Open call for new panel to govern the Climate – Rapid Evaluation Framework

Deadline for applications: 14 August 2026

The ESMO Scientific Steering Group is seeking applications from enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to join the Rapid Evaluation Framework Panel.  There are two co-chair positions and up to 13 panel member positions.  Ex Officio positions will be made available for CMIP, WIP, WGORC, obs4MIPs and input4MIPs.  Other WCRP activities can request an ex-officio position by contacting the dedicated secretariat: CMIP IPO.

The Climate-Rapid Evaluation Framework is a community owned evaluation framework, built upon, and compatible with, existing community evaluation packages that incorporates an application programming interface (API) for executing metrics generated from community evaluation packages, across the globe.  For further details see www.climate-ref.org  

The REF Panel is being established to govern the REF, ensuring it remains scalable, scientifically relevant, and technically sustainable within resource constraints. This includes coordinating international research efforts on issues relating to REF development, access, and use. The Panel will set strategic direction for REF evolution to meet the needs of WCRP activities and will be responsible for:

• Setting standards and transparent inclusion criteria for packages, diagnostics, metrics and reference datasets addressing requirements across WCRP and other relevant activities.
• Consulting and conducting engagement activities to establish evolving community requirements .
• The scientific and technical direction and oversight of any maintenance and expansion activities in coordination with relevant activities (e.g., obs4MIPs, WGORC, WIP).
• Advocating for future funding to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the Climate-REF.

The Panel has the following objectives, which will be subject to amendment as a first task of the panel and to review and authorisation by ESMO SSG:

1. Provision of objective and independent scientific advice on issues of science and free and unrestricted access affecting the development and delivery of the REF
2. Consult with identified community stakeholders for feedback and new requirements, making use of existing stakeholder panel(s) managed by ESMO and other WCRP Core Projects and Lighthouse Activities
3. Manage growth of the public REF in line with infrastructure constraints, addressing responsible data use and system integrity
4. Co-ordination of community endorsed scientific and technical development and expansion of the REF,   including identifying and tracking prioritised areas for community action.
5. Development, application and updating of transparent inclusion criteria for packages, diagnostics, metrics, reference datasets and metadata.
6. Development and implementation of an endorsement process for diagnostic collections and diagnostics associated observational reference datasets – both actual (identified existing dataset) and required (not in existence but essential for endorsed new diagnostic proposals)
7. Development and implementation of a change control process for WCRP community diagnostic collections, diagnostics and their metrics submitted already included within the REF
8. Oversight and coordination of technical development, expansion and support community including, but not limited to, authorisation of implementation of forked development tracking and endorsement for reintegration
9. Establish community capacity building requirements for REF use and evolution and oversee associated resources and champions development.  This includes maintaining a list of champions who have had/undergone training/update module within the last year.
10. Liaising with, and making recommendations, where appropriate, to ESMO SSG, and to supporting WCRP endorsed infrastructure providers.
11. Identify and coordinate resources necessary to support ongoing operational sustainment, including community use, support, development and maintenance, of the REF

This call invites those community members and bodies with an interest in using and further expanding the REF to nominate candidates (including self-nomination) who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Thematic evaluation and benchmarking Earth System science domain leads across Atmosphere, Ocean, Land, Earth System and Impacts & Adaptation domains
• Metrology – particularly treatment of uncertainty
• Science software developers and engineers, particularly those with expertise in python
• Reference dataset community representatives, with expertise in in-situ, reanalysis, forcings and or Earth observation datasets

Responsibilities of REF Panel members

• Contribute to meetings, guiding progress in the delivery of the objectives
• Report on areas of responsibility and adopt actions as needed
• Work with other panel members to develop resources and publications as relevant
• Be available to respond to requests for support from REF Panel co-chairs
• Promote the work of the REF within their own networks and wider community
• Commit to embracing diversity, demanding equality, and building capacity for the future within the REF Panel, in line with WCRP principles.
• Members are expected to adhere to the WCRP Code of Conduct.

Term

The term is minimum of two years, with the expectation that most panel members will be able to commit to an initial term of four years. Co-chair positions are expected to be for a 4 year initial term.

Time commitment for those applying for co-chair positions

The co-chair  role is expected during initial set up of the Panel and working processes to require a minimum 15% FTE commitment.  During this period the co-chairs will likely need to meet on a weekly basis as well as chair monthly panel meetings, with an annual meeting (virtual or in person) together with ESMO. There may be times when there is more or less work, depending on the activities undertaken (e.g., more intensive time demand may be needed for decisions regarding set up of new workflows/implementation/delivery activities, a workshop/event, stakeholder engagement or publishing a paper). Meetings are primarily online, with some face-to-face meetings if suitable opportunities can be leveraged. Some out-of-hours work will be required due to time zone coordination, but every effort is made to rotate meeting times to ensure fairness across the members.  

Typical additional activities that a co-chair might need to engage in include:

• Involvement and contribution to the Panel’s subsidiary bodies (once set up)
• Attending and presenting in a  REF-related workshop (virtually or in person).
• Additional virtual meetings for dialogue with other parts of WCRP and external stakeholders.
• Document preparation such as white papers, decision papers, guidance documents or peer reviewed publications.
• Developing or leveraging networks relevant to the aims of the REF.
• Proposal conceptualization and development.
• Representing the REF Panel at conferences, workshops, and other events.
• Supporting capacity building in the global South and helping to foster collaboration.
• Mentoring / fostering early career researchers.

Eligibility criteria

• Postgraduate qualification/equivalent experience in climate modelling/climate model analysis
• Postgraduate qualification/equivalent experience in reference data collection and preparation
• Be employed by an organisation or institution.
• Voting members of existing WCRP panels are not eligible.
• Those involved in developing the REF need to consider carefully their future role. It is anticipated that the Panel members should not be involved in delivery and implementation to avoid conflicts of interest.  However, we are happy to take expressions of interest for the Panel role of co-chair of a subsidiary body, an Operations Team, dedicated to the technical coordination of implementation and maintenance of the REF

Ex-offico positions

In addition, directly appointed ex-officio positions will be allocated to the CMIP Model Benchmarking Task Team co-leads for an interim period that will cease once handover and transition arrangements have been deemed completed, expected by Q3 2026. The following groups will be invited to nominate ex-officio positions:

• CMIP
• WIP
• CORDEX
• WGORC
• Digital Earths Lighthouse Activity (to include HighResMIP)
• obs4MIPs
• input4MIPs
• Other – please set out justification for ex-officio representation request.

Call Timeline

• 01 July  Call opens for applications
• 14 August: Call closes.
• August: Application review and shortlisting and shortlisted candidates checks completed.
• September: Successful candidates’ onboarding and  first meeting of REF Panel.

Selection process

All open calls for REF members will follow a four-stage selection process:

1. An initial blind review of applications to generate a shortlist, which will then be reviewed in line with WCRP principles of embracing diversity, demanding equality, and building capacity for the future. Therefore, please adhere to guidance provided on the application form e.g., removing photographs, any personal details and publication list from your Curriculum Vitae.
2. A full review of the shortlisted candidates – all information in the application will be considered at this stage.  The Review Panel will use the outcomes of the selection panel to produce a final, prioritised shortlist.
3. Candidates on the priority shortlist will be asked to supply contact details for a supervisor/line manager who can confirm their support for the application.
4. The prioritised shortlist will then be submitted as a recommendation to the ESMO SSG for final approval.

Selection procedures align with the relevant clauses  in the ESMO SSG Terms of Reference. All selection panel members will be asked to identify if they have any conflicts of interest with regard to the shortlist of candidates.  They can still assess all shortlisted candidates, but their scoring and views can be disregarded by the selection process for the final prioritised shortlist.

The CMIP IPO will facilitate the application and review process, which will be conducted over two phases, the first being a blind review.  The review panel will be formed of the following:

• WCRP ESMO Infrastructure Panel representativeess all shortlisted candidates, but their scoring and views can be disregarded by the selection process for the final prioritised shortlist.
• ESMO SSG representative
• Model benchmarking Task Team liaison member for CMIP Panel
• WGORC co-chair
• obs4MIPS co-chair

Remuneration

REF Panel  members are not paid. Financial support to travel and participate in person to relevant meeting may be available on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply

Please complete the application form here.

The deadline for applications/nominations is 08:00 UTC Friday 14 August 2026

Please contact  if you have any questions or require further information.