Business Support Manager - Secretariat & Communications

We’re looking for an exceptional Business Support Manager - Secretariat and Communications to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Business Support 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 30 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.

Whilst this is a temporary position for 1 year, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position.

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 Office of Science & Technology (OST) reports directly to the Chief of Science & Technology and the Science and Technology Senior Leadership teams. OST is responsible for ensuring delivery at operational and strategic levels and takes into account the people, practices and strategic partnerships to enable success.

As Business Support Manager – Secretariat and Communications you will gain an understanding of the different elements and priorities of two substantial directorates and work closely with senior management colleagues.

You will be a proactive individual, responsible for Secretariat and Communications services that support the Science and Technology extended leadership teams. You will act as the interface between the science and technology extended leadership teams. In this role you will plan, lead and deliver effective internal and external communications to increase awareness and engagement across the organisation.

Your key duties

• Be an active member of the Office of Science and Technology Team.
• Line manage an operational support team, responsible for their welfare and continued professional development. This includes appropriate delegation of secretariat responsibilities across Science and Technology and supporting the Senior Leadership Teams.
• Act as an interface between Private Secretaries, Met Office Science & Technology Executive Directors and Associate Directors ensuring the effective flow of information to facilitate internal and external communications and decision making.
• Plan, lead and deliver Science & Technology communication plans. Delivery will include leading the science seminar series, directorate cascades, newsletters and ongoing development of SharePoint sites.
• Organise high profile workshops and conferences such as the MOSAC/SRG conference.

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 Business Support Manager - Secretariat and Communications, 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 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. Expert by nature - Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to successfully influence and negotiate, building commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose.
2. Experts by nature - Ability to assimilate and synthesis complex information, translating these into robust internal and external communication plans and reports.
3. Better together - Good interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to manage, motivate, develop and empower people and teams.
4. Expert by nature - Outstanding organisation, prioritisation and decision-making skills.
5. We keep evolving - Strong proficiency in the Microsoft suite including the development of Sharepoint sites, use of CoPilot and other Microsoft 365 applications such as PowerPoint and Planner.

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 15/12/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from w/c 6th January 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.