People Leader - Operational Technology

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PBJob SummaryWe’re looking for an exceptional People Leader to help us make a difference to our planet.As our People Leader, 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 33 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.We are looking to appoint three positions – two for a permanent post and one as a 12-month temporary appointment which has the potential to develop into a permanent positionWorld changing workFrom 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 customersJob DescriptionYour world of expertiseYou will effectively lead and manage members of the Technology directorate, empowering and enabling them to develop in their role and future career through their personal development.Your Key Duties:Line manage approximately 15 to 20 technologists, ensuring they are engaged, motivated and inspired as they progress on their journey with the Met Office.Help identify skills gaps and opportunities across the team, and feed in to strategic training needs and workforce planning with the leadership team.Ensure the team are aligned to all corporate standards and people management processes.Lead recruitment activities within the team.Your world of expertiseYou will effectively lead and manage members of the Technology directorate, empowering and enabling them to develop in their role and future career through their personal development.Your Key Duties:Line manage approximately 15 to 20 technologists, ensuring they are engaged, motivated and inspired as they progress on their journey with the Met Office.Help identify skills gaps and opportunities across the team, and feed in to strategic training needs and workforce planning with the leadership team.Ensure the team are aligned to all corporate standards and people management processes.Lead recruitment activities within the team.Person specificationEssential Criteria, Skills And Experience:Show that you are a Force for Good by providing evidence of an engaging leadership style and the necessary leadership techniques required to develop a high functioning, highly engaged team.Evidence of being an Expert by Nature by demonstrating your experience of leading a team aligning with corporate and people standards.Show you Live and Breathe It with evidence of utilising tools and techniques to better evidence staff recruitment, staff performance and identifying development opportunities.Show that you are Better Together with evidence of motivating and developing effective and well-functioning teams.Show that you Keep Evolving with evidence of your willingness to actively engage and contribute towards the development of new capabilities and ways of working.Alongside your salary of £43,081, Met Office contributes £12,480 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Why join usOur 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 People Leader, your total reward package will be up to £60,268 annually, which includes:£43,081 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 applyIf 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 23/11/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 01/12/2025. 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 helpIf 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