Hydrometeorologist

Job Introduction

We’re looking for two exceptional Hydrometeorologists to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Hydrometeorologist, 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.  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 Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) Hydromet team brings together the two disciplines of meteorology and hydrology to ‘bridge the gap’ between weather and flood forecasting between the Met Office (MO), Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Our highly skilled team create and deliver a joined-up forecasting service for government and emergency responders. Staff have multiple specialisms and work routinely across the partnership and with customers in both operational and project work. 

You will work as part of a 24/7 roster at FFC, Exeter HQ. Our Hydromets work 12-hour day and night shifts with a general roster pattern of DDNNS and 3 days off. They generally work a run of shifts as Lead Hydromet, followed by a run as on-call Hydromet (called into operations if required, and if not required on operations contributes to development work).

You will have opportunity for development work in between shifts and on periodic chunks of time off the operational roster which contributes to further improving our underpinning capabilities as well as our products and services. 

Your key duties

• Prepare and deliver a range of specialised hydrometeorological products and services to meet our customer (Category 1 and 2 Responders including EA and NRW Flood Forecasting and Incident Management teams) needs. 
• Identify severe weather events and hydrological conditions that are expected to increase the risk of flooding and issue associated forecasts and guidance to ensure EA and NRW are aware of the potential impact on their activities. 
• Monitor and interpret observations and models to ensure customers receive the best possible information and guidance. 
• Drive discussion of flood impact forecasting with MO Guidance Unit and Civil Contingency Advisors, and EA and NRW flood forecasting teams. Communicate with FFC strategic management around changing situations and forecasting decisions. 
• Undertake a broad programme of both formal and on-the-job training in hydrometeorology (including QCF L6: Flood Forecasting), business awareness, communication and project management skills. Apply learnt skills to build personal and team expertise and enhance operational capability. 
• Represent the FFC within customer environments and always maintain a customer focused outlook.
• Contribute to our continual service improvements programme to enhance our flood forecasting capabilities. 

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. 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.

As our Hydrometeorologist, your total reward package will be up to £57,639 annually, which includes:

• £41,725 base pay.
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 27%
• £4200 per annum as Unsocial Hours Shift Allowance for working on a 24/7 shift roster.
• Unsocial Hours On-Call Allowance, Bank Holiday Allowance and Overtime Allowances when applicable.
• Relocation Assistance may be available.
• 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:

1. An Expert by Nature with successful completion of Met Office Forecaster Foundation Training Programme or equivalent, and with a good knowledge of current output from NWP deterministic and ensemble prediction systems.
2. A demonstrated ability to Keep Evolving, with evidence of ongoing professional development and a commitment to complete advanced training in hydrology and hydrometeorology. 
3. You Live and Breathe It, showing evidence of successful decision-making to solve complex operational issues under pressure. 
4. You Keep Evolving by demonstrating a strong customer and service focus, including evidence of working in cross-functional teams that have achieved improvements in service delivery.  
5. You are a Force for Good, showing evidence of successfully communicating complex meteorological, hydrological or impact information to both technical and non-technical audiences including customers and more senior staff. 
6. An understanding of the benefits of partnership working, with reference to how the FFC fits into both MO and EA/NRW business strategies to demonstrate We’re Better Together.  

Desirable Criteria:

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

1. Previous experience of working in flood forecasting, a background in hydrology or QCF L6 Flood Forecasting, and/or a working knowledge of current hydrological models operated by the EA/NRW. 
2. Chartered Status through a relevant professional body (e.g. Royal Met Soc, CIWEM). 

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 18/08/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 27/08/2024. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

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.