National Capability Weather Intelligence Scientist

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PBJob SummaryWe’re looking for an exceptional National Capability Weather Intelligence Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet.As our National Capability Weather Intelligence Scientist, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share.  Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.World changing work From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impactWe’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things betterWe live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-makingWe’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greaterWe keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers Job DescriptionYour world of expertise The National Capability Weather Intelligence (NCWI) area is made up of a mix of Scientists and Scientific Software Engineers with a range of backgrounds and different academic/career experiences – we do not all come in with a meteorology background, but we do all share a passion for taking weather and climate information and making it useful, usable and used.As both individuals and teams we deliver high quality, impactful outputs, whilst ensuring we work together in a positive, collaborative and supportive way; understanding we all have lives and responsibilities beyond our jobs, respecting each other, benefiting from our differences and building and developing both our own and others’ skills to progress as a team and in our own careers.The focus of the NCWI area is to innovatively apply our world-leading weather science to ensure our customers can make the best possible use of meteorological information in their decision making. At the heart of this are our Post-Processing teams, working with stakeholders to understand the challenges they face and researching and developing underpinning forecast capabilities to meet the needs of a wide range of users.You will develop an excellent understanding of how weather information is used inside and outside the Met Office. Your work will combine this with your relevant scientific and technical background to develop and support the next generation of weather forecast services for new and existing Met Office customers, for example by developing Machine Learning tools to improve the quality of our forecasts.Your Key Duties:Researching cutting edge science and technology to utilise weather forecast data and observations to produce outputs that benefit our customersDeveloping high quality scientific computing code to undertake the required data analysis and designing and building forecast production systemsWorking as part of a multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver a range of projectsClearly communicating science through reports and presentations to customers and peersCarry out the scientific and technical activities to ensure timely delivery of operational services for the benefit of our customers.Your world of expertise The National Capability Weather Intelligence (NCWI) area is made up of a mix of Scientists and Scientific Software Engineers with a range of backgrounds and different academic/career experiences – we do not all come in with a meteorology background, but we do all share a passion for taking weather and climate information and making it useful, usable and used.As both individuals and teams we deliver high quality, impactful outputs, whilst ensuring we work together in a positive, collaborative and supportive way; understanding we all have lives and responsibilities beyond our jobs, respecting each other, benefiting from our differences and building and developing both our own and others’ skills to progress as a team and in our own careers.The focus of the NCWI area is to innovatively apply our world-leading weather science to ensure our customers can make the best possible use of meteorological information in their decision making. At the heart of this are our Post-Processing teams, working with stakeholders to understand the challenges they face and researching and developing underpinning forecast capabilities to meet the needs of a wide range of users.You will develop an excellent understanding of how weather information is used inside and outside the Met Office. Your work will combine this with your relevant scientific and technical background to develop and support the next generation of weather forecast services for new and existing Met Office customers, for example by developing Machine Learning tools to improve the quality of our forecasts.Your Key Duties:Researching cutting edge science and technology to utilise weather forecast data and observations to produce outputs that benefit our customersDeveloping high quality scientific computing code to undertake the required data analysis and designing and building forecast production systemsWorking as part of a multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver a range of projectsClearly communicating science through reports and presentations to customers and peersCarry out the scientific and technical activities to ensure timely delivery of operational services for the benefit of our customers.Person specificationEssential Criteria, Skills And Experience: Experience and knowledge in a physical science or quantitative scientific discipline at graduate or equivalent level, plus experience equivalent to several years working post-graduate in applied research and/or as a scientific consultant - (we're experts by nature)Demonstrable experience of using scientific/technical insight in the application of scientific and analytical methods to numeric data, including exploring and developing new concepts/methods, to solve applied research problems with limited supervisionStrong scientific computing skills (e.g. in Python) with experience of writing and modifying complex code to produce high quality analyses using appropriate quality assurance tools and processes.Excellent communication skills (written, oral, presentation and listening) with the ability to understand user needs and clearly communicate complex scientific and technical information to a range of audiencesAn independent thinker, able to proactively take ownership of your work, to identify and address your own knowledge gaps and able to plan and manage your work, delivering on time to quality requirements - (we keep evolving)A contributing team player with the ability to work and collaborate as an effective and productive team member to deliver scientific/technical projects, including experience of advising and supporting colleagues - (we're better together).Alongside your salary of £35,145, Met Office contributes £10,181 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Why join us Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.As our National Capability Weather Intelligence Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £49,448 annually, which includes:£35,145 base payAn outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leaveSelection process detailsHow To Apply If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.Closing date 25/11/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 02/12/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.Using AI in your applicationWe welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.How We Can Help If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.MedicalSuccessful candidates will be expected to have a medical.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob Contact :Name : Resourcing TeamEmail : careers@metoffice.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : careers@metoffice.gov.uk