Mercy Corps Vacancy for Meteorological Trainee

Location: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Kathmandu, Nepal
Lenght of Traineeship: Six Months

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Strengthening Anticipatory Action in Nepal (SAAN) is a 2-year project supporting communities most impacted by frequent flood disasters in Sudurpaschim and Madhesh Provinces by transforming disaster response systems to shift from a traditional reactive approach to a proactive disaster response (known as Anticipatory Action – AA). The program aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response by leveraging established models and flood resilience expertise to partner with communities to proactively mitigate the impact of riverine floods, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and dignified proactive approach compared to traditional reactive humanitarian responses.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a swift, cost-effective, and dignified alternative to traditional disaster preparedness, by fortifying communities in Madhesh and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as local governments, with the necessary knowledge and infrastructure needed for early and timely action in the face of climate-induced floods and droughts. This will support at-risk communities to proactively mitigate the impacts of disasters, while concurrently enhancing the reliability of forecasting by fostering stakeholders’ confidence through more effective utilization of Department of Hydrology and Meteorological (DHM) forecasting systems and working closely with government and private sector partners.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Meteorological Trainee position is a structured learning opportunity designed to provide practical professional experience to a recent graduate while contributing to DHM’s operational capacity in weather, climate, and Anticipatory Action-related initiatives. The trainee will be embedded within the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and will support meteorological data processing, analysis, forecasting, and early warning activities under the guidance of Mercy Corps Anticipatory Action Specialist and DHM staff.

This role offers dual benefit: the trainee gains hands-on experience in humanitarian and development programs, while the organization benefits from the trainee’s proactive support in documenting and disseminating impact. While mentorship is provided, the trainee is expected to support the generation of Impact-Based Forecasts (IBF) for working Palikas (rural/urban municipalities) under DHM’s operational mandate. The trainee will assist in translating meteorological and hydrological forecasts into impact-oriented information that highlights potential effects on lives, livelihoods, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure at the local level. This will involve close coordination with DHM forecasting teams and the Mercy Corps Nepal Anticipatory Action program to ensure IBF outputs are timely, actionable, and aligned with early action trigger thresholds.

As Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), governance, and environmental compliance are cross-cutting priorities of all Mercy Corps programs, the trainee will be expected to support the integration of these principles into relevant program activities and outputs.

LEARNING AREAS:

1. Meteorological Data Processing and Analysis

• Collect, clean, and process daily meteorological datasets from DHM observation networks.
• Apply Python programming skills to automate data workflows and develop scripts for data extraction, transformation, analysis, and visualization of weather and climate data.
• Support statistical and spatial analysis of meteorological variables and forecast products.
• Prepare summary reports on weather patterns, hazards, and anomalies for internal use and early warning communication.

2. Support to Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF)

• Support the preparation and updating of Impact-Based Forecast (IBF) matrices for targeted Palikas.
• Coordinate with concerned Palika disaster focal persons to collect real-time impact information and local feedback.
• Assist in the preparation, release, and dissemination of IBF products and early warning information to communities and stakeholders.
• Support the integration of forecast information into Anticipatory Action trigger and decision-making processes.

3. Support on Khaderi Monitoring Tool

• Support the operation and improvement of the Khaderi Monitoring Tool (drought monitoring tool).
• Assist in processing and analyzing meteorological and remote sensing datasets, including satellite rainfall estimates, NDVI, and soil moisture indices for drought monitoring.
• Produce maps, dashboards, and spatial outputs for weather forecasting, drought monitoring, and early warning communication.
• Contribute to the maintenance of DHM’s GIS datasets, databases, and metadata documentation.

4. Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of data sources, processing methods, analytical outputs, and workflows.
• Contribute to technical reports, situation updates, and program documentation prepared by DHM and Mercy Corps Nepal.
• Document Python scripts and automated workflows to support reproducibility and institutional knowledge sharing.
• Prepare brief monthly learning and progress summaries for the Mercy Corps Nepal program team.

5. Capacity Building and Learning

• Participate actively in DHM training sessions, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing events.
• Engage with Mercy Corps Nepal program staff on Anticipatory Action concepts, trigger frameworks, and program learning.
• Identify opportunities to improve data tools, forecasting workflows, and early warning systems, and share recommendations with relevant teams.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly to: Anticipatory Action Specialist

Works Directly with: Senior Project Coordinator, Anticipatory Action Specialist, other Mercy team, Meteorologist of DHM, Local implementing partner(s); programs, and Operations team members

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Fresh graduates who have completed bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in meteorology and Hydrology, or a closely related field.
• Strong willingness to learn, and professional growth.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Python programming for data analysis.
• Basic understanding of meteorological principles, weather systems, and hydro-climatic processes.
• Familiarity with meteorological datasets and data formats.
• Experience with GIS tools (QGIS/ArcGIS) and remote sensing data processing.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with attention to detail.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a government institutional setting.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in Nepali and English.
• Basic computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint).
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Preference will be given to female, persons with disabilities and applicants from the marginalized communities.

PREFERRED/ADVANTAGEOUS

• Prior internship or project experience in a meteorological, hydrological, or climate-related organization.
• Familiarity with early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, or climate adaptation concepts.
• Knowledge of Anticipatory Action or humanitarian preparedness frameworks.

SUCCESS FACTORS

Success in this role is defined by a proactive learning mindset with a strong interest in applied meteorology, climate services, and disaster risk reduction. They will demonstrate initiative in using Python and data analysis tools to support forecasting, drought monitoring, and early warning activities, while communicating professionally within a government institutional setting. The candidate should be able to work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic environment, showing adaptability, accountability, and a willingness to learn. They are expected to contribute meaningfully to the technical operations of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) while upholding the professional standards and core values of Mercy Corps.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

LIVING CONDITION /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), and it requires frequent travel to field to support country programs.

ONGOING LEARNING

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

SAFEGUARDING AND ETHICS

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

To Apply Visit: recruiting2.ultipro.com