Lead Chief Meteorologist: Command Severe-Weather Coverage

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

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.