Associate Director, Data Production and Supply

Job summary

We are pleased to bring to the market the role of Associate Director, National Capability Data Production and Supply at the Met Office.

As our Associate Director, you will lead the development and operations of our computing platforms and data services that are fundamental for weather and climate science, helping the Met Office realise the full potential of Supercomputing and AI in weather and climate prediction.

Based in Exeter, you will lead the development and operations of the underpinning technology that enables our products and services through geospatial big data and supercomputing.

World changing work

As one of the world’s leading weather and climate organisations, the Met Office is a world leading scientific institution with a global reputation for excellence in weather and climate science and services. Our work supports everything from daily life and travel, to defence, agriculture, energy and emergency response.

Job description

Your world of expertise

Our Data Production and Supply Capability includes our 24/7 operational delivery of numerical weather prediction (and other) data and supply of that data to our Products and Services Domain (the customer facing part of the Met Office). It also includes production of operational climate data. This Capability is therefore a key part of the operational delivery of National Capability, to monitor, manage and lifecycle the technical and IT delivery systems appropriately.

The Met Office is fundamentally dependent on its National Capability operations to ensure continued delivery of 24/7 services to customers and stakeholders, helping them make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.

You will report to our Director of National Capability Operations and lead a team of approximately 100 staff.

Your key duties

• To lead the development and operations of our platform and data services, including lifecycle management of the technology, and providing direction to advance our National Capability Data Production and Supply capability.
• Balance the deployment of skills and expertise to meet organisational objectives, managing risks that threaten service delivery including cyber security and ensuring behaviours and processes at an organisational level remain fit for purpose to meet customer commitments.
• Deployment of a area headcount of ~100, you will ensure an appropriate balance between maintaining operations (run), investment in development of new services (grow) and transformation of Met Office capabilities to be fit for the future (transform)

• Working with the Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) to successfully deliver the changes arising from the new supercomputing service and ensuring these are embedded into the BAU technology organisation encompassing impacts to the workforce, supplier management and key processes.
• As an active member of the National Capability Leadership Team, supporting the delivery of strategy for the whole Met Office.

Person specification

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

We are seeking a permanent appointment for an exceptional leader whose experience aligns with our criteria:

1. Professional qualification or chartered accreditation in technology or with equivalent relevant experience (We're experts by nature).
2. Experience of leading large technology teams (100+) to achieve or exceed operational service KPIs, empowering autonomy and fostering active collaboration (We're better together).
3. Financial literacy – proven track record of managing a significant budget (£10 million+) within agreed limits and experience of budgeting and forecasting processes.
4. A proven track record of leading critical and complex business and IT change at scale, ideally involving multiple vendors (We live and breathe it).
5. Ability to balance people, technical, financial and timely delivery risks in the development and operations of resilient IT services.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £74,856, Met Office contributes £21,685 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 accredited as a 'Great Place to Work UK’ and in addition has achieved a place on both the UK's 'Best Workplaces in Tech' and 'Best Workplaces for Women' lists.

As our Associate Director, Data Production and Supply your total reward package is potentially worth in the range of £103,591 annually, which includes:

• Base pay in the range of £74,856 to £82,084
• 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
• A relocation package is available.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Our selection process

To apply, follow the steps below which will include a Supporting Statement for you to evidence your experience and skills against each of the essential criteria. Closing date Monday 6th April at 23:59.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview which will take place on 28th April 2026.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Apply below using your CV and a Cover Letter/Supporting Statement with evidence against each of the essential criteria. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date Monday 6th April at 23:59.

How we can help:

If you are considering applying and need support 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 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, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. 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 (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) 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) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk