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BrighterMake a difference to your future with a career at the Met Office
Contents
1 About us 3
2 Research activity 4
3 Your career 8
a. Scientific roles and skills framework 8
b. Scientific software engineering roles and skills framework 10
4 Role entry requirements and selection criteria 12
a. Scientific roles 12
b. Scientific software roles 14
c. Met Office behaviours (how we work) 16
5 Selection process: Met Office information and assessment days 17
6 Our commitments to you: rewards and benefits 18
1.About us
If you watched, listened to or read the news this morning it is likely that the Met Office played an important part in much of the coverage, over and above today’s weather forecast. An agency of the Ministry of Defence, the Met Office is perhaps most recognisable from national television weather bulletins. We supply other media outlets, such as national and local radio stations, with daily weather summaries. Behind the scenes, our accuracy in forecasting and in advising and warning government, businesses and individuals on what the weather has in store is unrivalled. We also possess world-leading capabilitiesin climate prediction. No other national meteorological service in the world caters for such a wide range of customers’ needs: in weather and climate services, from local to global scales, and from minutes to centuries ahead. By applying these capabilities, we can guide customers in avoiding risks and exploiting opportunities in a rapidly changing world.
We aim to be recognised as the best weather and climate service in the world. To achieve this, we need to attract the most talented individuals from across the scientific community, at various stages of their careers. We are seeking to fill a range of both graduate-entry and higher level research positions from summer 2009.
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2.Research activity
Ourmodels
Numerical models form the basis of all our forecasts and are constantly being developed by research so that we can predict the weather and climate with ever greater accuracy. Before introducing any improvements to our weather and climate models we conduct rigorous trials to verify these advances.
Thanks to increased computing power, better data from new satellite programmes, improved data assimilation techniques, enhanced numerical algorithms and a more complete representation of the atmosphere, we have made unprecedented advances in the accuracy of our numerical weather prediction (NWP) over the last ten years. Today, we produce a wide range of predictions, from local weather forecasts for a few hours ahead to global weather forecasts of up to a few weeks ahead. We also provide predictions of the oceans, the dispersion of pollution, the spread of diseases and much more.
Having provided much of the evidence for climate change, we continue to study and guide our customers on the pace of change and on impacts in specific regions affecting the public, the private sector and government policy. A team of research scientists and consultants at the Met Office is working hard to answer these questions, alongside a range of customers.
MetOfficeUnifiedModel
The model used for NWP and climate prediction is developed within the Met Office. Named the Unified ModelTM (UM) because of its unique ability to cater for many time and space scales, it represents the physical and dynamical processes occurring in the atmosphere and oceans. The UM is recognised as one of the world’s most successful atmospheric modelling systems and is the primary reason why the Met Office is the pre-eminent National Meteorological Service. The UM can be run for a single, deterministic output at scales from 1 km or less for very short range forecasts to 100 km or more for very long climate integrations. Alternatively it can be run as an ensemble, in which the model is run many times from slightly different starting conditions. Initial differences are tiny, and so each run is equally likely to be correct but, because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, the forecast can be quite different. Customers use these probability forecasts to manage their risks. Ensemble techniques are also used to estimate uncertainty in our long-term climate predictions.
Fieldwork
Met Office scientists are often involved in collecting and analysing data to improve our understanding and our models’ representation of the physical and dynamical processes of the atmosphere and oceans, using advanced research facilities:
• A BAe146 research aircraft based at Cranfield University is shared with the UK universities and used in many international research projects. It is fitted with a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation for making measurements of aerosols, cloud droplets and ice particles, atmospheric chemistry, radiative fluxes from the solar to the microwave, and detailed electromagnetic spectra. Met Office research using the aircraft is focused on cloud microphysics, aerosols and radiative transfer.
• The Met Research Unit at Cardington, Bedfordshire, organises experiments in the UK and occasionally abroad. The facility at Cardington is a highly instrumented site constituting a comprehensive array of research-quality surface equipment, and a tethered balloon system capable of measuring atmospheric properties, including turbulence, up to an altitude of 6,000 feet. The site is known and respected internationally. Various research activities have been conducted over recent years including study of orographic flow over hills, flow and turbulence in valleys, stratocumulus and fog studies, aerosol physics and stable boundary layer and surface temperature evolution.
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Parametrizations
Many of the physical processes that occur within the atmosphere are at a scale too small to be directly resolved by NWP or climate models, e.g. boundary layer and orographic processes, cloud processes and atmospheric radiation. Therefore, numerical representations or ‘parametrizations’ of the significant effects of these processes are developed by Met Office scientists. In order to parametrize the processes we need to understand them and we do this by conducting research using observations and very high resolution numerical models.
Observationaldata
Many poor forecasts are caused by small errors in the initial analysis of the atmospheric state, and so good initial conditions are essential to provide an accurate forecast. Observational data are received each day from a wide range of international observing systems, including: satellites, aircraft, ships, buoys, radar and other ground-based remote sensing, balloons and automatic weather stations. At the Met Office, we develop and deliver sustainable observing systems from the ocean to the upper atmosphere, and we process and analyse their data for use in weather forecasting, climate monitoring and many other activities.
Weather satellites in both geostationary and low-Earth orbits carry advanced instruments measuring ultra-violet, visible, infra-red and microwave radiation. Our work involves research and development to improve the exploitation of these data within our present-day weather forecasting system, to prepare for data expected from planned new satellites, and to engage in studies on the design of instruments for future space-based systems.
We also research and develop improved instruments and methods of observation across all of our ground-based observing systems, to improve the quality of the data and the effectiveness and efficiency of our observing networks. This work involves: researching and designing new capabilities and networks, testing and evaluating instrumentation, setting up equipment at test sites, and logging data and carrying out data processing and analysis. The potential of emerging technology for measuring meteorological observations and other environmental parameters is also assessed. Some of the work is carried out in the laboratory and some in the field.
Dataassimilation
Data assimilation is the process through which meteorological observations are combined with previous numerical weather forecasts to produce an ‘optimal’ analysis. The analysis can then be used either as initial conditions for weather prediction, or to study climate change through long (typically multi-decadal) climate re-analysis experiments. Both observations and numerical models are imperfect, so accurate estimation of their respective errors is vital to ensure the correct weighting is given to each source of information. We can use predictors of forecast error (e.g. the uncertainty predicted by ensemble forecasting techniques) to put in and give more/less weight to observations in areas where we believe the current forecast is particularly bad/good. Data assimilation therefore plays a vital role in maximizing the utility of the multi-billion pound global observation network.
Post-processingandproductpreparation
Post-processing techniques enable us to improve significantly the quality and usefulness of our forecasts. Downscaling methods are being developed to account for features poorly resolved by our NWP models, while statistical and nowcasting techniques are being used to account for systematic errors and to provide very short range forecasts. These are used in generating a range of general and customer-specific products from website forecasts to road icing warnings. Post-processing methods for ensemble forecasts are being developed to provide useful probability forecasts, particularly for high-impact weather.
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Climatechange
Reliable predictions of future climate are also essential to reduce (or mitigate) and prepare for the effects of (or adapt to) climate change. Our climate scientists study natural climate variability, such as El Niño or the North Atlantic Oscillation, and specifically look at anthropogenic effects such as the greenhouse effect and the influence of aerosols. Determining the climatic response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions means studying both the atmosphere and the oceans. Examples of multiple areas of investigation include the:
• role of cloud feedbacks;
• interaction with land surface processes;
• role of the oceans and sea-ice;
• importance of biogeochemical interactions on climate;
• assessing the risk of rapid climate change; and
• developing systematic techniques to quantify the uncertainty in
climate predictions.
An extensive programme that puts current and future climate change in the historical context of natural climate variability supports all of the above. The impacts of climate change on areas such as water resources and agriculture is also becoming increasingly important.
Atmosphericdispersionmodels
We develop atmospheric dispersion models and apply them to a range of pollution problems, and we provide expert advice in such emergencies. Understanding and modelling the processes by which airborne pollutants are transported around the atmosphere allows the Met Office to provide a wide range of advice, including:
• forecasting the spread of material from nuclear accidents, chemical spills, volcanic eruptions and major fires;
• understanding and forecasting air quality.
• quantifying sources of greenhouse and ozone depleting gases; and
• understanding the potential for the spread of animal diseases.
NationalCentreforOceanForecasting
We provide nearly as much information on the ocean as we do for conditions on land. The National Centre for Ocean Forecasting led by the Met Office builds on existing collaborations which bring together the expertise of the Met Office with world-class research carried out by a number of the UK’s leading marine and oceanographic research centres. Ocean temperatures and currents, surface waves and sea-ice and marine ecosystems are predicted and assessed using a wide range of satellite and in situ observations.
MetOfficeConsulting
We have experience of applying the Met Office’s world-class science to a wide range of business needs in the public and private sectors and for sites in the UK and overseas. Much of our consultancy work involves applied meteorology and take advantage of our vast archive of past weather observations. But the past is no longer always a guide to the future. For instance, some insurers are working with us to produce risk profiles which factor in the extreme weather that is forecast to become more likely as our climate changes. Our expertise includes:
• analysing the sensitivity of an organisation to the weather to establish the critical meteorological criteria that impact on its activities, so that these criteria can then be used to provide tailored weather forecasts;
• post-event analysis of the impact of weather events on customers’ businesses; and
• scoping the impact of climate change on individuals, companies and the public sector in support of mitigation and adaptation strategies.
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Technology
Using our modelling capabilities, we get reliable information on the weather and climate out to customers fast. The software systems that support this critical work are developed by teams working with our scientists. The UM is run on our new IBM supercomputer which delivers a peak performance in excess of 100 Teraflops (100 million million calculations/sec). Timely weather forecasts require that the model forecasts complete as quickly as possible. This requires that the model codes execute efficiently when running across thousands of compute cores. It is a major challenge to develop the model to obtain highly scalable performance for current and more particularly next generation platforms.
We also use a network of LINUX computers and desktop PCs for handling the large volumes of data required and for visualising model output and forecasts. Software developments include:
• automatic control of the forecast process;
• monitoring existing forecast components;
• investigating new techniques; and
• evaluating trials and post-processing numerical forecasts to generate forecast products.
A variety of languages are used in the development of applications. These include Fortran, C and Java. Commercially available packages such as PV-Wave/IDL are also used.
Team members typically become experts in particular software systems and have the opportunity to get involved in the full software lifecycle, including: requirements capture, design, development, testing, code optimisation, problem analysis and user support.
Individual teams support and develop systems such as graphical user interfaces, configuration management systems and forecast trial control systems.
Collaboration
Met Office scientists work closely with researchers in universities and other scientific organisations in the UK and overseas. While most of our work is carried out in Exeter, we have a research group at Reading University working on high resolution convective scale NWP. The main purposes of this group are:
• to develop a high resolution (e.g. 1km horizontal) forecasting system based on the UM and its data assimilation system to predict high-impact weather such as local flooding, fog or severe winds; and
• to exploit novel high-resolution observations such as those obtained from radars, satellite imagery and ground-based radiometers, to provide accurate initial conditions at these scales.
Other work includes: ensuring that we accurately treat physical and dynamical processes in the atmosphere, developing a variable resolution version of the UM and creating a high resolution ensemble to take account of uncertainty on the convective scale.
Our hydro-meteorological group works with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to advance the forecasting of precipitation, runoff, soil moisture, snow processes, river flow and flooding. This group is based at Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and is currently looking at precipitation and the meteorological and hydrological components of flooding to improve forecasting.
Publicationandpresentation
The presentation of our research at international conferences and its publication in peer-reviewed literature is actively encouraged. Research scientists are expected to promote the Met Office brand at these events, as we continually strive to become an employer of choice amongst our target market.
Knowledgeandexpertise
To drive forward research and development in the areas outlined above, we need to recruit, train and develop people with knowledge and expertise, often at international expert level, in the following fields:
• Mathematics
• Numerical analysis
• Statistics
• Fluid dynamics
• Atmospheric physics (e.g. dynamics, radiation, cloud processes, dispersion)
• Climate research
• Satellite meteorology and remote sensing
• Atmospheric chemistry
• Ocean modelling
• Meteorological instrumentation development and scientific computing
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Director
Scientific Strategic HeadResearch Fellow
Roles where wehave vacancies inthis campaign
Expert Scientist Scientific Manager
Senior ScientistArrows indicate
likely career paths
Scientist
Foundation (Graduate) Scientist
3.Your career
a.Scientificrolesandprofessionalskillsframework
Science is at the core of our business, and our scientific capabilities determine what we can deliver to our customers, which ultimately dictates our success as an organisation. We therefore place considerable emphasis and importance on the development of our scientists. We use a Scientific Skills Framework that provides a career map, allowing individuals to understand how they can develop so that they can plan and realise their career aspirations accordingly. All our scientists’ contributions are assessed regularly, and at the end of each performance year those who are deemed to be at the top of their game are encouraged to apply to be nominated for progression into a more senior role.
The majority of our scientists join us as recent graduates. But we also get applications from accomplished scientists who have already developed a strong track record in a relevant field, and these individuals may be suitable to enter the organisation at a higher level. Our Scientific Professional Skills Framework, depicting each broad role and where it sits, and the typical career paths available is shown below. Progression up the career framework is dependent upon both the capabilities of the individual, and the need for work to be done at that level.
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As in many professions, progression can mean moving into a management position. However, we recognise that this may not always meet with the aspirations and skills of each individual. We also recognise that in addition to scientific generalists, we want people to develop world-leading expertise in a particular specialist subject. Hence we have also
created a parallel “Expert” and “Fellowship” route to suit the career aspirations of these individuals.
Each broad role comprises a distinct but related set of accountabilities. The more senior the role the more comprehensive the accountabilities, and the more autonomy the individual has to shape
the nature of their research. The speed at which an individual can progress through the career structure is mainly dependent upon how quickly they develop and how well they can demonstrate the extent of their contribution through the quality of their work.
To give you a feel for what you will be doing and what will be expected of you in each role, see the list below:
Role and purpose Principal accountabilities
Foundation(Graduate)Scientist
Support the delivery of (the application of) scientific research: to enhance the Met Office’s capability and reputation; and to improve the quality of its products, predictions or advice to customers.
Support research and development to deliver agreed project outputs which improve Met Office systems, products or advice for the benefit of customers.
Contribute to the presentation and publication/documentation of the team’s work to communicate advice and/or maintain our scientific/technical capability and integrity and/or to promote our reputation.
Develop the skills required to fulfil the Scientist Role to maintain the Met Office’s scientific capability (not required for some support based jobs).
Scientist
Deliver (the application of) scientific research: to enhance the Met Office’s capability and reputation; and to improve the quality of its products, predictions or advice to customers.
Contribute to the writing of their job plan to support the research and development programme.
Conduct research and development to deliver agreed project outputs which improve Met Office systems, products or advice for the benefit of customers.
Contribute significantly to the presentation and publication/documentation of scientific research work both internally and externally in order to communicate advice and/or maintain our scientific/technical capability and integrity and/or to promote our reputation.
Provide scientific/technical advice to other team members on some work aspects to improve the effectiveness of the team.
SeniorScientist
Deliver (the application of) scientific research: to enhance the Met Office’s capability and reputation; and to improve the quality of its products, predictions or advice to customers.
Plan scientific or technical projects to define a part of the research and development programme.
Lead and conduct research and development to deliver agreed project outputs which significantly improve Met Office systems, products or advice for the benefit of customers.
Lead the presentation and publication/documentation of scientific research internally and externally in order to communicate advice and/or maintain our scientific/technical capability and integrity and to promote our reputation.
Develop and support staff both within their team and more widely to enhance our scientific/technical capability.
Manage the scientific or technical research projects to improve Met Office systems or products.
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Within each broad role sit a variety of similar jobs. Typically, a new graduate would spend the first two to three years in a steep learning curve in a Foundation role. Depending on how quickly they develop we would expect them to be ready to be nominated for a broader Scientist role within a few years. Some of our colleagues remain in this Scientist role during their career, but most are actively encouraged to further develop their skills to become a more autonomous Senior Scientist after between seven and ten years in the office. It is in this Senior Scientist role that much of our pioneering work is carried out, and as a result we expect that all of our Foundation scientists will have the potential to reach this level. Hence our
graduate recruitment process is designed to identify those individuals who possess the necessary underpinning talent, motivation and potential that will give them the momentum to attain the Senior Scientist position as quickly as possible.
Talented and accomplished Senior Scientists who are looking to achieve and contribute even more can choose whether to go into scientific management or further develop in their specialist field to attain the Expert Scientist status. Individuals can move between an expert specialist and managerial position, however, in order to enhance both sets of skills. Our very best scientists are encouraged to apply to become either a Fellow (a promotion
based on individual contribution) or one of a select group of Scientific Strategic Heads who lead a broad element of our science, coordinated into a coherent set of activities by a Programme Manager.
b.Scientificsoftwareengineeringrolesandprofessionalskillsframework
Whilst most scientific staff sit within the science family, some roles are primarily IT based, but still require the ability to work closely with scientists in a scientific environment. So we also have a similar family of roles sitting within a related Scientific Software profession. Inevitably some cross-over between career families is possible. This related career family of roles is depicted below:
Director
Scientific Software Strategic Head
Technical Fellow
Roles where wehave vacancies inthis campaign
Scientific SoftwareSpecialist
Scientific Systems Manager
Senior ScientificSoftware Engineer
Arrows indicate likely career paths
Scientific Software Engineer
Foundation (Graduate)Scientific Software Engineer
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As with our science roles, each broad scientific software engineering role comprises a distinct but related set of accountabilities. To give you a feel for what you will be doing and what will be expected of you by role, these are listed below:
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Role and purpose Principal accountabilities
Foundation(Graduate)ScientificSoftwareEngineer
Maintain and support specialised scientific software applications required to underpin Met Office science programmes.
To liaise with scientific colleagues in order to understand their requirements for specialised scientific software solutions.
To contribute to maintenance and support of software applications to facilitate their maximum utilisation and longevity.
To contribute to the development of software applications to meet the needs of the scientific community within the Met Office.
Adhere to, and contribute to the improvement of, software engineering procedures and standards in order to ensure delivered software solutions meet desired quality criteria.
Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues in order to enhance overall team effectiveness.
ScientificSoftwareEngineer
Design, build, maintain and support specialised scientific software applications required to underpin Met Office science programmes.
To liaise with scientific colleagues in order to understand their requirements for specialised scientific software solutions.
To develop software applications that meet the needs of the scientific community within the Met Office.
To maintain, document and support software applications so as to facilitate their maximum utilisation and longevity.
Adhere to, and contribute to the improvement of, software engineering procedures and standards in order to ensure delivered software solutions meet desired quality criteria.
Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues in order to enhance overall team or group effectiveness.
SeniorScientificSoftwareEngineer
Provide technical leadership with regard to the specification and implementation of specialised scientific software applications required to underpin Met Office science programmes.
Act as key interface with science/research colleagues in order to identify, interpret and negotiate requirements for specialised scientific software solutions.
Act as technical lead in connection with the specification, design and delivery of scientific software solutions to agreed time, cost and quality criteria.
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4.Role entry requirements and selection criteria
a.Scientificroles
A range of research and consultancy posts are therefore available at three levels:
• Foundation (Graduate)
• Scientist
• Senior Scientist
Which role you should apply for and will be offered will depend upon the skills and experience you bring, as stated in your application and as inferred from your career history to date. Linked to our two skills frameworks, for each role we have identified the underpinning skills and experience candidates need to bring across a broad range of criteria to be able to demonstrate eligibility for entry into each role. These represent the basis of the professional and technical criteria we will use for selection in this campaign, and are listed below:
1. Scientific insight and independence
2. Underpinning scientific and technical skills, experience and knowledge
3. Scientific strategic thinking
4. Leadership coaching
5. Scientific communication
6. Use of information technology
7. Programming and software development
These comprise our main selection criteria for recruitment purposes for each Science role. For these three particular roles these general criteria are shown in more detail in the following table:
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Foundation Scientist SeniorScientist
1. Scientific insight and independenceThis describes the level of input required for the person to produce quality scientific output.
Provides valuable output under close supervision.
Demonstrated ability to consistently perform scientific development or research with weekly or less frequent supervision.
Produces good quality technical implementation of a concept that has been thought through in advance. Recognises where the concept needs further development, or consultation with customer.
A recognised authority in a narrow field or a scientist with a significant breadth of experience who consistently works on own area demonstrating initiative with limited supervision.
Turns broadly defined concepts or questions into high quality scientific outputs or systems which meet customer needs.
2. Underpinning scientific and technical skills, experience and knowledge These will be quite specific to a job but examples are skills, experience and knowledge about: data analysis; solving equations; numerical methods; parametrization techniques; chemical reactions; instrument design; experimental design.
Has a basic (graduate level or equivalent) scientific knowledge, but little or no specific knowledge of subject area.
Experience and knowledge expected from someone with a good degree in maths, physics or equivalent discipline.
Has a good scientific knowledge of own subject area and can recognise areas for development. Is consistently able to learn new techniques in own general area quickly from reading or discussion.
Experience and knowledge expected from someone with several years post-graduate experience in field broadly related to the job.
Has an advanced scientific or technical knowledge of a broad subject area and related techniques and can assist others with these. Also recognises and acts on needs to learn new techniques in order to enter a new research or technical area.
Experience and knowledge expected from an able scientist with several years experience at the Scientist level.
3. Scientific strategic thinking
Has a basic understanding of how their work fits in to Met Office plans and objectives.
Has a good understanding of how their work fits in to Met Office plans, or customer needs, and basic ideas of the best direction of their work.
Has clear ideas of the direction of their own and team’s work and how this aligns with the strategy of the Met Office and the needs of relevant customers.
4. Scientific leadership, coaching and mentoring
Listens and acts on guidance from other team members.
Listens and acts on guidance from team members and provides support to others on some work aspects.
Is consistently able to successfully train and support people in scientific or technical areas.
5. Communicating science
Can describe their work at a level a general scientist can understand.
Can describe the work of their team to somebody not a specialist in their field, and has an appreciation of the impact of their own work on non-scientific partners.
Can describe the work of their team and any related work to somebody not a specialist in their field, and explain how this fits into the corporate aims of the Met Office. Also, draws out from non-specialist partners their needs, constraints and opportunities, and identifies how own work can contribute to solving partners’ problems.
6. Use of scientific IT applications, numerical models and instrumentationThis includes the use of software packages which are a higher level than programming languages and the use of numerical models such as the Unified Model.
Competent use of applications, models or instrumentation.
Advanced use of applications, models or instrumentation.
Expert use of a range of applications, models or instrumentation.
7. Programming and software developmentIncludes all types of programming and scripting. The levels are broadly based on the Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) [SFIA Levels 2-5] as provided by the British Computer Society but are applied here to the smaller but specific area of computing developments in a scientific context.
Designs, codes, tests, corrects and documents simple programs and assists implementation of software forming part of a properly engineered information or communications system.
Designs, codes, tests, corrects and documents moderately complex programs and program modifications from supplied specifications, using agreed standards and tools. Conducts reviews of supplied specifications as appropriate.
Designs, codes, tests, corrects and documents large and/or complex programs and program modifications from supplied specifications using agreed standards and tools, to achieve a well-engineered result. Takes part in reviews of own work and leads reviews of colleagues’ work.
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b.Scientificsoftwareroles
A range of posts are available across our Scientific Software Engineering profession at three levels:
• Foundation (Graduate) Scientific Software Engineer
• Scientific Software Engineer
• Senior Scientific Software Engineer
Which role you should apply for and will be offered will depend upon the skills and experience you bring, as stated in your application and as inferred from your career history to date. Linked to our two skills frameworks, for each role we have identified the underpinning skills and experience candidates need to bring across a broad range of criteria to be able to demonstrate eligibility for entry into that role. These represent the basis of the professional and technical criteria we will use for selection in this campaign, and are listed below:
1. Application expertise
2. Tools and platform expertise
3. User representation
4. Background in science
5. SFIA BCS levels 2, 3 & 4: autonomy, influence, complexity and business skills
These comprise our main selection criteria for recruitment purposes for each Scientific Software Engineering role. For these three particular roles the general criteria are shown in more detail in the following table:
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Foundation ScientificSoftwareEngineer SeniorScientificSoftwareEngineer
1. Application expertiseThis describes the level of expertise required to work (support, maintain, develop) effectively on the applications used for a particular job. It will include demonstration of technical leadership in the areas of expertise.
Provides valuable output under close supervision.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with weekly or less frequent supervision.
Produces good quality technical implementation of a concept that has been thought through in advance. Recognises where the concept needs further development.
A recognised authority in specific areas of an application who works on own area with limited supervision.
2. Tools and platform expertise Describes knowledge of the computing platforms, languages and tools required to do the job effectively.
Ability to learn software languages and tools required for the role to be effective.
A general understanding of the platforms and services required for the role with suitable guidance.
A good grounding in the languages and tools used to allow complex tasks to be completed with some supervision.
Ability to utilise the relevant range of platforms and services with little need for guidance.
Strong skills in the languages and tools used. Good understanding of platforms and services required. Only exceptional need for guidance and ability to provide advice and review.
3. User representationDescribes the ability to represent users at various levels.
Able to explain user problems to other team members and to support or development teams.
Able to act an as effective interface between users and support or development teams.
Able to provide input on behalf of users to service level agreements (or equivalents) development, user groups or software development project as required.
Represents full user base at user groups and the development of one or more of (as required by job):
• Service level agreements (or equivalents)
• System procurements
• Software designs and developments
• Aware of changes in technology that affect users and can communicate impact
4. Background in science This requires a generic background in science to be defined for the Met Office. The skill levels listed below comprise an interim description until a fully agreed set is supplied. A background of science knowledge is required for effective communication with scientists and for delivering scientific applications in a computing or other technical environment. This includes the ability to select and develop appropriate scientific techniques within a technical framework.
Enough understanding of scientific principles to gain a broad understanding of the relevant scientific areas to allow the person to communicate with scientists.
To be able to assist in the interpretation of science represented in the technical area.
A broad understanding of the relevant scientific areas that allows the person to communicate with scientists and to identify areas of interaction.
To contribute to applying technical developments in response to scientific requirements.
A broad understanding of the relevant scientific areas that allows the person to communicate with scientists and to identify areas of interaction.
To contribute to applying technical developments in response to scientific requirements.
5. SFIA BCS levels This set of skill levels is based on the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) as provided by the British Computer Society (BCS) at http://scripts.bcs.org/sfiaplus/level.htm
It takes into account the fact that our Scientific Software roles often need a wider range of lower level skills and this gives a higher SFIA rating than would be indicated by competencies demonstrated in a single technical skill. The skill levels are those applied to technical skills appropriate for the job, as defined within SFIA categories at http://scripts.bcs.org/sfiaplus/sfia.htm
SFIA level 2 SFIA level 3 SFIA level 4
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c. MetOfficebehaviours (howwework)
In addition to scientific skills, all Met Office employees are actively encouraged to demonstrate our six broad corporate behaviours. This is because our success is not just based upon what we know, but how we work. As part of our selection process, in addition to the scientific skills stated above, you will also be expected to provide evidence of your behaviour against the following six behavioural criteria:
Behaviour Key elements
Adopts a visionary approach to meeting customer needs • Being proactive
• Being creative and innovative
• Seeing the wider picture
• Constantly seeking improvements to the way we do things
Works with others in a united way to deliver results • Works in collaboration with internal and external partners
• Being a team player and develops a mutual understanding
Approaches work with drive and commitment • Maintains focus on outcomes
• Emphasis on ensuring delivery of desired results
• Adaptable to changing situations
Acts with integrity • Open and honest, respects the views and traditions of others
• Prepared to be held accountable for own work and actions
• Reliable and does what they say they are going to do
Communicates clearly to ensure understanding • Straightforward and ensures information is relevant
• Easily understood
• Actively listens to ensure understanding
Inspires others to make things happen • Able to motivate others
• Engaging
• Leads where required
• Acts as a role model for others
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5.Selection process: Met Office information and assessment days
This campaign runs for nine weeks: from Monday 15 December 2008 to Sunday 15 February 2009. Applications received after 15 February will not be considered.
The recruitment campaign process is described below:
Met Office. We also want to know why you want to work at the Met Office and what you can offer us. To ensure that you stand out from the competition, indicate the areas of research where you feel you have particular expertise, based on your coursework and any postgraduate or work experience, and how this may benefit our business.
• Applyonline: go to www.capitaras.co.uk/metoffice to access our electronic application form. Make sure you complete and submit your application by 15February2009 at the latest.
• Stage1Information&AssessmentDay: this will run during the weeks commencing 23and30March2009. If you are successful in getting to this first stage you will be invited to the Met Office in Exeter for one day (between 9.30am–4.30pm) sometime during these two weeks. This will involve a combination of selection exercises, a tour of our building, the opportunity to meet some of our recent graduates and a presentation. Expenses will be paid to all attendees.
• Stage2Information&AssessmentDay: this will run during the weeks commencing 20and27April2009. If you are successful in getting to this second stage you will be invited to the Met Office in Exeter for one day (between 9.30am–4.30pm) sometime during these two weeks. This will involve a final panel interview. This day will also include a detailed scientific presentation from a Met Office R&D scientist, incorporating an informal question and answer session. Expenses will be paid to all attendees.
• OffersofPermanentEmployment: these will be made during the week commencing 11May2009. You can take up your post any time, but we would normally expect graduates to start during either August, September or October 2009.
• MetOfficeGeneralInduction: all staff new to the Met Office receive a comprehensive one week full induction to our business. In order to cater for our new intake we may ask you to be flexible with your start date in order that we can stagger new recruits over a few months.
• LocalScienceAreaTeamInduction: your line manager will introduce you to your immediate colleagues and the wider team within your Met Office Programme, and agree with you a series of science related information and development activities customised to your needs to ensure you get the best possible start to your career at the Met Office.
Make a note of these dates in your diary as we will be unlikely to be able to offer alternative dates.
On the application form use the opportunity to provide all the relevant information which may help us accurately assess your suitability. During the application process you will be asked to state which role you are applying for. There are some prompting questions during the initial stages of the application
form to help ensure that you apply for the role that best suits your skills and experience. You’ll find guidance on how to complete your application form with examples on our website: www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/recruitment/guidance_notes.pdf
Provide details of the work you have been involved in and papers you have authored which you feel make you suitable for a job in research at the
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6.Our commitments to you: rewards and benefits
We aim to ensure our employees feel appropriately rewarded and recognised for their achievements and contribution to the success of the Met Office, and are motivated to use their skills and expertise for the benefit of our customers. We recognise that for those just embarking on or still in the early stages of their scientific career, choice of employer is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It is important that you are able to compare and contrast what employers have on offer to help you decide which organisation is for you.
Job satisfaction is a complex phenomenon; it isn’t just about pay. What you do, how the organisation you work for contributes to society, who you work with and the environment in which you work are all important factors you should consider. Less obvious elements of our reward package but very significant, such as our pension for instance, may not be at the top of your
priority list right now, but later on in your career this element of pay will become much more important. So it’s best to ensure this aspect of your financial security is put on a firm footing right at the beginning of your career; it’ll just give you one less thing to worry about.
Equally, when you choose to join an organisation it’s not just about the first job you do but where that could lead in terms of future career progression. A more important question might be, “Where could I be in this organisation in six years time?” And then there’s job security. The weather and climate change isn’t going to go away. If anything, government and business will want more of these services. So we’d like to think that we’re going to be around for a while.
Starting salaries will range from between £21,000–£32,492. Generally, those expecting to graduate in 2009 with a relevant degree can expect to start
on around £21,000 as a Foundation Scientist. Packages for Scientist and Senior Scientist roles will be offered somewhere within this broad range, depending upon qualifications, skills and experience. Naturally, salaries for Senior Scientists will be offered at the higher end of this range. In addition you will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme in which we will contribute around a further 19.5% on top of your base salary towards your pension. You will be asked to contribute just 3.5%.
All Met Office roles are currently subject to an organisation-wide role-based market-informed reward structure, and exact starting salaries for these broad roles may change. Actual pay ranges on offer will be available in early 2009 and communicated during your Information & Assessment days.
All appointments are permanent. Normal working hours are 37 per week, Monday to Friday.
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Annualleaveandtimeoff
In addition to 25 days annual leave you’ll get 8 Bank Holidays and 2.5 Privilege Days to be taken at certain times of the year (Easter and Christmas), totalling 34.5 days. Your annual leave entitlement will rise with your length of service, reaching 30 days after 7 years service. Including privilege days and bank holidays this totals some 40.5 days. We also offer maternity/adoption leave, paternity leave, parental leave and special leave (paid or unpaid).
Relocationexpenses
We do not normally offer relocation assistance for recent graduates. Relocation for homeowners for more senior roles may be available in exceptional circumstances.
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Performanceandcontribution-basedreward
In addition to your base pay and pension contribution, you will have the opportunity to earn extra money dependent upon your level of contribution to the Met Office. This consists of both:
• Consolidated pay (once awarded you continue to benefit from it whilst you remain in our employment), for the application of your capability/skill to the role and the benefit of the Met Office, and,
• Non-consolidated pay (payable as a one-off award during that performance year only) based on your performance against objectives in the form of bonuses.
A consolidated pay award is based on your line manager’s overall assessment of your contribution relative to your peers and will be linked to what you achieve (objectives), how well you have developed and applied your skills during the year, and how you have applied those skills (behaviours).
Providing you at least meet the eligibility criteria listed above, you can earn additional non-consolidated pay during and at the end of each financial year through the following schemes:
• Corporatebonus – paid following the end of the financial year, this is based upon whether the Met Office as a whole meets its top level targets and objectives. This changes every year depending upon our performance and affordability and a decision by our Chief Executive. In 2008 it was worth about £806 (net) for each employee for the period they contributed towards the targets.
• Teambonus – paid following the end of the financial year, this is tied to the performance of the Scientific Programme in which you work, and is highly variable dependent upon the performance of each team, and the emphasis and relative importance of the team bonus your Scientific Programme Manager was to give this compared to other bonuses they can award to staff within their programme.
• Personalbonus – top perfomers against objectives may be eligible for a further bonus where they exceed our expectations in terms of what they achieve and how they have achieved it. We expect around 20% of our staff to be eligible for a personal bonus, and is currently worth around £560.
• Instantrecognitionscheme(IRS) – whilst it makes sense to assess an individual’s contribution throughout the financial year, we also believe that occasionally our staff go out of their way to make a difference, and that this should be recognised instantly. Providing you are on track to at least meet overall performance expectations during the year, any manager in the Met Office can reward you with a one off payment as a “thank you” for doing something special. This is in the form of vouchers which you can spend at major retail outlets, and is worth around £150 per payout. There is no limit on the number of times you can receive one of these awards, other than your preparedness to go that extra mile and achieve greater success for the business.
Overall, these discretionary bonuses are currently worth around £1,700 on top of basic pay.
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Location
The majority of posts will be at the Met Office, Exeter. A few posts may arise at Cardington, Reading, Cranfield or Wallingford. The location of a particular post will be discussed with you at interview. Met Office staff have a mobility commitment which means you may be required to serve at other UK mainland locations.
Pension
As stated, you will be eligible to join our renowned Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme that includes a programme for new entrants called “Nuvos”. This benefits scheme also includes death and injury benefits and more details can be found at www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk
Learningandcareerdevelopment
Our Scientific Professional Skills Framework above provides the mechanism for you to plan and navigate your way through your scientific career. What you can achieve is down to you and how you apply yourself. The Met Office is committed to the training and development of all its employees and holds Investors in People status. Your line manager will agree a Development Plan shortly after you take up your appointment where your current skills will be compared with those required for the role and those of your peers.
As meteorology is an international discipline, our scientists have the opportunity to attend conferences, take part in collaborative projects and publish their work in leading journals. We also offer mentoring schemes and pay for professional subscriptions, honours and awards for excellence. Naturally, with staffing numbers around 1,700 you will have the opportunity to progress into other relevant areas of work within the Met Office to broaden your skills.
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Flexibleworking
We offer opportunities for part-time working, home working, term time (part year) working and compressed hours.
Wellbeing
For your wellbeing we offer free eye tests for visual display unit users and free access to our occupational welfare programme “Right Corecare” should you need to use it.
Sports,fitnessandsocialopportunities
Our modern headquarters in Exeter has a fully-equipped gymnasium and fitness suite. In addition, you will be able to join the Met Office Sports and Social Association which provides a range of subsidised recreational activities.
Tradeunionmembership
The recognised Trade Union for Met Office employees is Prospect. All employees are given the opportunity to join Prospect.
Workingenvironment
Our modern headquarters in Exeter is easily accessible and is just one minute from junction 29 of the M5 (A30 Honiton junction). We have free parking and a restaurant, coffee bar, seating/relaxation areas, cash point and a shop – all on site.
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Ourcommitmenttodiversity
To widen the pool of candidates from which to draw, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the published minimum criteria for the role. To qualify for a guaranteed interview, you do not have to be registered as a disabled person but you must have a disability or long-term health condition that puts you at a substantial disadvantage in either obtaining or keeping employment. The disability must be likely to last for at least 12 months. To apply for a guaranteed interview, please complete the appropriate section of the application form. If appropriate, you should provide details of any particular arrangements you will require for the interview, e.g. car parking, speech facilitator. The selection process may involve a participative and interactive group exercise. It would be appreciated if you could state clearly if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments in these exercises to be made in order that you can participate fully to be able to demonstrate your potential. Please note that any false declaration of disability to obtain an interview may invalidate any resultant contract of employment.
The Met Office is an Equal Opportunities employer and maintains a culture that values ability, difference, openness, fairness and transparency. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, gender, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender reassignment, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, family status, physical or mental disability, trade union membership or any otherirrelevant factor.
The Met Office is committed to working towards an even more diverse organisation and to valuing and utilising the visible and non-visible individual differences that people bring. This includes working to ensure there are no barriers implicit in our policies and procedures that prevent individuals from performing to the best of their ability, along with creating a positive and open environment in which to work.
Nationalityandresidencyrequirements
All successful applicants offered conditional employment at the Met Office are required to undertake national security vetting. In most cases successful applicants will be able to commence after satisfactory initial security vetting (while full national security vetting is undertaken), but for a small percentage of posts a higher level of vetting will be required. If you do not have five years continuous residency in the UK this process may take longer.
Please note that nationality and residency restrictions of this kind are common with all UK Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies. For further guidance see the UK Border Agency’s website www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/
If you have a disability or are unable to access the internet, please contact Capita Resourcing on 0870 169 9723 or contact Rachael Savage at [email protected]. Please mark your returned application form: ‘Graduate Research Scientist’. Regrettably, due to the high number of people who apply for positions at the Met Office we are unable to reply to each applicant individually. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date you may assume you have not been successful on this occasion.
Thankyouforyourinterestinworkingwithus.
For more information visit www.metoffice.gov.ukorcallour24-hourCustomerCentreon08709000100.
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