Senior Scientist - International Applied Science and Services

Job summary

We’re looking for a Senior Applied Climate Scientist to join International Applied Science and Services to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Senior Applied Climate Scientist - International Applied Science and Services (IASAS), 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 21.5 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

Whilst this is a temporary 12-month position, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position.

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

You will provide scientific leadership in the delivery or application of scientific research to enhance the Met Office’s capability, impact or quality of its predictions, products or advice. Joining the Climate Analysis for Adaptation and Resilience team, you will contribute to the work of International Applied Science and Services in Programmes (IASAS). IASAS are responsible for the research, scientific, technical and service development that support international activities across weather, seasonal and climate timescales.

The post requires the need for occasional international travel to undertake country engagements with a wide range of stakeholders. This will typically be for a week or two at a time.

Your key duties:

• Design and lead work with internal and external partners, and across different disciplines and society, to co-produce climate information services for different seasonal and climate hazards and sectoral applications.
• Develop methods to distil, communicate and share climate information for decision making in an international development context (e.g. climate risk narratives, infographics, risk maps).
• Apply and develop new and existing methods of analysing climate and social information for use in international weather and climate science and service development contexts.
• Help build capacity of local stakeholders and scientists through design and/or delivery of in-country training and science exchange activities.
• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, a range of international projects – including: projects for the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) programmes, Weather and Climate Science for Services (WCSSP) programmes and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Person specification

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

1. Evidence of experience engaging with diverse people and communities to understand user needs, with a good knowledge of approaches and methodologies applicable to stakeholder engagement and co-production (We’re a force for good).
2. Evidence of a high-level of learned and working knowledge in weather and/or climate science or other relevant subjects, gained through worked experience and/or postgraduate level academic qualification. (We’re experts by nature)
3. Experience independently applying scientific intelligence and analytical skills (quantitative and/or qualitative), to address project requirements drawing on robust methodologies and the latest research. (We’re experts by nature)
4. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively using a range of methods (e.g. written reports, presentations, training materials, infographics) to distil, explain and translate complex scientific information to diverse audiences and cultural contexts. (We live and breathe it)
5. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team, provide leadership when needed, build strong internal and external relationships, and integrate diverse expertise to co‑produce successful outputs and outcomes. This includes offering training and mentorship to colleagues. (We’re better together.)
6. Demonstrated ability to work independently, exploring opportunities for developing new skills and knowledge, and managing time effectively in the design and delivery of research or consultancy projects. (We keep evolving)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,081, Met Office contributes £12,480 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 Senior Scientist - IASAS, your total reward package will be up to £60,268 annually, which includes:

• £43,081 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 27/04/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 08/05/2026. 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 basic security clearance for this position.

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

Further information

https://careers.metoffice.gov.uk/key-roles-met-office/science