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We’re looking for an exceptional Science Manager – Defence Applications to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Science Manager, 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 impact.
* We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better.
* We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making.
* We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater.
* We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers.
Your world of expertise
The Defence Applications team undertakes and coordinates research and development into aspects of meteorology relevant to the military customer. These include the development of a range of impact-based decision aids, the provision of high-resolution weather information, and the delivery of consultancy work, which is increasingly focused on climate time frames.
You will have the opportunity to work closely with military stakeholders to shape the strategic direction of our future work plan in response to their emerging needs for meteorological and environmental information.
Examples of R&D challenges include:
* Making the best use of our data, including the use of data science techniques (e.g. to reduce computational time, reduce biases and to diagnose high impact events from the meteorology).
* Understanding the useful information content offered by sub-km environmental modelling and how this content is best exploited in an operational context.
* Developing the Met Office offering to support the increased use of connected and autonomous platforms.
* Ensuring that we fully leverage the advantages of Met Office modelling capability, such as ensembles, coupled forecast, and seasonal predictions, within our products.
* Understanding current capabilities in environmental prediction for the Arctic region and how these capabilities may be developed.
* Manage and motivate a team of scientists to ensure the delivery of project work on time and in full, meeting customer quality requirements.
* Undertake team recruitment, budgeting, line management, and resource prioritisation in line with Business, Science, and corporate requirements.
* Engage with Science, Technology and Service teams to pull through the latest science capabilities into offerings for the Defence customer, ensuring that scientific credibility, integrity and Met Office reputation is maintained or enhanced.
* Act as a focal point for Business teams, developing opportunities as appropriate.
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 Science Manager, your total reward package will be up to £73,518 annually, which includes:
* An 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 leave.
Essential Criteria, skills and experience:
* Better Together - Strong interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to manage, motivate and develop scientific staff.
* Keep evolving - Good understanding of Met Office scientific capabilities and an understanding of how they can be applied to deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions for defence customers.
* Force for good - Evidence of the ability to plan and monitor multiple tasks to deliver high quality output to demanding deadlines.
* Live and Breathe it - An inclusive and persuasive communicator with the ability to communicate complex information to people with a wide range of expertise in a clear and concise manner both orally and in writing.
* Experts by Nature - Sound scientific coding and analytical skills with the ability to set and monitor robust quality assurance standards and working practices.
* Must hold Developed Vetting security clearance, or be willing to undergo process and successfully obtain clearance on appointment.
We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but we’re also keen to discover if you have:
* An understanding of the defence sector with knowledge of key existing and emerging priorities and how these relate to weather and climate capabilities.
How 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: 06/04/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 22/04/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.
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.
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