Data Support Specialist (two positions)

The Role

ECMWF is opening two new positions for Data Support Specialists (A2) in the User Services Section in the Forecasts and Services Department of ECMWF.

The Data Support Team plays a vital role in managing the relationships and supporting users of the ECMWF real-time forecast data and archive data (see https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets) and users of data and tools provided by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS, see https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S, see https://climate.copernicus.eu/).

The focus of this role is to provide advice and support on data-related queries (e.g. data access/format ) and data delivery, including delivery system configuration, to commercial customers and non-commercial users world-wide.

As a Data Support Specialist, you will work closely with other team members and provide technical support to users, which may involve investigating data quality and data delivery issues with support from scientific and technical experts when needed. The types of activities may involve working closely with customers to guide them through the license agreement process, data delivery set-up, analyse problems with data transfer, managing changing data requirement from users, as well as answering technical and scientific questions. You will also have responsibility for managing the development of software applications, e.g. web-based applications which are designed for users to select, order and reconfigure their data.

User queries are handled through a Jira-based ticketing system, with additional support provided via Confluence-based documentation.

We are looking for a highly organised individual who enjoys managing competing priorities and a variety of tasks. In this role you will have a direct impact on our user community by solving technical issues and engaging directly with them. Excellent communication and collaboration skills are essential in this role as well as the ability to interact with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

The Team

The User Services Section consists of 20 staff providing support and advice to all users of ECMWF computing, data and software services including Member States, Co-operating States, commercial entities, and public users as well as ECMWF. The section comprises a Data Support team and a Computing and Software Support team and staff are based in Bonn, Germany and Reading, UK.

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world-leader in weather and environmental forecasting. As an international organisation we serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions and data that is critical for understanding and solving the climate crisis. We function as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions, holding one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world. The success of our activities builds on the talent of our scientists and experts, strong partnerships with 35 Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies and machine learning across our operations. 

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Destination Earth Initiative and the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the Copernicus Programme. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring. 

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with a main office in Reading, UK, a data centre/ supercomputer in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany. We appreciate the need for flexibility in the way our staff work. We have  adopted a hybrid work model that allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking, including away from the duty station for up to 10 days/month (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

See www.ecmwf.int for more info about what we do.  

Main duties and key responsibilities

• Provide support and technical advice on data delivery of real-time data to customers
• Support users by answering technical and scientific questions about real-time or archive data
• Handle the set-up, renewals, amendments and terminations of data licenses
• Review, improve and develop processes and workflows to effectively support users
• Develop documentation to support a user self-service
• Work with other teams in ECMWF to ensure user issues are resolved
• Project manage software development of data provision related applications 
• Create presentation material and participate in training and information events (e.g. workshops, webinars)

What we are looking for

• Enthusiasm to help others
• Strong and effective interpersonal and communication skills 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and a proactive approach 
• Flexibility with the ability to adapt to changing requirements or priorities, user needs and services
• Ability to work collaboratively, sharing expertise and lessons learned with colleagues
• Ability to work under pressure and to interact with demanding users
• An interest in identifying, investigating and resolving technical problems and articulating an appropriate solution 

Education 

• Advanced university degree (EQ7 level or above) or equivalent experience in a scientific discipline, e.g. meteorology, (atmospheric) physics, climate science, applied mathematics and computational science

Experience

• Experience in handling and resolving user queries and incidents is required
• Experience in the field of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) is desirable
• Experience with data policies and licenses, including open data, is an advantage 
• Practical experience in supporting users through a ticketing system, such as Atlassian Jira, is desirable
• Experience of software development project management is desirable

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, including the writing of technical documentation
• Knowledge of data formats commonly used in meteorology (e.g. GRIB, BUFR, NetCDF)
• Knowledge and experience with Python is desirable
• Knowledge of scripting in Linux environments is desirable

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet precisely all these criteria.

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English. A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s  other working languages (French or German) is an advantage.

Other information

Grade remuneration:  The successful candidate will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.

Starting date:               01 January 2025

Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station. Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Interviews will take place via videoconference (MS Team).  If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please contact us.

Who can apply

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States.  In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.   Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases. 

ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.