Content and Science Writer/Editor

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Content and Science Writer/Editor, Reading

Client:

ECMWF

Location:

Reading, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Reference:

e107ca1b011d

Job Views:

4

Posted:

16.02.2025

Expiry Date:

02.04.2025

Job Description:

The role

We are looking for an experienced and talented professional with a passion for great communication and a specific interest and expertise in scientific fields. The Content and Science Writer/Editor will have a pivotal role to play in our communication and engagement activities with our diverse audiences, producing high-quality content, including on scientific issues, for internal and external publication channels. The post-holder will be expected to have a scientific background, be able to understand the core of our activities, and be a talented writer able to make science accessible without dumbing it down.

Working closely with the rest of the Communication team, the post-holder will ensure the team is supporting the organisation with a sharp, integrated, innovative communications focus and maximising the impact of its work.

The team

The Communications Section, part of the Office of the Director General, has an important role to play in helping the Centre achieve its strategic objectives. Its remit covers both internal and external communications.

The Section leads on news and media, running effective events, stakeholder engagement, publishing, communicating with ECMWF’s own diverse workforce, and on all aspects of digital communication.

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.

The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of our 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.

Our mission: Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States.

Our vision: World-leading monitoring and predictions of the Earth System enabled by cutting-edge physical, computational and data science, resulting from a close collaboration between ECMWF and the members of the European Meteorological Infrastructure, will contribute to a safe and thriving society.

In addition, ECMWF has established 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, as well as being a contributor to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. 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 its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is internationally recognised as the voice of expertise in numerical weather predictions for forecasts and climate science.

Role responsibilities

• Working closely with the Senior Communications Manager to lead and develop the editorial strategy to ensure clear, engaging and scientifically accurate content. This includes the creation of, as well as the commissioning of, editorial content with the ability to translate complex information into accessible and compelling narratives where appropriate.
• Managing editorial and production processes from topic development to approval and publication of news and feature content for ECMWF’s digital and print pipelines, including, for example, the flagship ECMWF Newsletter, external web pages, blogs, fact sheets, the Intranet, corporate publications, internal news, social media, media, and other material.
• Summarising complex scientific research or interpreting information into accessible web and print content which is suited to the target audience it serves (ranging from scientific, media to non-specialist), and collaborating with relevant staff members to draft content for their projects.
• Working with staff to obtain information for this and updating these on a regular basis to meet high editorial standards and compliance with ECMWF branding and editorial guidelines.
• Liaising and collaborating with colleagues and suppliers to deliver content, e.g., designers, scientists, technical experts, contributors, external partners, and publishing platform specialists.
• Stay updated on trends in meteorology, climate science, technology and science communication to enhance editorial outputs and continuous professional development.

What we are looking for

• Ability to understand the essence of complex scientific research
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to inspire and communicate science to both scientific and non-scientific audiences
• Ability to write clearly and concisely in plain English
• Editorial experience and copy editing skills
• High level of literacy and rigorous attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal and organisational skills
• Familiarity with science communication through the web, social media and print
• Experience of science communication to a non-specialist audience and public outreach
• Experience of HTML, CMS and other software platforms
• Ability to commission, manage and work cooperatively and to a common goal with partners, suppliers, agencies
• Knowledge of the international research environment and its stakeholders
• Understanding and experience of developing material for the media

Education

• A university degree (EFQ Level 5 or above) is required in either a Science related to ECMWF’s fields of work, with experience of working in a communications environment, or a Communications/Science Communication/Journalism Degree with experience in working for a scientific organisation. A Masters degree in a related area or experience of working in meteorology would be desirable.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

• Considerable editorial experience and copy-editing skills
• Experience of science, weather, climate, technology communication to non-specialist audience and public outreach
• Understanding and experience of developing material for the media
• Knowledge of the international research environment and its stakeholders
• Adaptable and able to work under pressure
• Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to build strong relationships in a multi-site environment
• Mother-tongue-equivalent command of English with excellent writing skills for a broad range of audiences
• The working languages of ECMWF are English, French and German. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have a good knowledge of one of the other working languages.

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

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited at Grade B6, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations and the annual basic salary will be GBP 69,975 NET annual basic salary (ECMWF salaries are exempt from national income tax). In addition to basic salary, ECMWF also offers a generous benefits package and a flexible teleworking policy. The position is assigned to the employment category STF-C as defined in the ECMWF Staff Regulations. To find out more about working for us, the ECMWF Staff Regulations and the terms and conditions of employment, and for full details of salary scales and allowances, please visit the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.

Starting date: From 01 August 2025

Contract Duration: Four years, with the possibility of further contracts

Location: Reading, UK (Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station)

Remote work: As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid working model that allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking. We allow for remote work 10 days/month away from the office, including up to 80 days/year away from the duty station country (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

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 Teams) and will be conducted in English. If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please let us know.

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below.

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, listed below. 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.