Computer Operations Shift Leader ECMWF

GRADE: B5, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations.

REFERENCE NO: AP11-12

LOCATION: ECMWF Headquarters at Shinfield Park, near Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT: The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an international organisation supported by 34 States*, specialised in numerical weather prediction.

ECMWF’s principal objectives are the development of numerical methods for medium-range and seasonal weather forecasting; the preparation, on a regular basis, of medium-range and long-range weather forecasts for distribution to the meteorological services of the Member States; scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of these forecasts; and the collection and storage of appropriate meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and surface. For details see: www.ecmwf.int/research

ECMWF’s main computing facility includes supercomputers, archiving and data handling systems. ECMWF is connected to the meteorological telecommunication system and to its Member States via efficient networks linking 44 countries. A detailed description is available at: www.ecmwf.int/services/computing/overview

MAIN DUTIES:

This post is in the Computer Operations Section of the Computer Division. The successful candidate will sometimes take the role of Duty Manager and as such will supervise a small team working a 12 hour shift system covering 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The responsibilities include responding to hardware, software and application alerts, first level problem diagnosis, problem logging and appropriate escalation. During this process, the incumbent must ensure clear and consistent communication with all parties from alert, through analysis, to resolution. When acting as Duty Manager, the incumbent must make sure that all internal communication and handovers are consistent and to the required standard.

The incumbent will also work with other team members to continuously improve procedures, monitoring systems and operational efficiency by identifying tasks suitable for automation, and will assist with the implementation thereof.

The Duty Manager and the team are responsible for the monitoring of the performance of ECMWF’s computing systems and infrastructure and the running of operational tasks. Outside normal working hours the Duty Manager takes responsibility for the Centre, including issues not related to the computing service, and escalates issues to senior management when necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS:The post calls for a high standard of secondary education.

Further qualifications in Information Technology would be beneficial.

Candidates must have at least five years’ operating experience in a large-scale computing environment and be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge of a UNIX-based operating system. Experience of shift work and of leading a team, as well as experience of system and network monitoring tools would all be seen as significant advantages.

Knowledge of a batch job scheduler such as “IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler LoadLeveler” is desirable.

Candidates will be expected to show that they possess:

• an understanding of the operational use of supercomputers, servers, storage, operating systems, networks and monitoring tools;
• previous experience of support duties in an operational environment;
• team-leading ability;
• the ability to work effectively as part of a small team;
• excellent communication skills (written and verbal), including the writing and appropriate application of accurate and well-structured documentation;
• the ability to analyse and report problems, using system information and logs;
• the ability to work effectively under pressure;
• a commitment to personal and team development, with a willingness to learn new skills;
• a sense of responsibility, being the senior person on site at ECMWF outside office hours.

The working languages of ECMWF are English, French and German. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have a good knowledge of one of the other working languages of ECMWF. Interviews will be conducted in English.

Staff are normally recruited from among the nationals of the Member States and Co operating States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.

REMUNERATION: B5: £3,240.36 to £4,307.26 basic salary per month net of tax, plus a monthly shift allowance of 37.33% of respective basic salary.

In principle, a staff member will be engaged at the lowest step of the grade of the post for which he or she is selected.

A deduction is made from the basic salary for the Pension Scheme and for Partial Invalidity (10.8% for the Pension Scheme and 0.2% for Partial Invalidity). A further 1.38% of basic salary and related allowances is currently deducted for the ECMWF Supplementary Health Insurance Scheme.

Where applicable the following allowances will be paid in addition to the basic salary: household allowance of 6% of basic salary; children’s allowance of £221.49 per child per month; expatriation allowance of 14% or 18% of basic salary for expatriates; education allowance for children of expatriates.

STARTING DATE: 1 January 2012.

LENGTH OF CONTRACT: Maximum of four years for initial contract, with the possibility of renewal.

APPLICATIONS: Application forms can be downloaded from ECMWF’s website: www.ecmwf.int/newsevents/employment/en/

CLOSING DATE: Completed applications for this post must reach the Personnel Section of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts at the above address not later than 15 August 2011.

* The ECMWF Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The ECMWF Co-operating States are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.