About the job

Job summary

We’re looking for an exceptional Paralegal - Regulations to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Paralegal - Regulations you will work a hybrid pattern and will be on site at Exeter HQ. There will be requirement to attend the office regularly during your probation period. Thereafter, at least once every week. Some additional days will also be required in accordance with the Team Charter. You can choose to work more frequently in our state-of-the-art office if you'd prefer.

This opportunity is available to start from April 2024 on a full time basis, 37 hours per week. We would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 4 days 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.

Why join us?

The Met Office is accredited as a 'Great Place to Work UK 2023' and in addition has achieved a place on both the UK's 'Best Workplaces in Tech' and 'Best Workplaces for Women' lists.

We invest in our people to unlock their full potential. As our Paralegal - Regulations, we will support you to develop and thrive to be the best you can be.  We champion positive physical and mental health in the workplace and are committed to being an inclusive organisation, providing a working culture that actively values an equal and diverse workforce. 

As our Paralegal - Regulations, your starting salary will be £32100.00. New joiners to the Met Office will start on the salary band minimum. Our 2022-25 pay award means the salary will increase to £33559.00 from 1st April 2024, and you will be able to progress towards £36000.00 over time.

Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £44696.00 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.

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 description

Job Purpose:

As a Paralegal - Regulations, your key duties are:

• Assisting the Legal (Regulations) Team in responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations (RoPSI).
• Advising business areas on regulatory matters, including FOIA/EIR, RoPSI and Crown Copyright.
• Assisting with routine Data Protection enquiries, where required.
• Contributing to the Legal Team’s performance by providing legal services in a timely, effective and professional manner.
• Keeping up to date with relevant changes to the law.
• Assisting with the delivery of training to business areas on legal regulatory topics.
• Assisting with routine administration tasks on behalf of the legal team, where required.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities:

1. Can demonstrate an understanding of the legal regulatory areas of FOIA, EIR and RoPSI. (We’re experts by nature)
2. Can demonstrate an understanding of data protection. (We’re experts by nature)
3. Can demonstrate sound research and analysis skills. (We’re experts by nature)
4. Can work collaboratively in a team, and actively engage and contribute towards team discussions. (We’re better together)
5. Can stay calm and focused to manage competing priorities. (We live and breathe it)
6. Can demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work with stakeholders at different levels and across different areas of the business. (We live and breathe it)

Desirable Qualifications, Skills & Abilities:

We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but we’re also keen to discover if you have:

1. Experience with using information management software and applications, including Office365.
2. Experience of working in the public sector.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,100, Met Office contributes £8,699 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

How to apply:

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 28/01/2024 at 23:59 with interviews commencing from 19/02/2024 . 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. This post is contractually aligned to Exeter HQ, 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 askHR@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 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 (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.