture, water resource management, and health. The role also contributes to S2S forecasting training materials and technical and scientific reports for the PREPARE Early Warning System project. Candidates may work in person, hybrid (approximately three days onsite and two remote), or fully remote, but the position must be performed within the United States, excluding U.S. territories. Staff deployed to federal agencies must comply with the relevant agency’s remote-work requirements. The start date will be confirmed after successful completion of federal screening and a standard background check.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree and at least 8 years of related experience, or a Master’s degree and at least 4 years of related experience, or a PhD in a scientific discipline; equivalent combinations of education and experience are also considered.
Solid knowledge in a relevant scientific field and ability to apply theories, methods, or frameworks to complex or interdisciplinary problems.
Familiarity with project planning and proposal development, including scoping technical work, aligning with program goals, and supporting deliverable management.
Skill in developing or refining scientific tools, workflows, or models, including quality assurance and integration with broader project efforts.
Skill in data analysis tools used for data preparation, visualization, or workflow automation.
Ability and commitment to mentor less experienced colleagues on methods, tools, and collaborative practices.
Ability to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, sponsor reports, or presentations, communicating scientific information clearly and accurately to varied audiences.
Ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams, integrate diverse inputs, and foster productive working relationships.
Ability to independently design and carry out analyses or investigative tasks using established methods and adapt approaches as needed.
Professional bilingual proficiency in English and French, as stated in the position overview.
Compliance with U.S. export control regulations and U.S. work-location requirements.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of the global climate system, with regional expertise in the Caribbean, Latin America, or Africa at S2S timescales.
Experience engaging stakeholders in agriculture, water resource management, or food security in developing-world contexts.
Familiarity with operational forecast workflows, including model-output processing, forecast verification, and communicating uncertainty to end users.
Proficiency in verbal and written English and French for communicating technical scientific information to clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Design and execute scientific investigations and analyses using established or emerging methods to address research, operational, or applied science questions.
Develop or adapt tools, models, or methods for data collection, processing, analysis, system evaluation, or experimental workflows.
Analyze and interpret observational, experimental, and model-generated data.
Lead or contribute to project components or small teams, coordinating activities, deliverables, and technical direction across collaborators.
Author or co-author peer-reviewed publications, technical documentation, datasets, findings, reports, and proposals; present findings to internal, sponsor, or scientific audiences.
Collaborate across disciplines and institutions, contributing technical expertise to team-based projects.
Support proposal development and project planning through scoping, technical writing, and alignment with program objectives.
Provide technical guidance and mentoring to less experienced staff and students, modeling inclusive participation.
Develop products, tools, instruments, or technologies for projects and programs.
Apply model calibration, bias correction, and AI/ML methods to post-process global ensemble forecasts, including GEFS and NMME, to improve precipitation and temperature forecasts at week 2–4, monthly, and seasonal timescales.
Verify forecasts using statistical methods and use multivariate and spectral analyses of observations and model outputs to study sub-seasonal predictability and extreme events.
Use GIS tools to map extreme-event forecasts and work with stakeholders to co-develop impact forecasts for agriculture, water resource management, and health.
Serve as a primary point of contact for stakeholder engagement and co-develop impact forecasts and training programs with partners in the Caribbean and Latin America, or Africa.
Contribute to the development and delivery of S2S forecasting training materials for meteorologists, scientists, and stakeholders in agriculture, water resource management, and health sectors.
Author technical and scientific reports documenting work on the PREPARE Early Warning System project.
Engage in mission-aligned scientific service, education, and outreach within the organization and broader scientific community.