CHIEF METEOROLOGIST - WLBT

GRAY MEDIA; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WLBT-TV/Gray Media in Mississippi seeks an experienced Chief Meteorologist to lead the award-winning First Alert Weather team across broadcast, digital, and social platforms. The role demands exceptional forecasting skill, calm communication during breaking weather, and a strong commitment to public safety.

The ideal candidate will guide weather coverage, mentor staff, and serve as the trusted voice during severe events, contributing to viewer trust and 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.
• Strong understanding of severe-weather forecasting, radar interpretation, warning operations, and communication of weather risk to a broad audience.
• Exceptional on-camera presence and the ability to translate complex weather information into clear, conversational forecasts.
• Commitment to community service, audience trust, and building relationships throughout the market.

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 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 outreach, and partnerships with local organizations.
• Maintain knowledge of forecasting tools, radar technology, weather data, and audience-engagement platforms.

Skills

Leadership

On-air forecasting

Communication

Severe weather coverage

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in meteorology

Tools

Radar technology

Weather data platforms

Job description

Today, we are a growing multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first- and/or second-highest-rated television station in average all-day ratings across 116 such markets measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group, with 46 markets, and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies and the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios.

About WLBT:

WLBT is Mississippi's flagship television station and the clear #1 local TV and digital media brand in Central Mississippi. As an NBC affiliate, WLBT consistently delivers award-winning local news coverage, and we keep our viewers safe and informed with the most accurate First Alert Weather team. Located in the state's largest TV market and capital city, our area features top-tier museums, multiple universities, and the state's leading medical facilities, including the renowned University of Mississippi Medical Center. With Mississippi's mild climate, outdoor recreation is a way of life, supported by an extensive network of walking, running, and cycling trails throughout the metro. And for quick getaways, Jackson is just a short drive from beautiful Gulf Coast beaches and all the fun you can handle in New Orleans.

Sports fans will feel right at home here. Our DMA includes two SWAC programs, Jackson State and Alcorn State, and fans of SEC athletics are near four powerhouse schools: Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, and LSU. Pro sports are close by as well, with Saints and Pelicans action in New Orleans and Grizzlies games in Memphis.

Job Summary/Description:

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic Chief Meteorologist to lead our award-winning First Alert Weather team in one of the nation's most active and consequential severe-weather markets. This role requires exceptional forecasting skill, calm and commanding communication during breaking weather, and an unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our community. The Chief Meteorologist will build on a strong legacy of viewer trust while leading our weather coverage across broadcast, digital, social, and community platforms.

• 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, consistent 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.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a closely related field required.
• Significant on-air meteorology experience, including demonstrated leadership in a severe-weather market; prior chief meteorologist or weather-team leadership experience preferred.
• Proven ability to lead extended, live severe-weather coverage with sound editorial judgment, composure, urgency, and accuracy.
• Strong understanding of severe-weather forecasting, radar interpretation, warning operations, and the communication of weather risk to a broad audience.
• Exceptional on-camera presence and the ability to translate complex weather information into clear, conversational, actionable forecasts.
• A demonstrated commitment to community service, audience trust, and building meaningful relationships throughout the market.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during severe weather and breaking news.

WLBT-TV/Gray Media is a drug-free company

Additional Info:

Gray Media provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Gray Media complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment at every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Gray Media expresses prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with Gray’s employees' ability to perform their job duties may result in discipline, up to and including discharge.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.