About this role
Background
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) supports its Members in strengthening weather, climate, water and related environmental services. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) need to maintain prioritized services during disruption, particularly when early warnings and related information are most needed.
WMO has developed the Business Continuity Management Guidelines for WMO Members (WMO-No. 1361) and an associated online training course. The next priority is to support Members in applying this guidance through sustained institutional arrangements, practical implementation support and appropriate resources.
WMO seeks a consultant to develop a global business continuity management (BCM) implementation strategy for its Members. Under the direct supervision of [name and title to be confirmed], the consultant will work with relevant WMO technical bodies, Regional Associations, regional offices, selected NMHSs, training institutions and partners, with coordination facilitated by the Secretariat.
The purpose is to provide a practical, phased approach to embedding BCM in NMHS strategic and operational plans, budgets, quality management systems and management reviews. The strategy will address global, regional and national action, with particular attention to resource-constrained NMHSs, least developed countries and small island developing States. It will cover prioritized NMHS services, with an emphasis on early warnings, and build on existing WMO guidance and relevant ISO 22301 principles without creating parallel structures or reporting requirements.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Review available WMO guidance, survey material, regional experience, training resources and relevant NMHS planning examples. Prepare a concise assessment of BCM implementation barriers and enabling factors, clearly distinguishing evidence from information gaps.
2. Prepare an inception approach, annotated strategy outline and work schedule covering inputs, consultation, drafting, review and finalization within the 25-working-day allocation.
3. Develop the strategy’s vision, objectives, expected outcomes and implementation priorities. Explain its contribution to Early Warnings for All and its alignment with applicable WMO decisions and planning frameworks, distinguishing adopted provisions from proposals.
4. Propose a progressive implementation pathway with recommended minimum BCM capabilities, practical entry points and evidence of progress appropriate to different NMHS capacities. Address institutionalization and continuous improvement without making certification a prerequisite.
5. Define responsibilities at global, regional and national levels, including subnational arrangements where relevant. Recommend support through existing online training, Regional Training Centres, technical assistance, peer learning and good-practice exchange.
6. Identify options for regional mutual assistance and backup cooperation, including prerequisites and matters requiring further technical or legal consideration. Address external dependencies and coordination needs while respecting institutional mandates.
7. Prepare an adaptable package for integrating BCM into NMHS strategic plans, operational plans, budgets and management reviews. Include illustrative strategic objectives and indicators; an operational planning matrix with activities, responsibilities, timelines, resources and evidence of completion; budget guidance; and two worked examples for a small, resource-constrained NMHS and a larger service.
8. Explain how Members can prioritize services and determine acceptable service levels and recovery objectives through business impact analysis. Address dependencies such as staffing, power, ICT, data, facilities and external providers without prescribing universal recovery times.
9. Develop a phased implementation roadmap, financing approach, risk register and proportionate monitoring framework. Identify responsible actors, milestones, indicative resource needs and dependencies; distinguish initial and recurrent costs; and propose indicators covering adoption, resourcing, exercised capability and corrective action, using existing reporting mechanisms where practicable.
10. Consult an indicative sample of six to eight NMHSs and participate in up to two virtual review sessions facilitated by the Secretariat. Agree the final consultation scope at inception. Consolidate feedback in a comments matrix and complete one consolidated revision round to produce a final package ready for consideration through the appropriate WMO processes.
11. Participate in an inception meeting and brief fortnightly online progress calls, normally during Geneva working hours with reasonable flexibility across time zones. Flag constraints promptly and coordinate inputs and review through the WMO supervisor.
The assignment focuses on strategy and planning support. It excludes comprehensive global surveys, country-specific BCP development or implementation, new training development, formal standard-setting, certification assessment, negotiation of backup agreements, operational testing and fundraising. Institutional adoption, Member agreement and financing commitments are not conditions of acceptance.
Main deliverables
1. Inception and rapid implementation assessment: methodology, annotated outline, work schedule and consultation plan, together with a concise assessment of implementation barriers, enabling factors and evidence limitations.
2. Draft global BCM implementation strategy and roadmap: approximately 15–20 pages excluding annexes, covering objectives, progressive implementation pathways, global, regional and national roles, support mechanisms, financing, a phased roadmap, monitoring framework and risk register.
3. Member planning integration package: approximately 6–8 pages, including adaptable strategic objectives and indicators, an operational planning matrix, budget and management review guidance, and two worked planning examples.
4. Final strategy and supporting package: revised strategy, roadmap and planning package; consultation record and consolidated comments matrix and a 2–3-page executive summary.
Deliverables shall be submitted in English in editable Word format and follow applicable WMO editorial conventions. Acceptance by the supervisor will be based on completeness, technical quality, feasibility and treatment of consolidated comments against the agreed scope. The Secretariat will provide available evidence, facilitate consultations and consolidate feedback, normally within ten working days.
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business continuity management, risk management, disaster risk reduction, public administration, organizational management, meteorology, hydrology, engineering or a related field. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience:
- At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in BCM, organizational resilience or a closely related field, including work across differing institutional or country contexts, is required.
- Demonstrated practical BCM experience, including business impact analysis, continuity and recovery arrangements, exercises and improvement processes, and working knowledge of ISO 22301 principles are required.
- Demonstrated experience translating BCM or institutional resilience priorities into public-sector strategies, operational plans, budgets and management accountability arrangements is required.
- Experience producing institutional strategies and implementation roadmaps, supported by comparable written outputs, and managing stakeholder consultations is required. A working understanding of disaster risk reduction, early warning systems and essential public-service dependencies is required.
- Familiarity with WMO and NMHS operations, quality management systems, regional cooperation or development financing is desirable. Advisory or capacity-development experience with resource-constrained institutions, least developed countries or small island developing States is an advantage. A relevant professional BCM qualification is an asset.
Other Requirements:
- Excellent analytical, drafting, coordination and organizational skills.
- Ability to translate technical BCM requirements into practical planning and management actions for diverse institutional contexts.
- Ability to work independently to deadlines and collaborate remotely across cultures and time zones.
- Sound judgement in handling confidential or sensitive operational information, including Member vulnerabilities.
- Strong focus on quality, feasibility and results.
Languages: Excellent written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another WMO official language is an advantage.
(Note: The official languages of WMO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)
Salary and Allowances: Pay band D USD 620.- / USD 750.-
Duration : 25 days over a period of four months
Focal point: Xiao Zhou [email protected]
Statements:
WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age is 65. Pursuant to WMO Standing Instructions, the minimum age to be eligible for consideration for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before reaching mandatory age of separation.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
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