DUTY STATION
Home-based, Remote
COMMENCEMENT OF DUTY
To be determined NATURE OF APPOINTMENT
Variable (depending on needs of Department/Division)
120 Days / 12 months
Organizational Unit
Group on Earth Observations Secretariat 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 after 1 January 2014 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. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), a global partnership of 116 governments and 155 organizations coordinating Earth observation systems, seeks a consultant to support its Global Heat Resilience Service (GHRS) initiative. The GHRS addresses extreme heat threats in urban areas through partnerships with WMO, C40 Cities, IBM, and Alibaba Cloud, providing cities with actionable heat-health risk intelligence.
The consultant will provide part-time support (maximum 10 days/month over 12 months, with possible extension) for GEO's climate-health activities, including support to climate-health research projects and broader heat-risk methodology development across multiple workstreams and partnerships.
Key Responsibilities:
Extreme Heat Research & Technical Analysis (50%):
Conduct literature reviews on climate-health risk assessment methodologies and Earth observation applications for health. Support methodology inventory and comparative analysis of urban heat-health approaches, including GIS-based indices, expert-driven frameworks, and data-driven techniques. Compile evidence on temperature-health dose-response relationships,
heat-related morbidity/mortality, and vulnerable population characterization. Support data source identification (ESA Climate Change Initiative datasets, health surveillance systems, socio-demographic indicators). Support climate data integration analysis including downscaling methodologies and urban microclimate modeling. Organize focus groups with international health and meteorological organizations. Contribute to technical deliverables through literature synthesis and draft text preparation.
Project Coordination & Documentation (30%):
Monitor progress across concurrent workstreams using project management software. Attend bi-weekly progress meetings. Develop technical reports, policy briefs, and deliverables meeting EU Horizon standards. Create presentation materials translating complex technical information for diverse audiences. Maintain project documentation and version control. Prepare meeting notes and coordinate with technical teams to ensure quality standards.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communications (20%):
Support organization of virtual and in-person workshops with pilot cities and partners, including agenda development and logistics management. Support engagement with international partners and working groups. Draft communications materials for city practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.
Deliverables:
Comprehensive literature database, project coordination documentation, and portfolio of technical documents supporting climate-health risk assessment. The consultant will work home-based with occasional Geneva travel, reporting to the Urban Resilience Coordinator. This role offers opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge climate-health research while supporting global urban resilience initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master's degree in Climate Science, Environmental Health,
Geography (climate/health focus), Public Health (environmental health track), Environmental Sciences, or related field with demonstrated coursework or research in climate-health interactions. A first-level degree with two additional years of relevant experience may substitute.
Experience
At least two years of professional experience in climate-health research, climate services, or urban climate adaptation and resilience, with demonstrated knowledge of climate-health risk assessment methodologies and evidence synthesis;
Proven experience in systematic research methodologies,
including comprehensive literature reviews, technical methodology assessments, and evidence synthesis across weather & climate, urban resilience, public health and related domains;
Direct experience with climate data interpretation and analysis, including practical application of meteorological datasets, climate projections, and Earth observation, and other exposure and vulnerability data for climate / heat risk assessment applications in urban contexts;
Track record of producing knowledge products and
communications materials, including technical guidance documents, policy briefs, and training stakeholder presentations for diverse audiences;
Experience coordinating technical workshops and stakeholder engagement activities with international partners, including virtual event management and multi-sectoral consultation processes;
Proven ability to work effectively in multicultural, multi-time zone environments with experience managing multiple parallel technical workstreams and maintaining coordination across diverse institutional contexts;
Experience working with or within international organizations, Earth observation networks, climate service providers, UN agencies, or multilateral institutions, with understanding of international project coordination frameworks.
Other requirements
Strong systematic research skills with demonstrated
understanding of research methodologies in the context of climate science, urban planning, public health or related domains;
Foundational knowledge of urban climate, climate-health and Earth observation applications, including basic understanding of heat risk assessment frameworks, vulnerability mapping techniques, EO data integration, climate services, urban governance processes and health-system interfaces in municipal decision-making contexts;
Project coordination and multi-stakeholder management with proven ability to support concurrent international workstreams and facilitate cross-institutional collaboration in dynamic environments;
Communication and knowledge product development including technical writing, policy brief preparation, and capacity building material creation for diverse audiences from practitioners to research institutions, with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, advanced PowerPoint design, collaborative document platforms (SharePoint);
Proficiency in project management and collaboration platforms including project management software (Microsoft Project, Asana), virtual collaboration tools (i.e., Mural, Miro), for stakeholder engagement and international partnerships;
Results-driven adaptability with strong deadline management and demonstrated ability to work effectively under evolving project requirements and stakeholder requirements in multicultural, multi-time zone settings;
International project coordination experience with understanding of EU Horizon Europe, United Nations system, or similar multi-institutional international cooperation or research programmes.
Languages
Excellent knowledge of English (both oral and written). Knowledge of other official languages of WMO would be an advantage.
(Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.) Proposed fee: Payband 240-380 USD / day
Focal point email for additional information: jobs@geosec.org
Remote preferably from Geneva, Switzerland Additional Information:
Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system at https://erecruit.wmo.int/public.
Do not send your application via multiple routes. Only applicants in whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview. Date of issue of vacancy notice: