Deployable Project Scientist

Job summary

We’re looking for two exceptional Deployable Project Scientists to help us make a difference to our planet.

The Met Office’s Deployable Project Scientists team is recruiting a new cohort of exceptional scientists who want to make a real difference to our planet. As part of this team, you will undertake a series of short-term placements across a variety of host teams, applying your scientific expertise to diverse challenges and gaining exposure to many areas of our organisation.

As our Deployable Project Scientist (HEO), 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 create 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

Job description

Your world of expertise

The Deployable Project Scientists team offers a unique route into the Met Office. You’ll join colleagues who strive every day to be a force for good, and you’ll work in a high-achieving, collaborative environment where your growth is supported and encouraged. We are looking to appoint up to five scientists who show strong potential to thrive in this setting.

Your key duties:

• Are you looking for more than just a job? Are you seeking instead a meaningful career where your scientific skills can contribute to an organisation whose values align with your own? Are you excited by the opportunity to develop technically while working on real-world problems that deliver impact for a wide range of customers and stakeholders?
• As part of the Deployable Project Scientists cohort, you will work on a portfolio of projects spanning a broad range of scientific domains and applications, ranging from weather and climate science to international capacity building, defence, underpinning research and user-focused applications. This model provides a rare opportunity to explore different scientific areas, learn new analytical and coding techniques, and build a wide professional network. Many scientists describe it as the ideal launchpad for becoming a well-rounded scientific professional.
• Although these are permanent positions, team members typically “graduate” into other roles across the Met Office after around two years, choosing a position that aligns with their preferred specialism. This makes the role perfect for people who are enthused by the breadth of Met Office science and want to avoid specialising too quickly.
• You will receive tailored support and training based on your experience and the needs of the projects you undertake. Starting as part of a cohort also means you will immediately have a peer network for support, collaboration and shared development, both during your placement period and long after.

Person specification

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

1. You will demonstrate substantial independent experience and recognised expertise in a relevant scientific or technical discipline. This may include (but is not limited to) physical, technical, mathematical, statistical, environmental, or behavioural sciences. Your expertise may have been developed through:

A relevant degree (2:1 or above) with subsequent related professional or research experience; and/or

A relevant postgraduate qualification. (Lead Criteria)

2. We’re a force for good
You will be an independent, accomplished problem-solver with extensive experience applying critical reasoning and analytical skills to address scientific or technical challenges relevant to the Met Office. You should provide clear evidence of this, including citations of any peer-reviewed publications or equivalent outputs that demonstrate your contribution and impact.

3. You are a proactive professional
You take ownership of your professional development, demonstrating the ability to reflect on your performance, identify training needs, and plan your time effectively. You can learn and apply new methods or concepts to meet project objectives. Please include details of any relevant: Professional qualifications, training courses completed or membership of professional bodies.

4. We’re better together
You can demonstrate experience as a collaborative and supportive team member, contributing to shared goals by challenging constructively, supporting colleagues, and building productive relationships with senior scientific and technical stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.

5. We live and breathe it
You are an inclusive, persuasive and impactful communicator, with significant experience adapting complex information for diverse audiences. You can convey scientific or technical messages clearly and concisely using a broad range of communication formats and channels.

6. We keep evolving
You possess advanced expertise in at least one programming language or advanced analytical method, with proven experience handling, cleaning and analysing large datasets to generate meaningful insights and deliver impactful results. You also either:

Have practical experience applying Machine Learning techniques to solve problems; or

Can demonstrate a clear commitment and interest in developing expertise in this area.

The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,145, Met Office contributes £10,181 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 Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023, 2024 and 2025 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.

As our Deployable Project Scientist (HEO), your total reward package will be up to £49,448 annually, which includes:

• £35,145 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• 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

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

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 21/01/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 02/02/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

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, 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.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at: careers@metoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk

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