The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) invite applications for the position of Director of the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) International Project Office (IPO).
The Director leads the international coordination and support of CliC activities and ensures that the Project Office operates efficiently to actively serve the needs of the WCRP, CliC, and climate science. The WCRP is sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Science Council (ISC), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The WCRP goals are to determine the extent to which climate can be predicted and the extent of human influence on climate.
The WCRP established CliC as a Core Project in 1994. The principal goal of CliC is to encourage and promote research on all components of the cryosphere (including permafrost, snow cover, lake and sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets) and its interactions with the global climate system. CliC highlights emerging issues; encourages communication between researchers with common interests in cryospheric and climate science; promotes international cooperation; highlights the importance of this field to policy makers, funding agencies, and the general public, and recommends directions for future study. CliC also supports a number of modeling intercomparison experiments. CliC is about to implement its new Strategic Plan 2022-2031.
Duties and responsibilities: The Director leads the IPO, is responsible for the management of the IPO staff, budget and operations, and prepares and assists in the conduct of CliC-related meetings and the activities of the CliC leadership: the co-chairs and the Scientific Steering Group (SSG). The Director facilitates CliC's contribution to fulfilment of the WCRP's objectives and goals updates, as necessary, the CliC project documentation and plans; prepares reports on meetings and project-related events; ensures the liaison, coordination and the timely flow of pertinent information to WCRP scientists, projects and relevant international scientific bodies (including through the project newsletter, other publications and the web); participates in and helps organize meetings relevant to CliC; conducts consultations at the working level with agencies and institutions participating in the implementation of CliC; promotes CliC objectives in the cryospheric, climate, polar and broader science communities; seeks resources to maintain adequate funding for the IPO, and fulfils other duties as required or requested by WCRP and the CliC SSG. The Director will also be expected to develop a broader interest in WCRP and its cross-cutting activities, during the implementation of the WCRP Strategic Plan 2019-2028. This will require close collaboration with the WCRP’s Secretariat. To carry out these duties the incumbent may be required to undertake a significant amount of travel.
The successful applicant will have obtained a PhD in research on climate, the cryosphere, or a related field and will have administrative experience. Starting date of the appointment is March 1st 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Project Office is based at the University of Massachusetts, located in Amherst, Massachusetts. A five-year commitment is expected, with the possibility of renewal, depending on funding. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, summarizing their qualifications and experience, together with a complete CV and a list of the names, affiliations and contact information for 3 referees to:. The position will remain open until filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment,
admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.