Chief Meteorologist - Lead Severe Weather Coverage

RiseMe; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

WLBT-TV/Gray Media is seeking an experienced Chief Meteorologist to lead the First Alert Weather team in a top-tier severe-weather market. The role demands exceptional forecasting skill, calm communication during events, and a commitment to viewer safety across broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

Responsibilities include directing weather strategy across all channels, mentoring staff, and representing the brand in community outreach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a closely related field required.
• Significant on-air meteorology experience with leadership in a severe-weather market; prior chief meteorologist or weather-team leadership preferred.
• Proven ability to lead extended, live severe-weather coverage with sound editorial judgment, composure, urgency, and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the First Alert Weather team and set a high standard for accurate, urgent, clear, and viewer-focused weather coverage.
• Deliver compelling, reliable on-air forecasts, including extended live coverage during severe weather, tornado threats, hurricanes, flooding, winter weather, and other high-impact events.
• Serve as a trusted on-air voice before, during, and after major weather events, helping viewers understand risks and make informed safety decisions.
• Direct weather strategy across all platforms, including newscasts, streaming, website, mobile, social media, and breaking-news coverage.
• Work closely with newsroom leadership, producers, anchors, reporters, and digital teams to ensure weather information is timely, accurate, easy to understand, and prominent when it matters most.
• Mentor, coach, and develop members of the weather team while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Represent the station and First Alert Weather brand in the community through school visits, public events, severe-weather preparedness outreach, and partnerships with local organizations.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of emerging forecasting tools, radar technology, weather data, and audience-engagement platforms.

Skills

Leadership in severe-weather

On-air meteorology

Editorial judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree in meteorology

Job description

WLBT-TV/Gray Media is seeking an experienced Chief Meteorologist to lead the First Alert Weather team in a top-tier severe-weather market. The role demands exceptional forecasting skill, calm communication during events, and a commitment to viewer safety across broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

Responsibilities include directing weather strategy across all channels, mentoring staff, and representing the brand in community outreach.