Surface Marine Observations Specialist

Job Introduction

We’re looking for a Surface Marine Observations Specialist to help us make a difference to our planet. 

As our Surface Marine Observations Specialist, 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. This post can be based at Exeter or Edinburgh.

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

Marine observations are a key component of the Met Office observing capability.  Joining our Surface Observations Operations (SOO) Team, you'll support the operational delivery and improvement of marine surface-based observations from a variety of networks including moored buoys, light vessels, voluntary observing ships (VOS) and third party platforms.

You will become an authority on surface-based, marine meteorological instrumentation as well as methods of observation.  You'll engage with a wide variety of stakeholders, from internal teams and other UK marine institutes to international programmes via the EUMETNET Surface Marine Programme (E-SURFMAR) and Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Data Buoy Cooperation Panel. 

Your key duties:

• Incident triage and management leading on resolution and co-ordinating the timely recovery of systems.
• Work with support teams, customers and suppliers to ensure that the services provided meet user needs and perform in line with agreed levels of quality and cost.
• Recommend and manage changes to the networks working with colleagues and change management to ensure the successful implementation of new operational systems and strategies that support the network and services.
• Work with the international meteorological community to shape and influence best practice in international data collaboration and introduce shared best practice into our plans and deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in support teams to manage network operations and lifecycle recommendations.
• Undertake appropriate training and development to ensure skills remain current and evolve with business need.

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 Surface Marine Observations Specialist, your total reward package will be up to £47,606 annually, which includes: 

• £33,794 base pay.
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 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. A broad knowledge of observing systems, the scientific principals behind the measurement methodologies, the characteristics of the observational data obtained and the typical impacts on performance that might arise from external sources. (Lead Criteria)
2. A track record of working independently, planning your own work and prioritising personal workloads from a range of customers to solve operational problems in a structured manner.
3. Evidence that you keep evolving, identifying where improvements to operational processes and services can and should be made, taking action as necessary to minimise future risk and/or improve service delivery.
4. An understanding of the importance of marine observations to the Met Office.
5. Ability to work better together as part of a team contributing towards shared goals. 
6. Proven ability to exchange technical information with a range of stakeholders who have varying levels of understanding.  

The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above.

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 12/05/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 26/05/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed. 

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.