Principal Fellow - Research to Production

We’re seeking to appoint an exceptional Principal Fellow for Research to Production. This new position is motivated by the prospect of AI models running alongside physics-based models for numerical weather prediction, leading to opportunities to radically redesign our operational NWP systems.

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.

Our Principal Fellow role will shape, lead and deliver a scientific or technical capability that is core to the Met Office mission, as articulated as a theme in the Research and Innovation Strategy, through leadership within the Met Office and across the external environment to achieve strategic goals.

This post is based in Exeter, with an expectation of two days in person in Exeter, with the remainder of the week based elsewhere or from home. This is a full time role, however applications from part-time workers (minimum of 0.8FTE) are welcomed, including combining with a complementary part-time position at an academic institution, or similar. Job share options can also be considered. We are offering visa sponsorship for this position.

Your world of expertise

Principal Fellows are exceptional individuals who can inspire and drive our thinking to achieve the Met Office vision “to be recognised as global leaders in weather and climate science and services in our changing world”. They play a pivotal role in defining and delivering the Met Office Research and Innovation Strategy.

We are seeking to make one appointment to provide leadership in the Met Office Research & Innovation strategy theme:

Research to Production: this new position is motivated by the prospect of AI models running alongside physics-based models for numerical weather prediction, leading to opportunities to radically redesign our operational NWP systems.

The key duties of our Principal Fellow are:

• Provide leadership in the design, implementation, and delivery of a scientific or technical capability that is of transformational importance to the Met Office, i.e., provide leadership of a theme of the Research & Innovation Strategy.
• Act as a Met Office representative in a broad area of scientific or technical expertise that is recognised externally to achieve Met Office goals.
• Provide leadership with strategically relevant individuals and organisations in the external environment to develop collaborative partnerships for the benefit of the Research & Innovation Strategy.
• Evaluate new developments and opportunities in their domain of expertise to make prioritised recommendations that deliver maximum benefit.
• The Principal Fellow for Research to Production will work across Science, Technology and Services to develop our thinking on future operational systems design.

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

1. Recognised world class reputation across a broad scientific or technical discipline that is fundamental to the R&I strategy theme on Research to Production, in particular the design, development and delivery of complex operational numerical weather or climate prediction systems
2. Evidence of leadership in developing from conception to inception a novel scientific or technical capability or new weather or climate service (We Keep Evolving)
3. The ability to transform the Met Office through application of knowledge or expertise (We’re Experts by Nature)
4. Evidence of strong leadership in building relationships with external partners and stakeholders 

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 Principal Fellow, your total reward package will be up to £103,000 annually, which includes:

• £72,500 base pay, rising to £79,500 over time
• An outstanding Civil Service pension
• A discretionary performance related bonus
• 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
• Relocation Assistance may be available.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Apply by attaching your your CV to your profile and adding your supporting statement with evidence against each of the essential criteria within the application form. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date Sunday 14th July at 23:59. You can expect to receive an update on your application on or around 19th July, after the sift has taken place. Interviews will be taking place weeks commencing 29th July and 5th August.

If successful, please note we are unable to offer expenses for travel to your normal place of work. Please ask at interview if you would like extra clarity on how often this requirement is likely to be.

How we can help:

If you are considering applying and need assistance 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 (Guaranteed Interview) Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.