Land Observations Manager

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an exceptional Land Observations Manager to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Land Observations 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, based in Exeter, Edinburgh or Watnall.

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 post holder is responsible for managing a large network of Land Surface Automatic Weather Stations across the UK and overseas, where carefully calibrated weather and climate observations are routinely made, recorded and transmitted.

Your key duties

• Managing the operational delivery of the Land Surface Observing Networks so that data delivered from it meets internal and external customer requirements and performance measures, providing accurate weather and climate information to underpin our products and services.
• Line and task management for a small team of five staff.
• Developing work plans and providing estimates on operational budgeting to senior management.
• Taking a leading role in delivering change across the Land Surface Observing Networks, contributing to lifecycle planning and ensuring that the network continues to evolve and deliver best value for money.
• Working with partners to shape and influence best practice in data exchange and collaboration.
• Working with colleagues to ensure that health, safety and wellbeing is prioritised to provide a supportive and productive working environment.

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 Land Observations Manager, your total reward package will be up to £57,639.00 annually, which includes:

• £41,725 base pay.
• Relocation Assistance may be available.
• 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. A degree, or equivalent, in a Science or Engineering Discipline.
2. Live and breathe it - Evidence of having managed or led a team and/or evidence of having mentored and trained other team members in an operational setting.
3. Force for good - An interest and background in meteorology and climatology - or a relevant environmental science - and an understanding of the role of observations in providing Met Office forecasts and services.
4. Expert by nature - Clear communicator technical information clearly and concisely to a range of customers and suppliers who have varying levels of technical understanding.
5. Keep evolving - Proven ability to plan and prioritise the work of a multi-skilled team to deliver change and manage multiple customer requirements to varying timescales and deadlines.
6. Better together - Able to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of developing staff to meet their full potential within the context of managing day to day operations.

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. A broad knowledge of observing systems, especially for in-situ Land Surface meteorological observations.
2. Experience of working with financial processes.

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 08/05/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 20^th May. 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.