Associate Director - Technical Services (Part-Time)

Job Introduction

We are delighted to offer a job share as an Associate Director within Technical Services at the Met Office.

As our Associate Director, you will support and advise the Met Office Board and Executive, leading our environmental observations capability and overseeing the delivery of our 24/7 operations of our technical infrastructure including operational IT services.

We are seeking a permanent appointment on a job share basis of 0.6FTE / 22 hours per week, with the potential to increase hours in the future. You will be based at Edinburgh, Exeter, Reading or Watnall with hybrid working and an expectation for regular UK-wide travel.  

We are offering visa sponsorship and a relocation package for this position. We encourage applications from those wishing to join on secondment from another organisation.

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 

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about leadership and who can inspire and challenge us in our journey to continuously improve the ways we work and the technical services we deliver. This is a diverse role with some unique opportunities to make a real impact. 

You will provide leadership across our environmental observation capability, including the operation and life-cycle management of our observing networks and stakeholder engagement to ensure the supply of all third-party observations data and management. 

You will also lead the 24/7 operations of our technical infrastructure, business continuity and incident management. You’ll ensure the successful transition of new technical services into operations and the provision of our Weather Desk services (which provide first point of contact for internal and external users). 

As member of the Met Office Extended Leadership Team, you will have ownership of specific corporate activities and initiatives. The split of job share responsibilities will be determined once the appointment is made.

Your key duties 

• To be an inspirational leader for a large, geographically dispersed team (~190 staff).
• Accountable for the management, operations and continuous improvement of the Met Office observation capabilities, including leadership of the observations project sub-portfolio and the long-term observations business plan.
• National and International leadership in the field of observations and related policy, including European Programmes and representation at international bodies including the World Meteorological Organisation.
• Accountable for the 24x7 operational delivery, change and incident management of the full Met Office IT production system, including incident management, business continuity planning and service resilience 
• Influencing and shaping Met Office strategy to align transformational change in the Services Directorate and as a member of the Met Office Extended Leadership team (which includes the Met Office Executive). 
• Note: On call duties and chairing major incidents maybe required.

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. 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 Associate Director – Technical Services, your total reward package will be up to £103,000 annually, which includes: 

• £72,500 base pay. This will be pro-rated to the part-time hours for the post (£43,108 will be the part-time salary).
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A discretionary performance related bonus and eligible to participate in an Associate Director bonus scheme.

• Relocation Assistance may be available.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience: 

If you can demonstrate the essential criteria, we encourage you to apply. 

1. Experienced Operational Leader who has managed large delivery teams (75+) across a geographically dispersed 24/7 workforce, who is able to connect observations and data technologies, people and process together to deliver improved weather forecasting accuracy and data to benefit the UK economy. (Expert by Nature)
2. Demonstrable ability to formulate clear strategic plans and their associated investment cases, whilst successfully balancing competing demands with the needs of the customer. 
3. Experience in successful project and programme management, and in using associated financial, planning and delivery methodologies to achieve key business outcomes to time, cost and quality.  (We Live and Breathe It)
4. Challenges the way that things are done; open minded and looking for opportunities to continuously improve and motivate others to do the same.  (We Keep Evolving)
5. Proven ability to deliver in partnership including influencing and negotiating to achieve strategic objectives.  (Better Together)
6. Demonstrable experience creating a diverse and inclusive environment; understanding the benefits of an inclusive culture and using this to realise business results. (Force for Good)

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 27/01/2025 at 23:59. You can expect to receive an update on your application on or around 31/01/2025, after our shortlisting has taken place. Our first stage interviews will be taking place in early February 2025. Our interview process will comprise a stakeholder panel interview and psychometrics.

We may be able to offer hybrid working, where you work 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. If successful, please note we are unable to offer expenses for travel to your normal place of work. However, we are offering a relocation package if required.

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.