Marine Observations Manager - Ships and Drifters

We’re looking for a Marine Observations Manager to work with our Voluntary Observing Ships and Drifting Buoy networks to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Marine Observations Manager - Ships and Drifters, 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. You will be based at Exeter, Edinburgh or Watnall.

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.

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 guide and manage the Surface Marine Networks team and associated technical resources to ensure current and future delivery of the operational Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) and Drifting Buoy networks meets customer requirements and aligns to the wider Met Office strategy.

You will engage with a wide variety of stakeholders, from internal teams to marine meteorological observations partners such as international shipping companies, the EUMETNET European Surface Marine Programme (E-SURFMAR), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Ship Observations Team, the Global Drifter Programme and the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel. You will have a key role in ensuring the Met Office remains a key player in the international observational environment.

Your key duties

• To apply operational observational service delivery knowledge within the marine meteorological environment to support the development of team work plans and contribute to setting the wider strategic direction for marine networks.
• To recruit, guide and develop the team of Port Met Officers (PMOs), maintaining cross team ways of working to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our operational services.
• To manage and monitor the delivery of the activities and resources required to operate the UK VOS and drifting buoy observation networks, ensuring they are delivered to agreed levels of quality and cost. Work closely with senior managers and colleagues to ensure the current and future marine meteorological observational service requirements are understood and delivered.
• To develop and maintain relationships with marine meteorological observations partners and customers, including shipping companies, suppliers and colleagues across the E-SurfMar programme, GOOS Ship Observations Team and Data Buoy Panels. Ensure the Met Office remains a key player in the international observational environment, that technical requirements are fully understood and solutions delivered that support the wider Met Office business aims,
• To carry out continuing professional development in line with current and future needs of the Met Office

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 Marine Observations Manager - Ships and Drifters, your total reward package will be up to £57,639 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. A track record of independently planning and prioritising personal workloads to solve operational problems in a structured manner.
2. Evidence of providing recommendations to senior managers on improved service delivery to customers, and/or minimising future risk to operational services. (We keep evolving)
3. Proven ability to exchange technical information with a range of stakeholders who have varying levels of understanding.
4. Ability to work as part of a team contributing towards shared goals. (We're better together).
5. An understanding of the importance of Marine Observations to the Met Office. (We’re a force for good).
6. Knowledge of the range of current marine meteorological observing systems, the scientific principles behind the measurement methodologies and the typical characteristics of the observational data obtained. (We’re expert by nature).
7. Proven ability to mentor and train team members to undertake operational technical tasks in a consistent manner.

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 16/12/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 13/01/2025. 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.