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 vision: The strength of a common goal

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

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.

About ECMWF
About Copernicus
About Destination Earth

Summary of the role:

The Director-General is the Chief Executive Officer of ECMWF and reports to the Council, which is made up of delegates from ECMWF’s Member States.

The Director-General is responsible for drafting and implementing the Council’s policies as well as leading ECMWF’s research and operational activities within the overall framework and strategy established by the Council. Within this framework, the Director-General is directly responsible for the management of the human, technical and financial resources entrusted to them, and the implementation and application of the ECMWF Convention, the Protocol, the Headquarters Agreement and the Hosting Agreements.

The ideal candidate for this position will be a visionary leader with strong operational skills, the ability to manage a complex, multi-site organisation and a deep commitment to an interdisciplinary approach. They will have a good understanding of ECMWF’s core activities in weather and climate and the credibility to lead these activities. They will possess excellent interpersonal skills and will have a track record of successful negotiations with countries and international bodies. They will also be passionate about nurturing an inclusive and positive working environment, ensuring respect for diverse opinions and cultures.

This role requires vision and diplomatic skills to build consensus and work collaboratively with a wide range of partners in ECMWF’s member states and other international stakeholders. It also requires the ability to lead the seamless integration of the core and project activities of ECMWF and guarantee flawless delivery of ECMWF’s services.

What we are looking for:

Leadership

• Proactive, forward-thinking to foster strong collaboration with Member and Cooperating States, challenging and building consensus, identifying new ways of working together.
• Ability to develop a clear vision of the future of the organisation and to mobilise and motivate the organisation to implement this vision.
• Extensive experience in executive management and leadership roles, including a track record of managing in a complex, multisite organisation in an international environment.
• Interdisciplinary, inclusive approach, creating a positive work environment that motivates staff and encourages high performance.
• Exceptional level of scientific and personal integrity.

Scientific & Operational Credentials

• Track record of leadership in a complex scientific and operational organisation. Deep expertise in areas core to ECMWF’s mission, such as Earth system sciences or operational weather prediction, or in a related subject with the ability to rapidly gain credibility in both fields.
• Exceptional ability to transfer cutting-edge scientific and technological developments into products and to guarantee the highly reliable operation and evolution of complex, resilient and secure operational systems.
• Sufficiently deep understanding of ECMWF’s core activities in weather and climate to be able to manage the evolution of the Centre’s strategic plan and the delivery of its core mission.

Diplomacy

• Significant experience of negotiations with countries, international bodies, partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret and navigate a wide range of political pressures and influences across a wide set of stakeholders, including the European Union, academic partners and other intergovernmental organisations such as the WMO.
• Outstanding ability to manage complex webs of relationships, to build consensus and to foster collaboration to secure mutual benefit.

Applicants must be a national of a Member State or Co-operating State (Member States: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom; Cooperating States: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia)

English is the working language of ECMWF, and candidates must be fluent. A working knowledge of at least one of the other working languages of the Centre (French or German) would be an advantage.

Other information:

Grade remuneration: The post of Director-General is graded ‘Hors-Grade’, with a basic salary of GBP214,969 (net of income tax & based on the 2025 salary scales for the UK) and a remuneration package that includes provisions for pension and health insurance coverage, comparable to that of Directors-General of other European international organisations.

Start date: 01 January 2026

Length of contract: Four years with the possibility of a further contract.

Location: The position will be based at ECMWF’s headquarters in Reading, UK.

The successful applicant and members of their family forming part of their household will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Candidate screening will be carried out by Egon Zehnder on behalf of the selection panel appointed by the ECMWF Council for this selection process. Interviews will be conducted in person in Reading on 14th and 15th May 2025, with the final appointment decision being taken by the ECMWF Council in June 2025.

How to apply:

Applicants are invited to send their application, including their CV, by email to ECMWF.DG@EGONZEHNDER.COM. By submitting their application, a candidate authorises Egon Zehnder to share their personal data with ECMWF for the purpose of candidate screening.

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, 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.