Job Description
The Director leads the international project office ensuring that it operates efficiently to actively serve the needs of CORDEX and its global community, in alignment with and under the guidance of the CORDEX Science Advisory Team (SAT). The Director is responsible for:
* The recruitment and management of the IPO staff, budget and operations.
* Coordinating the management and administration of CORDEX plans and other project related documentation.
* Preparing reports and presentations for and of meetings and project-related events to support the CORDEX co-chairs in representing CORDEX within WCRP and beyond, including at any relevant meetings and conferences.
* Preparing the annual internal IPO budget (contract limit of liability funding from ESA) and the WCRP CORDEX budget (for the approval of the SAT).
* Supporting the SAT by organizing the SAT meetings, the agenda and minutes in close collaboration with the CORDEX Co-chairs
* Participating in, and coordinating with Co-chairs or CORDEX SAT members, meetings relevant to CORDEX such as CORDEX SAT meetings, WCRP JSC and other leadership meetings.
* Supporting and facilitating international coordination between the CORDEX domains, institutes and individuals.
* Building relationships, in close collaboration with the SAT, with the impacts and adaptation, and end user communities to ensure their needs are addressed by CORDEX activities.
* Facilitating and coordinating collaboration with parent core project, RIfS, relevant WCRP and other international programmes.
* Promoting capacity development particularly in developing regions and among early career scientists.
* Mobilising financial and in-kind resources from various sources to cover CORDEX activities and additional IPOC staff.
* Overseeing active dissemination and communication of the work of CORDEX, in coordination with the SAT
* Participating in the representation of CORDEX at relevant national and international meetings.
* Ensuring the IPO fulfils its terms of reference under the overall guidance of CORDEX governing bodies and in consultation with the WCRP Secretariat.
* Seeking resources to maintain adequate funding for the IPO by writing, and supporting, grant proposals.
* Fulfilling other appropriate duties as required or requested by the CORDEX SAT.
Qualifications
Required
* PhD in physics or Earth science, or any other appropriate scientific field.
* Track record in climate research and modelling or climate science management.
* Expertise in setting up and developing an international project office or equivalent to support and advance the governance, infrastructure and outcome of climate science projects relevant to CORDEX.
* Experience in working with international organisations within the climate network.
* Experience in leading large international projects and teams.
* Experience in attracting additional funding from various sources.
* At least 10 years of relevant work experience.
* Excellent negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills.
* Proficiency in English.
* Capacity to travel internationally.
Desirable
* Regional climate modelling experience (dynamical or statistical).
* Formal project/programme management training/qualifications.
* Experience of capacity building.
* Experience of working within in the WCRP landscape.
* Experience of line management of remote teams.
* Experience in effective user engagement and partner organisation management.
Additional Information
Location
The IPOC Director will be hosted by the European Space Agency's Climate Office, located at the ESA European Centre for Satellite Applications Technologies (ECSAT) in Harwell, UK with flexible home working options within the UK available. If required, support to secure right to work in the UK will be provided to successful candidates.
Employment structure
The IPOC will be hosted by the European Space Agency; however, the team is contracted and managed for ESA by HE Space Operations Ltd. HE Space is offering a competitive salary for this position for suitably qualified candidates.
If you think you have what it takes for this job, please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF) to Leandros Foteinias, by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” quoting job DE-HP-26012. An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!
Last apply date: 13/2/2026!
Inclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles.