Ocean Environment Scientist – Marine Biology

Job summary

The UKHO is a Specialist Geospatial Centre for the Marine Environment as well as the national archive for maritime products. Our customers require expert advice, bespoke products, specialist services and assured data on the ocean environment to assist in their planning. To support this, the Ocean Environment Team within the Scientific Analysis Group, acquires data from a variety of sources, reviewing and adding value to those data for subsequent use. The purpose of this post is to provide the expertise necessary to utilise environmental data and provide an assessment of the environmental conditions likely to be encountered. This will be achieved through collaborations with external organisations and scientific communities. Utilising their technical knowledge and credibility, the post holder will be the technical expert in their area of specialism, leading and supporting UKHO projects where appropriate.

Ocean Environment Scientists engage with other specialists and both internal and external stakeholders in order to develop and maintain Subject Matter Expert knowledge and communicate relevant technical information to the team.

For this role, we are looking for an Ocean Environment Scientist with a specialism in Marine Biology, bioacoustics and skills in big data analysis and data modelling.

As Subject Matter Experts, postholders will be actively involved, in partnership with the Team Leader/Manger in process improvement and wider changes driven by Business direction.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in professional delivery, whilst maintaining and developing your scientific expertise in a supportive yet dynamic environment.

Hybrid working

Attendance in the office is required in accordance with Business need – which is likely to be 50% of working time.

Hybrid working is a non contractual and voluntary arrangement according to business need.

Further information

There is an opportunity of part-time hours for this role, the minimum being 30 hours per week.

Job description

The post holder will undertake activities that fall within these four key areas:

Development: The post holder will be tasked with the development of capabilities which will improve the customers tactical exploitation of the Ocean Environment. The post holder will develop a good understanding of the customers need for and use of environmental information and feedback from users is actively sought to inform development planning. New capabilities are delivered as projects led by the post holder.

Data analysis and presentation: Data is obtained and analysed to create representative descriptions of the environment for situational awareness. The post holder will undertake analysis of data relevant to the teams tasking, to derive representative visualisations of the expected marine environmental conditions as well as improve analysis methodology in order to provide a better service, more efficiently. Methods and software tools used for analysis or presentation of results will be continually reviewed and updated to meet changing demands and improve services.

Capability: Liaison with organisations (both UK and overseas) to meet the needs of assigned work and keep abreast of developments in marine environmental data and analytical techniques. Make the necessary arrangements to obtain data and provide this information as a dataset in a form readily useable by the customer. Develop a network of contacts throughout the academic/government/NGO community to facilitate the best available current scientific understanding and enable collaboration activities to enhance the team’s capability. Take part in outreach activities to raise the profile of the team as a leading supplier of maritime scientific data and expertise.

Report writing and Quality Assurance: The holder will be expected to produce technical reports to record methodology and results or to present a case for changes to working practices, ensuring documentation is maintained for all analysis work.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following:

• A postgraduate qualification and/or equivalent experience of working in Marine Biology or a related field (e.g. Bioacoustics, Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology).
• Strong numerical ability and a deep knowledge and understanding of the principles of marine environmental science and bioacoustics.
• A deep working knowledge of data modelling as well as analysis and visualisation techniques applied to marine environmental data, including computer programming skills (experience creating and managing projects within MATLAB, R, BASH or Python).
• Recent experience working with commonly used data formats within the marine sciences, such as gridded NetCDF, csv, geotiff and shapefiles.
• Experience of working independently on a scientific project(s) and making informed evidence-based decisions.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, both written and oral. Including the ability to undertake scientific literature reviews, extract relevant information and summarising for a non-expert audience.

To be successful in the role, you will need to have the confidence in your technical capability to undertake innovative approaches to complex tasks. You will be able to provide feedback, guidance and coaching in an inclusive and nurturing way to enable others to build their own capability.

As the Subject Matter Expert in a team, Ocean Environment Scientists are actively driving scientific development and support process improvement within the organisation, so will need to have a positive approach to change and the drive to develop themselves to meet and embrace such challenges.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A deep working knowledge of data modelling as well as analysis and visualisation techniques applied to marine environmental data, including computer programming skills (experience creating and managing projects within MATLAB, R, BASH or Python).
• Strong numerical ability and a deep knowledge and understanding of the principles of marine environmental science and bioacoustics.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,173, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £11,058 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

When you click "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page, you will be required to attach your anonymised CV and give a supporting statement of 1000 words on the Pre-Sift and Experience criteria below. We would like 250 words for each of the shortlisting criteria totalling up to 1000 words.

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 25/06/2026
• Shortlisting: Week commencing: 29/06/2026
• Interviews: Week commencing: 13/07/2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

A pre-sift will be carried out on the criteria below:-

• A postgraduate qualification and/or equivalent experience of working in Marine Biology or a related field (e.g. Bioacoustics Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology) - taken from your CV and supporting statement.

Please note, if your application does not meet the pre-sift criteria, it will not be taken through to the sift as set out below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously.

Experience:

• Strong numerical ability and a deep knowledge and understanding of the principles of marine environmental science and bioacoustics.
• A deep working knowledge of data modelling as well as analysis and visualisation techniques applied to marine environmental data, including computer programming skills (experience creating and managing projects within MATLAB, R, BASH or Python).
• Experience of working independently on a scientific project(s) and making informed evidence-based decisions.

All the above criteria should be demonstrated in your anonymised CV and supporting statement.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical Skills:-

• A deep working knowledge of data modelling as well as analysis and visualisation techniques applied to marine environmental data, including computer programming skills (experience creating and managing projects within MATLAB, R, BASH or Python). (Lead Criteria in the event of a tie at interview)
• Strong numerical ability and a deep knowledge and understanding of the principles of marine environmental science and bioacoustics.

Civil Service Behaviours (HEO Level)

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing - assessed by a presentation
• Making Effective Decisions - assessed by a presentation

See here for further information: Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via MS TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approximately 45 minutes. If selected for interview, you will be required to give a 10 minute presentation as noted above. The title of the presentation will be provided in your Invitation to Interview.

Onboarding Checks:

SC – Reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk