Job Description

Details

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Reference number

407171
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Salary

33,794 - 36,235
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Higher Executive Officer###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Science###

Working pattern

Full-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB

About the job

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Job summary

We're looking for an exceptional Foundation Scientist in Weather Radar R&D to help us make a difference to our planet.###

Job description

As our Foundation 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 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 a world-leading authority in weather and climate services, observations are fundamental to almost everything we do at the Met Office. Our network of weather radars measures the atmosphere, feeding data into high performance numerical models and are used by our forecasting teams to precisely predict the weather. To collect these underpinning observations, we utilise innovative technology that improves the quality and accuracy of our radar systems and helps us to deliver the most accurate forecasts to our customers.


Technology and science go hand-in-hand to drive our success and that's where you come in. Working with our upgraded Dual Polarisation radars, you'll join our Weather Radar Research and Development Team to develop techniques and processes to enhance the data collected through our observing network. The Radar R&D team are responsible for end-to-end upgrades of the UK Weather Radar capability. Your skills, combined with your scientific understanding, can help us improve the cutting-edge science that delivers high quality and accurate weather information to our customers, which include the Flood Forecasting Centre, regional water companies across the UK and the Environment Agency.

Your key duties

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Contribute to the development of science to enhance the quality and accuracy of UK Weather Radar Products. Work within with a motivated team to deliver projects that solve real world challenges Communicate scientific and technical information accurately and concisely with colleagues and wider stakeholders, including engineers, scientific software engineers, and non-technical audiences. Proactively develop your skills and knowledge to stay up-to-date with advancements in weather radar science and technology. ###

Person specification

Experience and knowledge in a mathematical, physical or computational science or related discipline, equivalent to a graduate level. Experience of using scientific insight to solve scientific tasks or problems. Experience in applying good Quality Assurance processes in your work. Ability to communicate scientific and technical knowledge accurately and concisely in various situations, including presentations, written reports, and team discussions. Experience in writing and understanding Python code in a Linux environment.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 33,794, Met Office contributes 9,790 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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 Weather Radar R&D Foundation Scientist, your total reward package will be up to 38,280 annually, which includes:

26,954 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

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

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 05/06/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 12/06/2025. 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.


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. 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.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals 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) 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 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 Inclusion

The 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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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 applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Resourcing Team Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk