Professional Staff

Professional level positions at WMO include scientific officers; research, management, and operations support; information systems and communication technology; legal; public information and external relations; and conference management.

Professional Roles

Work in the Professional category generally demands a high degree of analytical and communication skills, substantive expertise and managerial leadership ability.

Candidates in such roles need the understanding of an organized body of theoretical knowledge generally at a level equivalent to an advanced university degree or, exceptionally, acquired through other training or practical experience in some fields of learning or specialized disciplines.

Professional level jobs at WMO include:

  • scientific officers, research, management, and operations support;
  • information systems and communication technology;
  • administration;
  • legal;
  • public information and external relations; and
  • conference management.

Senior Professional Roles

Directors (D-1 and D-2 levels) represent the highest level of the career staffing structure of the Organization. As a Director you manage large groups of scientists or administrators and are expected to provide substantive leadership as well as managerial oversight and guidance. 

You are expected to lead the formulation and implementation of the work programme of an office, determine priorities, and allocate resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.

Work Experience

What work experience do I need?

The key skills and experience required for all roles are specified in the vacancy notice. Each job category requires a minimum amount of experience:

Entry-level professionals

P2 (minimum 2 years of relevant work experience)

P3 (minimum 5 years of work experience)

Mid-level professionals

P4 (minimum 7 years of work experience)

P5 (minimum of 10 years of work experience)

Senior-level professionals

D-1 (minimum 15 years of work experience)

D-2 (more than 15 years of work experience)

Language Requirements

WMO, as part of the United Nations, has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.     

Our working languages are English and French, and, depending on the job, candidates are required to have an excellent command of one or both languages. 

Additional languages are always an asset but may not be essential - this will be stated in the role requirements. 

Key Skills

  • A high degree of analytical and communication skills
  • Substantial expertise and/or managerial leadership ability
  • Analyzing and evaluating problems
  • Decision-making involving discretionary choices between alternative courses of action
  • University degree (or relevant and equivalent practical experience, professional qualifications, or other training and self-study)

Directors must hold the skills above with additional expertise in:

  • Providing leadership in formulating and implementing the substantial work programme of a unit
  • Analyzing and determining priorities
  • Balancing and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery