Senior Operational Meteorologist - Media Advisor

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an exceptional Senior Operational Meteorologist to join us as a Media Advisor to help us make a difference to our planet. 

As our Senior Operational Meteorologist - Media Advisor, 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 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 

You will join our Media Services Team, an experienced and dedicated team based in the Services Operations Centre in Exeter, providing services to our customers and the general public to help them make decisions and stay safe. The number of media broadcasters who are customers of the Met Office continues to grow, including ITV, STV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and others. The team also has responsibility for posting social media content, extending our reach to many different channels, an ever-growing area.

As a Senior Operational Meteorologist, you will provide our service delivery through briefings, written forecasts, social media as well as radio and TV interviews. You will take overall leadership of the team on shift to ensure a consistent weather story. There are also opportunities to work with teams in our Markets and Technology directorates to continue to grow and develop our media services to ensure we provide service excellence to our customers.

Your key duties:

• Prepare and deliver a range of added value weather media forecast products and services, including media briefings, social media, written scripts and radio interviews. 
• Monitor and lead team activity and performance, taking corrective and proactive action as necessary, including moving tasks and responsibilities amongst the team to ensure that customer expectations are met.
• Be accountable for the compliance and consistency of all products and services delivered by the team of Operational Meteorologists during the shift. 
• Have an excellent knowledge of the graphical software Visual Cortex, providing support to media stakeholders when required, and producing data modifications to ensure a consistent weather story.
• Leading on the weather story to ensure the team are delivering a clear message throughout the shift that is consistent with all other areas, such as Expert Weather Hub and the communications and engagement team.
• Support and advise Operational Managers, Service Delivery Managers and line managers in monitoring performance and delivery training and development in order that appropriate levels of skills and knowledge remain within the team. 

Why join us 

Our work is life-changing, often lifesaving 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 Senior Operational Meteorologist - Media Advisor, your total reward package will be up to £58,419 annually, which includes: 

• £41,725 base pay.
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• £4,200 as an Unsocial Hours Shift Allowance.
• 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. Successful completion of the Forecaster Foundation Training Programme or equivalent with evidence of ongoing professional development, demonstrating you are an expert by nature.
2. Able to demonstrate a broad experience of Operational Meteorology and an in-depth knowledge of customer requirements, showing that you live and breathe it.
3. Demonstrate you work better together through the capability to lead, mentor, motivate and inspire a small team in an operational environment.
4. Exhibit strong communication, persuasion and negotiation skills in order to influence customers and colleagues.
5. Strong evidence of positively influencing colleagues and embracing change in the work environment, demonstrating that you keep evolving.
6. Demonstrate evidence of a flexible approach, being able to change plans (move resources or tasks) at short notice to deal with unexpected events or customer requests.

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 01/04/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 14/04/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed. Our selection process will include a media test which will consist of a briefing, script writing and radio interview.

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.