Oceanographer

Role & responsibilities

1. Oceanographic Analysis and Forecasting

• Analyze real-time and historical oceanographic and marine meteorological data
• Support development and operationalization of ocean and coastal forecasts
• Interpret outputs from wave, surge, tide, and ocean circulation models

2. Marine Hazard and Coastal Risk Assessment

• Support forecasting and assessment of marine hazards including storm surge, coastal flooding, high waves, and coastal erosion
• Contribute to impact-based forecasting approaches for coastal and marine hazards
• Assist in development of thresholds and warning criteria for marine early warning systems

3. Model Development and Integration

• Support calibration, validation, and operational implementation of oceanographic models
• Integrate meteorological inputs and oceanographic outputs into coupled forecasting systems
• Collaborate with hydrologists and meteorologists for multi-hazard forecasting integration

1. Data Integration and DSS Support

• Integrate oceanographic datasets and forecasts into decision support systems and operational platforms
• Support development of marine risk layers, coastal inundation maps, and ocean monitoring dashboards
• Collaborate with GIS and development teams for operational visualization products

5. Visualization and Communication

• Prepare marine advisories, forecast bulletins, and visualization products
• Develop maps, dashboards, and graphical outputs for operational users and stakeholders
• Support dissemination of marine and coastal warnings to relevant agencies

6. Capacity Building and Stakeholder Coordination

• Conduct technical training and knowledge transfer sessions for partner agencies and stakeholders
• Support strengthening of marine forecasting and coastal early warning capacities
• Participate in workshops, simulations, and operational coordination activities

7. Documentation and Reporting

• Prepare technical reports, model documentation, and operational guidelines
• Maintain records of forecast outputs, analyses, and validation activities
• Contribute to project reports and knowledge products

8. Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor in line with project needs and priorities.

Deliverables:

• Operational oceanographic and coastal forecast products
• Marine hazard advisories and coastal risk assessments
• Coastal inundation and marine risk maps
• Integration of oceanographic data into DSS platforms
• Model calibration and validation reports
• Technical documentation and training materials
• Periodic progress reports aligned with project timelines

Preferred candidate profile

Education:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in Oceanography, Marine Science, Physical Oceanography, Coastal Engineering, or a related field

Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in oceanographic analysis, marine forecasting, or coastal hazard assessment
• Experience working with oceanographic datasets including wave, tide, current, sea surface temperature, and storm surge data
• Familiarity with ocean and coastal forecasting models (e.g., SWAN, ADCIRC, ROMS, WAVEWATCH III, Delft3D, or similar tools)
• Experience in marine hazard forecasting including storm surge, coastal flooding, high waves, and cyclone-induced impacts
• Familiarity with satellite-based ocean observations and marine data products
• Experience working with marine agencies, NMHSs, or coastal disaster management authorities is desirable

Technical Skills (Desirable):

• Experience with GIS platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS) for coastal and marine spatial analysis
• Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, or R for oceanographic analysis and automation
• Familiarity with numerical modeling and data assimilation techniques
• Understanding of coupled ocean-atmosphere processes and climate variability
• Experience integrating oceanographic data into DSS platforms and operational dashboards

Personal Qualities:

• Strong analytical and scientific interpretation skills
• Ability to translate technical outputs into operational guidance
• Attention to detail and data quality
• Strong communication and stakeholder coordination skills
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams