Job Description

Job Introduction

We're looking for an exceptional Chief Meteorologist to help us make a difference to our planet.


As our Chief Meteorologist, 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 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

As the most senior Operational Meteorology role, the Chief Meteorologist will provide intellectual leadership, vision and advocacy for the Operational Meteorology profession, and will be the Met Office's lead expert on weather matters to government, international organisations, the media, partners and customers.

Your key duties

:

Shaping and articulating the future vision for Operational Meteorology as part of organisational strategy. Acting as the lead Met Office representative in Operational Meteorology externally both nationally and internationally, showcasing Met Office expertise and values to achieve corporate goals. Representing Operational Meteorology with the Principal Fellow community and across the Met Office to inform and aid delivery of R&I strategy. Proactively develop the skills and experience of operational meteorology experts to maintain and grow a pool of broadly skilled staff that can facilitate innovation, pushing the frontiers of the profession across disciplines such as AI and social science. Developing and maintaining Met Office influence within the UK and internationally. Providing leadership and support to operational teams and our senior leaders around high-profile weather events.

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.


As our Chief Meteorologist, your total reward package will be up to 103,591 annually, which includes:

74,856 base pay 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:

Be internationally recognised as a leading expert in operational meteorology, with evidence of leading, shaping and delivering major advancements in this field aligned to Met Office and UK strategic aims. Be an exceptional communicator, understood and trusted by a wide range of technical and non-technical audiences, including at the highest levels within Government, often in high-profile and high-pressure circumstances. Have a track record of successful customer-focussed service delivery, with proven ability to successfully lead, motivate and build consensus amongst large and diverse groups to achieve transformational outcomes. Be a role model for the profession, articulating vision, inspiring and developing others and enabling innovation.

Additionally, it is essential that you are able to achieve Developed Vetting within 6 months of commencing the role and though this is not an operational or on-call role, the job holder may be required to occasionally work abnormal/unsociable hours, and to travel within the UK and international in support of Met Office activities.

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 12/11/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from week commencing 1st December. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We 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 Developed Vetting security clearance for this role, 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 Developed Vetting security clearance within your first 6 months with us.