Description
The Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) is seeking a qualified Aviation Meteorologist to serve as its Chief Meteorology Officer (CMO).
The Chief Meteorology Officer (CMO) serves as the ultimate technical and operational authority responsible for directing the production, quality assurance, and dissemination of aviation weather services across sovereign airspace of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
As the executive leader of the Caribbean’s premier NextGEN Meteorological Watch Office (MWO), the CMO oversees a 24/7/365 continuous watch over the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en-route weather hazards or inflight obstacles. This high-stakes role utilizes advanced atmospheric forecasting products to ensure the safety, efficiency, and regularity of any aircraft utilizing The Bahamas’ airspace.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
1. NextGEN Meteorological Watch Office (MWO) Operations
Direct 24/7/365 Airspace Watch: Maintain an unceasing, absolute watch over Bahamian Territory to detect, predict, and mitigate en-route weather hazards or inflight obstacles affecting aviation safety.
Manage Advanced Product Pipelines: Oversee the production and timely distribution of all ICAO-specified weather charts, graphics, inflight advisories, and NextGEN data products.
Integrate NOAA Platform: Lead operational utilization of the NOAA Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS II).
Integrate Tomorrow.io Platform: Lead the operational utilization of Tomorrow.io’s platform in the MWO.
NCAR Tech: Command the integration of specialized NCAR NextGen Aviation Meteorological products for automated convective forecasting, icing, and turbulence detection, etc into the MWO.
Enforce Compliance: Maintain the MWO’s unconditional alignment with ICAO Annex 3 standards and CAA-B’s regulatory policies.
2. Emergency Coordination & Climate Operations
Mitigate Severe Weather: Issue rapid, life-saving warnings for hurricanes, severe convective cells, wind shear, and turbulence threatening all flights crossing Bahamian airspace.
Lead Search & Rescue Logistics: Coordinate real-time meteorological intelligence and data synchronization for crash response and maritime search-and-rescue operations.
3. Air Navigation Service Provider & Institutional Liaison
Deliver FAA Data Streams: Ensure seamless, high-velocity distribution of critical weather intelligence to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the delegated Air Navigation Services Provider.
Brief Air Traffic Control: Deliver active, clear hazard advisories directly to Bahamian Air Traffic Controllers and airspace users to optimize traffic flow.
Co-Manage Agency Synergy: Partner with the Bahamas Department of Meteorology to enhance national forecasting infrastructure
Champion Local Capacity: Assist in the development of future Bahamian Meteorologists.
4. Leadership, Staffing & Quality Assurance
Build the MWO Team: Take direct responsibility for interviewing, selecting, hiring, onboarding, and organizing specialized personnel to staff the newly established NextGEN Meteorological Watch Office operations center.
Manage 24/7 Shift Logistics: Oversee staffing schedules, shift rotations, handovers, and operational coverage to ensure continuous 24/7 service delivery, workflow efficiency, and adherence to internal quality standards.
Maintain Accuracy Metrics: Establish, monitor, and maintain forecast accuracy and reliability metrics, including performance benchmarks, verification procedures, and corrective action processes.
Develop and Implement SOPs: Develop, implement, and periodically update standard operating procedures to ensure the smooth, consistent, and efficient operation of the MWO.
Support Quality Management System (QMS) Development: Actively assist in the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the MWO's Quality Management System (QMS) to support compliance with applicable aviation meteorological standards and the attainment of ISO 9001 certification.
Conduct Post-Event Reviews: Lead post-event reviews and forecast performance analyses following significant weather events to identify lessons learned, improve procedures, and continuously strengthen operational performance.
Requirements
Job Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Certifications:
Academic Credentials: Master of Science or PhD in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, or related physical science. Competency Compliance: Verified operational adherence to the global WMO-No. 1083 competency standards.
Professional Affiliation: Active board certification with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) or Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS).
Experience:
Forecasting Record: Minimum of 10 years in operational aviation weather forecasting.
Leadership Tenure: At least 5 years as a director or chief within an air force weather wing, national meteorological facility, or airport forecast center.
Technical Domain: Documented expertise using either AWIPS or Tomorrow.io aviation weather platform and NCAR aviation weather research decision-support tools.
Regional Domain: Exceptional background in tropical maritime meteorology, hurricane tracking, and boundary-layer mechanics.
