Key Tasks and Responsibilities

As part of the ESA Climate Office, you will have the following responsibilities:

• To expand the awareness, utilisation, and scientific impact of EO data for climate research and applications, in particular for the ocean but also for other domains of the earth system;
• Management of scientific data exploitation activities and research studies to address gaps in knowledge as part of the contribution of European Earth Observation science to future IPCC assessments and reports. This will support the current activities focussing on addressing the reporting requirements under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement;
• Support to and advise on the detailed scientific goals of the various international scientific and operational user communities concerned with international climate research, modelling, adaptation and mitigation activities;
• To provide support to and advise on the detailed scientific goals of the various international scientific and operational user communities concerned with international climate research, modelling, adaptation and mitigation activities;
• Reporting to the Head of the ESA Climate Office of the Science, Exploitation and Climate Department;
• Establishing a dialogue with specialised user communities, analysing their needs for satellite-based observations of the climate system, and assessing their feedback on available EO-based information;
• Deriving technical specifications for Fundamental Climate Data Records and Essential Climate Variables, chiefly from ESA EO Missions, with specific regard to long-term stability, consistency, completeness, availability, error-characterisation, reducing uncertainties, and compatibility with climate observations from other (Space and non-space) sources;
• Setting up and managing industrial contracts (R&D projects and other EO exploitation activities) to respond to the needs for EO-based information of climate research and climate services, including for reanalysis, modelling, attribution, projection, prediction, trends assessment, and data assimilation;
• Ensuring the results of such developments are tested and verified with the corresponding climate user communities;
• Cooperating with internal and external partner organisations to transfer capabilities developed under a research and demonstration context into an operational framework;
• Maintaining links and ensuring coherence with relevant activities of Member States and international partner organisations;
• Contributing to the Agency's public communications on EO.

Skills & Experience

You will have the following qualifications and relevant experience:

• PhD preferably in oceanography, physics or geophysics, or other appropriate scientific fields, and have at least two years of experience in related remote sensing applications development and/or research;
• At least 3-4 years in oceanography with a tracked record in this field;
• Extensive professional experience on product definition, calibration, validation, algorithm development, quality assessment and exploitation of Earth Observation data, particularly ESA missions, a demonstrable experience from relevant scientific exploitation activities either internationally or in ESA member states and an established profile with research communities working on the ocean and its relation to climate;
• Personal scientific ability and credibility amongst their peers, as well as flexibility and adaptability;
• Capability of working effectively in a team with minimum supervision and have excellent communication and presentation skills;
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of French language is an advantage.

This job is located in Harwell, United Kingdom. We welcome applicants who are available from Sep 2022 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

If you think you have what it takes for this job, please send your CV together with a letter of motivation (both in English and in Word or PDF) to Leandros Foteinias, by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” quoting job UK-HP-4823 before 30-Jun-22. An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!