Job Reference
389_25_ES_ESS_R4
Position
Earth System Services Group Leader (R4)
Fecha de cierre
Sábado, 21 Junio, 2025
Reference: 389_25_ES_ESS_R4
Job title: Earth System Services Group Leader (R4)
About BSC
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) is the leading supercomputing center in Spain. It houses MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, was a founding and hosting member of the former European HPC infrastructure PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe), and is now hosting entity for EuroHPC JU, the Joint Undertaking that leads large-scale investments and HPC provision in Europe. The mission of BSC is to research, develop and manage information technologies in order to facilitate scientific progress. BSC combines HPC service provision and R&D into both computer and computational science (life, earth and engineering sciences) under one roof, and currently has over 1000 staff from 60 countries.
Look at the BSC experience:
BSC-CNS YouTube Channel
Let's stay connected with BSC Folks!
We are particularly interested for this role in the strengths and lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights in science and IT research. In instances of equal merit, the incorporation of the under-represented sex will be favoured.
We promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, fostering an environment where each and every one of us is appreciated for who we are, regardless of our differences.
If you consider that you do not meet all the requirements, we encourage you to continue applying for the job offer. We value diversity of experiences and skills, and you could bring unique perspectives to our team.
Look at the BSC experience:
BSC-CNS YouTube Channel
Let's stay connected with BSC Folks!
We are particularly interested for this role in the strengths and lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights in science and IT research. In instances of equal merit, the incorporation of the under-represented sex will be favoured.
We promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, fostering an environment where each and every one of us is appreciated for who we are, regardless of our differences.
If you consider that you do not meet all the requirements, we encourage you to continue applying for the job offer. We value diversity of experiences and skills, and you could bring unique perspectives to our team.
Context And Mission
The Earth System Services (ESS, https://ess.bsc.es/) Group within the Earth Sciences Department at BSC focuses on researching the impact of weather, atmospheric chemistry, and climate on key socio-economic sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, water management, forest fires, and urban development. The group aims to demonstrate the ongoing value of Earth system services for society and the economy.
Within this context, we are seeking a Group Leader for the ESS to provide scientific leadership and operational management. The role involves defining and implementing strategic priorities, fostering partnerships, team-building and collaborative spirit, as well as undertaking appropriate actions to support the group's needs, growth and impact.
The Group Leader will work closely with the Earth Sciences Directors, other Group Leaders, and Team Leaders within the ESS group to ensure that the group’s activities are aligned with ongoing projects, strategic proposal development, team capabilities, and emerging research opportunities that could shape future scientific directions.
The selected candidate will manage a team of approximately 50 researchers (April 2024) working on the development of climate and air quality services. This position presents a unique opportunity to work alongside a wide range of leading international climate scientists delivering cutting-edge climate science and climate services across Europe. The successful candidate will join one of Europe's leading and most dynamic groups conducting research with a tangible impact on society.
The role offers access to expert training and the benefits available to BSC-CNS staff, including an international, multidisciplinary scientific environment and advanced applied research training. We encourage applications from highly motivated candidates with proven experience and a strong interest in applied research projects.
Within this context, we are seeking a Group Leader for the ESS to provide scientific leadership and operational management. The role involves defining and implementing strategic priorities, fostering partnerships, team-building and collaborative spirit, as well as undertaking appropriate actions to support the group's needs, growth and impact.
The Group Leader will work closely with the Earth Sciences Directors, other Group Leaders, and Team Leaders within the ESS group to ensure that the group’s activities are aligned with ongoing projects, strategic proposal development, team capabilities, and emerging research opportunities that could shape future scientific directions.
The selected candidate will manage a team of approximately 50 researchers (April 2024) working on the development of climate and air quality services. This position presents a unique opportunity to work alongside a wide range of leading international climate scientists delivering cutting-edge climate science and climate services across Europe. The successful candidate will join one of Europe's leading and most dynamic groups conducting research with a tangible impact on society.
The role offers access to expert training and the benefits available to BSC-CNS staff, including an international, multidisciplinary scientific environment and advanced applied research training. We encourage applications from highly motivated candidates with proven experience and a strong interest in applied research projects.
Key Duties
- Provide scientific leadership and strategic direction to the Earth System Services Group.
- Manage and support a vibrant, interdisciplinary team of researchers from different disciplines, technical staff, and early-career scientists.
- Define and implement the group’s research agenda aligned with departmental and institutional priorities.
- Develop and oversee the design, co-development, and operationalisation of climate and air quality services.
- Contribute to the acquisition and management of competitive national and international research projects.
- Strengthen collaborations with other research groups, institutional partners, and stakeholders.
- Engage with stakeholders at local, national, and international levels to enhance the visibility, influence, and societal relevance of the group’s work, both within the organisation and externally.
- Represent the group in scientific, stakeholder, and institutional fora at national and international levels.
Requirements
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Education
- PhD in environmental or social sciences, meteorology, oceanography, physics, engineering or a related discipline.
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Essential Knowledge and Professional Experience
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in the scientific area as a Principal Investigator or group/team leader.
- Strong experience in managing resources and securing grants at both national and international levels.
- Demonstrable experience in managing multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary research teams.
- Expertise in environmental and/or impact modelling and in addressing the technical demands it entails.
- Experience in collaboration with diverse stakeholder communities, including decision-makers.
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Additional Knowledge and Professional Experience
- Credible scientific leadership with the ability to build excellent stakeholder relationships and enable a team of world-class experts to perform to the best of their abilities.
- Experience with operational or semi-operational forecasting systems and in addressing the technical demands it entails.
- Expertise in applied science, including sectoral applications (e.g. energy, health, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, urban environments).
- Solid record of relevant publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Knowledge of Spanish and Catalan will be valued.
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Competences
- Proven ability to guide a large, multicultural research group.
- Ability to take initiative, prioritise and work under set deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills in English and experience working in interdisciplinary and multicultural environments.
- Commitment to stakeholder engagement and co-production principles.
- Strong organisational and budgetary management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills.
- Capacity to cooperate and build strong relations with a diverse stakeholder/staff base.
Conditions
- The position will be located at BSC within the Earth Sciences Department
- We offer a full-time contract (37.5h/week), a good working environment, a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure, flexible working hours, extensive training plan, restaurant tickets, private health insurance, support to the relocation procedures
- Duration: Open-ended contract due to technical and scientific activities linked to the project and budget duration
- Holidays: 23 paid vacation days plus 24th and 31st of December per our collective agreement
- Salary: we offer a competitive salary commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate and according to the cost of living in Barcelona
- Starting date: ASAP
Applications procedure and process
All applications must be submitted via the BSC website and contain:
The selection will be carried out through a competitive examination system ("Concurso-Oposición"). The recruitment process consists of two phases:
- A full CV in English including contact details
- A cover/motivation letter with a statement of interest in English, clearly specifying for which specific area and topics the applicant wishes to be considered. Additionally, two references for further contacts must be included. Applications without this document will not be considered.
Development of the recruitment process
The selection will be carried out through a competitive examination system ("Concurso-Oposición"). The recruitment process consists of two phases:
- Curriculum Analysis: Evaluation of previous experience and/or scientific history, degree, training, and other professional information relevant to the position. - 40 points
- Interview phase: The highest-rated candidates at the curriculum level will be invited to the interview phase, conducted by the corresponding department and Human Resources. In this phase, technical competencies, knowledge, skills, and professional experience related to the position, as well as the required personal competencies, will be evaluated. - 60 points. A minimum of 30 points out of 60 must be obtained to be eligible for the position.
The recruitment panel will be composed of at least three people, ensuring at least 25% representation of women.
In accordance with OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for each vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will begin the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. At a minimum, a personality questionnaire as well as a technical exercise will be conducted during the process.
The panel will make a final decision, and all individuals who participated in the interview phase will receive feedback with details on the acceptance or rejection of their profile.
At BSC, we seek continuous improvement in our recruitment processes. For any suggestions or comments/complaints about our recruitment processes, please contact recruitment [at] bsc [dot] es.
For more information, please follow this link.
Deadline
The vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate has been hired. Applications will be regularly reviewed and potential candidates will be contacted.
OTM-R principles for selection processes
BSC-CNS is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment principles (OTM-R). This is applied for any potential candidate in all our processes, for example by creating gender-balanced recruitment panels and recognizing career breaks etc.
BSC-CNS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable state or local law.
For more information follow this link
BSC-CNS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable state or local law.
For more information follow this link