About the job

Job summary

We’re looking for an exceptional Marine Data Specialist to help us make a difference to our planet by analysing and monitoring our meteorological observations data.

Job description

As our Marine Data Specialist, you will work a hybrid pattern which currently requires you to be on site one day per week as per our Team Charter (potentially subject to further review in the future). You could be based at Camborne, Edinburgh, Exeter, Lerwick or Watnall. We may be able to support candidates wishing to be based at other Met Office locations depending on availability and suitability for the role. Please contact Careers@metoffice.gov.uk for more information.

Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Whilst this is a temporary 12-month position, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position.

Who we are

We provide critical weather services and world-leading climate science to deliver extraordinary impact and benefit across the globe. Our work helps people make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.

Together:

• 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

Find out more about our values - https://bit.ly/3fokaRD

Job Purpose

As a data specialist in our Observations Quality Management team, you will co-ordinate and deliver data quality management services that meet the customer requirements and to ensure improvements are identified and implemented.

As our Marine Data Specialist, your key responsibilities are:

• Manage, and undertake, the analysis of meteorological observations to identify erroneous data, establish the root cause of problems and ensure solutions are implemented.
• Assess the performance of observing systems and produce regular reports on data quality, making recommendations for improvements.
• Provide mentoring and training to team members and others on quality control procedures for observations.
• To develop and maintain relationships with our customers, partners and suppliers' local operational staff that maintains the Met Office's reputation
• Establish and document procedures and standards for the delivery of data quality control services and contribute to the development of the observations quality management team plans
• To contribute to the development of team work plans and support the development of wider work plans to improve local work practices, operational outputs and customer service
• Undertake appropriate training and development to ensure skills remain current and evolve with business need.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

1. Ability to apply knowledge of meteorology and observing equipment to analyse the quality of surface observations, identify the root cause of problems and ensure a solution is implemented. (Expert by nature)
2. Broad knowledge of the characteristics of surface weather observations, including marine data, and the strengths and weaknesses of different measurement methods. (Expert by nature)
3. Evidence of planning and prioritising work to ensure customer requirements are met and service improvements are implemented. (Keep evolving)
4. Ability to communicate with customers, suppliers or colleagues to improve service delivery and resolve issues. (Better together)
5. Evidence of contributing to the documentation of procedures for the provision of operational services and/or the writing of technical reports.
6. Ability to provide training or mentoring in the quality control of weather observations. (Live and breathe it)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,100, Met Office contributes £8,667 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Apply below using your CV and a Cover Letter/Supporting Statement which evidences how you meet each of the essential criteria - we recommend candidates use the CARL (Context, Action, Result and Learning) method for presenting evidence of skills.

Closing date 25/01/2024 at 23:59 with interviews commencing from 12/02/2024. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

If successful, please note we are unable to offer expenses for travel to your normal place of work. Please ask at interview if you would like extra clarity on how often this requirement is likely to be. 

How we can help:

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please contact us via Careers@metoffice.gov.uk 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 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.

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) (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 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

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.