Weather Impacts and Advice - Network Operations Manager

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an exceptional Network Operations Manager to join our Weather Impacts and Advice (WIA) Team to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our WIA Network Operations Manager, 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 18.5 hours 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.

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 take on the role of Weather Impacts and Advice (WIA) Network Operations Manager, working alongside the Defence Operations Team and wider WIA Service Delivery Managers in order to support Service Delivery. This role will initially be working within the Defence Squad, however it is anticipated that it will continue to evolve to encompass all Customer Service Delivery Squads going forward and you will be responsible for ensuring service excellence is delivered to all relevant stakeholders, both internal and external.

Your key duties

• Leading the auditing process across WIA, ensuring all sites and locations are compliant with ISO standards, whilst liaising with the internal auditing team.
• Through working with the Defence Business team, be involved in SDA assurance reporting in order to demonstrate to customers the delivery of the Defence service being paid for.
• Collaborate across teams in order to produce the monthly customer engagement survey and also provide support for military investigations.
• Collaborate with cross-office teams and customers to identify, develop and/or improve services and manage the implementation into the operational environment. This will include realising efficiencies balanced against quality standards and where possible reducing production costs.
• Responsible for the quality of output from meteorologists and liaising with SMetO’s/relevant managers to implement remedial actions to ensure a high standard of customer service is maintained.
• Build and maintain excellent customer relationships and represent Services/the Met Office at customer meetings, internally and externally.
• Assist senior managers in implementing policy and corporate initiatives and act as a role model for our brand values. Support, manage and implement change in WIA, Services and the wider Met Office
• Support the wider Defence/WIA Service Management team through response to emails and support in management of incidents.
• Act as Business Continuity Coordinator for WIA Defence and MMU, with responsibility for weekly/monthly test records and ensuring information is correct on Riskonnect.

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 WIA Network Operations Manager, your total reward package will be up to £57,639 annually, which includes:

• £41,725.00 base pay.
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• 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. We’re Better Together - Excellent relationship-building and networking skills, with the ability to communicate, negotiate and persuade effectively with both customers and Met Office staff at all levels (written and oral)
2. We’re Experts by Nature/We Keep Evolving - Display a sound knowledge of the OTIF and Assurance reporting processes including evidence of where you have made improvements to ensure a high standard of customer service delivery whilst working in an operational environment.
3. We Live and Breathe It – Evidence of excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently, taking ownership of your workload and responsibilities to ensure excellent customer service.
4. We Keep Evolving – Evidence of embracing change and inspiring and empowering colleagues (at all levels) in its delivery.
5. We’re Better Together - Willingness to travel to customer delivery locations to support the audit process and gain visibility across the WIA network.

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 with evidence against each of the essential criteria. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date 01/05/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 13/05/2024. 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.