Climate Analyst

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization that responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises. Founded in 1933, IRC has been dedicated to helping people affected by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. With a mission to restore dignity and hope to those in need, IRC operates in over 40 countries and has a workforce of more than 14,000 employees. The organization focuses on various sectors including health, education, economic recovery, and protection, and is committed to addressing the challenges posed by climate change through innovative programming and partnerships.

Job Overview:
The Climate Analyst position is a critical role within the IRC's Global Crisis Analysis (GCA) team, aimed at enhancing the organization's capacity to analyze climate data and forecast climate hazards. This position is essential for integrating climate forecasts into IRC's existing crisis analysis products, which include the annual Emergency Watchlist and risk monitoring systems. The Climate Analyst will collaborate closely with various teams, including the Anticipatory Action Team and Climate Global Practice Area, to ensure that climate insights are effectively utilized in programming across different sectors and regions. The role requires a proactive approach to climate data analysis, with a focus on producing timely reports and actionable insights that inform IRC's response strategies. As the demand for climate data analysis grows, the responsibilities of the Climate Analyst may evolve, reflecting the organization's commitment to addressing climate-related challenges in humanitarian contexts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct and automate regular climate analysis, including historical and forecast data related to rainfall, drought, floods, heatwaves, cyclones, and water scarcity in IRC countries.
• Review and interpret monthly climate forecasts from reputable sources such as Columbia IRI and CHIRPS.
• Develop systems for automated short- and long-term hazard forecasting and reporting.
• Collaborate with other teams to create data products that integrate climate analysis.
• Explore and assess the use of external climate platforms, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis tools.
• Liaise with Country Programs and Technical Advisors to interpret forecasts and guide anticipatory actions.
• Host regular discussions with key stakeholders to address the impacts of forecasted hazards.
• Issue rapid alerts for impending climate events and support preparedness planning.
• Produce monthly global climate briefs summarizing forecasts, risks, and recommended actions. 1
• Contribute climate analysis to IRC’s Emergency Watchlist and support the integration of climate risks into crisis analysis systems. 1
• Collaborate across technical units to link climate hazards to sectoral impacts and explore climate-conflict interactions. 1
• Build IRC’s expertise on climate risk management through internal capacity development and training.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of climate forecasting tools and methodologies, particularly those related to flood and drought forecasting. Familiarity with geospatial and remote sensing tools, such as GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and Google Earth Engine, is essential. Strong data analysis skills are required, with the ability to automate climate analysis and reporting processes. Candidates should demonstrate experience in managing multiple stakeholders and partnerships, as well as the capacity to communicate effectively in multicultural teams. Excellent organizational skills, critical thinking abilities, and a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion are also necessary for this role.

Educational Background:
A degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, meteorology, climate science, or a related discipline is required. Advanced degrees or specialized training in climate data analysis or related areas will be considered an asset.

Experience:
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in climate data analysis, with a focus on forecasting methodologies and tools. Experience in managing stakeholder relationships and working in multicultural environments is highly valued. The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced setting is essential, along with a proven track record of producing high-quality reports and analyses.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, particularly in written communication and report synthesis. Additional language skills relevant to IRC's operational regions would be considered a plus, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position may require some international travel and offers the possibility of remote work, either full-time or part-time. Candidates should be prepared to share workspace if working part-time remotely. The role is designed to be flexible to accommodate the evolving needs of the organization and its climate resilience programming.