Science Officer in the IPCC WGI Technical Support Unit (Ref. SCO001)

Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is filling the position of

Science Officer in the Technical Support Unit (Ref. SCO001)

Deadline extended till 24 April 2024 COB

The position is located in the Paris area, at Gif-sur-Yvette (France).

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide policymakers with rigorous, transparent, and objective scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options. The IPCC is now undertaking its Seventh Assessment (AR7) cycle. The IPCC Working Group I (WGI) assesses the physical science underpinning past, present, and future climate change. The WGI Technical Support Unit (TSU) provides scientific, technical, operational and communications support that underpin and implement the WGI assessment.

The Technical Support Unit (TSU)

The TSU works at the unique IPCC interface between science and policy in the provision of the climate knowledge and information that is relevant for policy needs and decision making. The team is responsible for facilitating and implementing the assessment process undertaken by the author teams and overseen by the WGI Bureau. We are seeking someone who is highly motivated to join a team that spans different areas of expertise including climate sciences (observations, climate processes, global and regional climate modeling), visual design and communication, digital information development and management, and international project management. The team is hosted by Université Paris-Saclay and located in the facilities of Ecole normale supérieure (ENS) Paris-Saclay in the Paris area.

Job Description

The Science Officer will work closely with the IPCC Working Group I Bureau and the Authors and will report to the Head of Science Team. He/She will assist in the scoping, preparation, review, and completion of the IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change and play a key role in ensuring the scientific integrity and quality of the report. He/She will support the planning, conducting, and reporting for the meetings and sessions organized by Working Group I, including IPCC Workshops and Expert Meetings and contribute to the scientific aspects of these meetings and sessions to facilitate informed decision-making. The Science Officer will contribute to the development and implementation of scientific plans related to the activities and products of the Working Group I, assist in the reporting process for the scientific outcomes of meetings, sessions, and other relevant activities. He/She will provide scientific support in the development of outreach materials related to the activities of the Working Group I and contribute to the creation of materials that effectively communicate scientific findings to various stakeholders. The Science Officer will take on additional responsibilities as allocated after the completion of the IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change.

Qualifications

  • PhD in climate science and scientific publications with relevance to urban physical aspects (eg. urban climate monitoring and modeling, urban physics)
  • A broad understanding of interdisciplinary urban climate change science (eg. adaptation, mitigation in cities, governance) and of needs of urban decision makers;
  • Experience working in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team;
  • Experience in scientific report writing and editing;
  • Ability to plan, organize and execute complex multi-task workloads;
  • Proficient in oral and written English at the academic publishing level;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and capability to interact with international science and stakeholder community;
  • Stress-resistance and ability to work precisely and effectively under time constraints;
  • Willingness to travel internationally;
  • Experience working with UN processes, in particular the IPCC, would be an asset.

Application

The position is a fixed term contract from Université Paris-Saclay for 3 years with a possibility of extension for the duration of the IPCC Seventh Assessment cycle planned for 6 years.

Please send your application by 24 April 2024 COB consisting of a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, and contact details of two referees,  to Clotilde Péan, Head of the WGI TSU quoting reference SCO001 in the title of the email.