Junior Professional Officer (JPO), Associate Scientific Officer (Early Warning Services)

Description

Organizational Unit: Early Warning Services Section (EWS) / Division of Meteorological and Sectoral Services (MSS) / Department of Science, Services and Capacity Development (SSCD)
Duty Station: Geneva/Switzerland
Grade: P2
Expected Entry on Duty: November-December 2026
Supervisor: Chief of Early Warning Services Section

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Early Warning Services Section and in collaboration with the Section team the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Position Specific Responsibilities:
(a) Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of specialized activities that relate to strengthening the capacity of WMO Members to early warning services.
(b) Support the monitoring, extraction and collation of CAP message data from SWIC and related sources using agreed templates and visualization tools and supporting the preparation of concise analytical inputs as necessary to inform EWS Section reporting and requirements.
(c) Support efforts to align the Catalogue of Hazardous Events with the work of the EWS sections.
(d) Apply an agreed quality checklist to identify potential CAP structure/metadata issues at the national level, document findings and support country-level testing and follow-up activities under the guidance and clearance of the EWS Team and in collaboration with the WMO and HKO.
(e) Support the communications efforts through the contribution to briefs, newsletters and bulletins for the EWS Section.
(f) Carry out other relevant duties as required.

Learning Elements:
On completion of the assignment, the JPO will have:
- Developed and be able to maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, building a professional network and strong understanding of Early Warning Services.
- A solid understanding of the Early Warnings for All initiative, the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and its supporting infrastructure and the Catalogue of Hazardous Events (CHE) listings and their application.
- A strong overview of inter-agency coordination mechanisms and deepening understanding of UN system mandates, priorities and operational challenges.
- Completed all mandatory WMO trainings and apply WMO policies and procedures in day-to-day work.
- Strengthened technical analytical skills by contributing to end-to-end monitoring and analysis processes, including an appreciation of practical constraints and quality considerations in a multicultural, international environment.
- Demonstrated and further developed strong oral and written communication skills, including the opportunity to participate in UN language training courses.

Qualification:

Education: Postgraduate degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Meteorology/Hydrology, Environmental Science, Geography/GIS or a closely related field.
 

Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in one or more of the following areas: statistics, data analysis, data visualization, GIS, data management and communication of science, public weather services, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, meteorological and hydrological services or multi-hazard domains.
Strong ability in at least one analytical language including python and R with experience in data visualisation and reporting using Power BI and producing publication-ready charts.
Ability to work efficiently in a multicultural environment.

Languages: Excellent knowledge of English (both oral and written). Knowledge of other official languages of the WMO would be an advantage. (Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

Maximum Duration of Assignment
The JPO will be initially appointed for one year and the period of service can be extended for a maximum of two years.

General requirements for candidates applying to the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea:
a) Korean citizenship
b) Fluency in Korean and English
c) Completion of university with a Bachelor’s degree
d) Certificate of English proficiency test: Applicants should score a minimum of (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 or (iv) TOEIC 900

- TOEFL ‘Home Edition’ score is accepted while ‘MyBest Scores’ are not accepted
- IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted
- Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date

e) Not older than 32 years of age as of 31st December, 2026 (born after 1st January, 1994). The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended accordingly: one year will be extended for those who served for less than one year; two years will be extended for those who served for more than one year and less than two years; three years will be extended for those who served for two years or more.
f) Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service in the year of the application may also apply.
g) Applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application.

Required Documents:
a) A complete application (e.g., P11, PHP, etc.) and motivation letter in English
b) A scanned copy of applicant’s Resident Register in English, issued by the Korean Government
c) A copy of university degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s degree) certificate in English
d) A copy of English proficiency test certificate
e) Scanned copies of Certificate of Employment, including information such as the period of employment, organization, department/unit, position/title, and duties/responsibilities, in English
* Note: Applicants are required to submit supporting documents for all professional experience listed in the application.
f) Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the Military Service Law.
g) Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial translation in English
h) Only for persons with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English

Application Method: If you are interested in this JPO post, you are encouraged to apply through WMO e-recruitment system.
Application Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM KST
General Information: For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr

Applications:

Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system.

Do not send your application via multiple routes. WMO no longer accepts applications via post or email. Only applicants for whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview.

Statements:

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 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.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

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WMO does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). WMO will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.