Role overview
Climate Central is seeking a highly-skilled Climate Data Scientist to join our team. Reporting to the Vice President for Science, the scientist will be part of a new initiative in climate services to deliver actionable and interpretable probabilistic predictions of climate hazards on seasonal-to-decadal timescales. This initiative will build on Climate Central’s existing multi-method daily, high-resolution estimates of how strongly climate change is influencing conditions in the atmosphere and ocean. The scientist will work quickly and creatively to research, develop, and deliver new statistical analyses and decision-ready products that meet cross-sector needs for climate risk and hazard planning.
The ideal candidate will have a foundational working knowledge of climate science and modeling as well as experience developing data-driven methods for prediction problems. This position is for a two-year term with the possibility of renewal.
What you'll work on
Area #1: Assessing and developing annual to decadal prediction methods
- Carrying out literature reviews of existing methodologies and datasets
- Identifying gaps in existing 1-to-10 year prediction products
- Developing multi-method approaches that result in unique Climate Central product offerings
Area #2: Advancing the science
- Using climate models and data to develop and validate predictions of natural hazards or perils in the 1-to-10 year window
- Developing scientifically sound technical reports that clearly convey data uncertainties and methodological details to build trust in forecast products developed for end users
- Presenting results at scientific conferences
Area #3: Translating research into decision-ready products
- Developing statistical models that predict local climate risks and collaborating with technical staff to turn these into operational service products
- Working with our technical, engagement, and business development teams to create forecast products that meet end-user needs
- Working with our communications team to ensure products are accurately and accessibly reflected in externally facing materials
Other duties may be assigned as needed.
What we're looking for
- Experience working for a federal agency or lab that has been impacted by recent cuts
- Comfort in working in GitHub and with parallel and distributed computing tools to turn complex big data projects into efficient analysis pipelines (e.g., Dask, Zarr, multiprocessing, joblib, and high-performance computing or cloud workflows) and end-user-ready products
- Experience working with seasonal-to-decadal forecasting models and/or large ensembles
- Familiarity with novel AI and/or supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques, including using Python packages such as PyTorch, TensorFlow/Keras, or XGBoost
- Familiarity with the science and/or data relevant to quantifying climate risk in one or more sectors, such as health or economics
- Experience in working with statistical and/or dynamical downscaling techniques and bias-adjustment for producing fine-scale resolution information
- Experience producing scientific manuscripts and reports
Compensation: The expected base salary range for this position is $85,000-$92,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Climate Central offers generous benefits including:
- Medical benefits
- Dental/ Vision benefits
- More than 7 weeks of paid vacation and holidays available annually
- 12 weeks of paid family leave
- 401k with up to 12% matching
- Partial college tuition for children of employees who qualify