Space Weather Observations Network Specialist

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB

Job Summary

We’re looking for a Space Weather Observations Network Specialist to work across our developing capability in Space Weather observing to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Space Weather Observations Network 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.

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 and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a jobshare. 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
  
  

Job Description

Your world of expertise

This is a great opportunity to join an exciting and growing area of the Met Office observing capability. There's an increasing demand for more observational data and new and innovative ways of meeting the customer requirements for data. The Upper Air Observations (UAO) Team within Technical Services is responsible for the operational delivery of upper air observations services from a wide range of technologies and networks in the UK and overseas meeting the needs of both internal and external customers.

You will be responsible for shaping and evolving a growing area of observations in the area of space weather. This will include managing the day-to-day delivery of observations from ground-based space weather observing systems in the UK, including Neutron monitors at Camborne and Lerwick.

Your Key Duties:

• Incident triage and management leading on resolution and coordinating 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.
• Operate and coordinate routine maintenance of space weather observation instruments, ensuring data quality and reliability.
  
  

Person specification

Essential Criteria, Skills And Experience:

• A broad knowledge of Observing systems, the scientific principles behind the measurement methodologies, the characteristics of the observational data obtained and the typical impacts on performance that might arise from external sources. This may be related to space weather or transferable from a similar discipline. (Lead Criteria)
• 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.
• 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 to customers and resolve root cause issues.
• An expert by nature with the proven ability to work with complex observed datasets and apply underpinning metrology skills to ensure data quality.
• Able to work better together by building and maintaining productive working relationships with peers and suppliers to deliver outcomes.
• A Science or Engineering degree or the equivalent experience in one of these disciplines.
  
  

Desirable Criteria:

We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but your application will be even stronger if you have:

• A knowledge of space weather including atmospheric and space weather principles, space weather impacts and the benefits of space weather forecasting.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £33,794, Met Office contributes £9,790 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 Space Weather Observations Network 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.
  
  

Selection process details

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 21/04/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 08/05/2025. 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Resourcing Team
• Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk
  
  

Further information

https://careers.metoffice.gov.uk/what-we-can-offer-you