Marine Ecosystem Modelling Scientist

Salary: Starting £25,500 and for exceptional candidates up to £29,100 + competitive benefits, including Civil Service Pension

Generic role: Scientist

Profession: Science and Engineering

Permanent, Full time at Met Office, Exeter

Closing date for applications: 9 November 2012

Background information

The Met Office Hadley Centre is one of the world's leading centres for climate change research. The Marine Biogeochemistry Team, within the Met Office Hadley Centre, is a successful team responsible for the development and evaluation of a world-leading biogeochemical modelling capability, at all spatial and temporal scales. For example, a current area of interest is focussed on understanding the ability of our coastal biogeochemical models to capture the observed recent past in order to have confidence in future climate projections.

As part of the marine biogeochemical team you will have the opportunity to contribute to an exciting and high profile area of science. The group leads the provision of core ecological products in Europe as part of the GMES Marine Service for the North West Shelf, based on the NEMO physical model coupled to the ERSEM biogeochemical model. This post is instrumental in ensuring our models remain state of the art for climate and ocean forecasting purposes and will require active collaboration with national/international partners in order to pull through scientific advances in ecosystem modelling in particular, and marine modelling in general.

Specific job purpose

Development, monitoring and evaluation of the Met Office's coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem suite of the Met Office's coastal, North-West European shelf models.

Specific job responsibilities

• Develop the coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem model for the NW European shelf, including biological data assimilation techniques, analysis of recent changes and climate change projections, to ensure that the Met Office's modelling system remains state of the art.
• Analyse model output using available observations.
• Contribute to the work of the Hadley Centre's Marine Biogeochemistry team, including development and assessment of the models and climate projections, as well provision of support to overcome operational problems.
• Liaise with other Met Office groups, the National Oceanography Centre, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the European scientific community in advancing the modelling of the NW European shelf seas.
• Present his/her work at national and international meetings.
• Write and publish research in peer-reviewed journals.

Qualifications, skills and abilities required

Essential

• Degree (2:1 or above, a 2:2 may be considered in exceptional circumstances) and PhD in mathematics, physics, meteorology, oceanography or related subject or equivalent experience.
• Programming skills in Fortran and/or C, Unix/Linux, Python.
• Background in numerical modelling and demonstrated ability to analyse model output and produce high quality results.
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently with a high level of self motivation and to deliver scientific projects to agreed deadlines.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral.
• Proven ability to work well in a team environment and with other teams.

Desirable

• Prior experience of working in a research area with ocean models.
• Prior experience of developing and using ocean biogeochemical models.
• Relevant scientific papers published in peer-reviewed literature.
• Postgraduate-level knowledge/research experience in related areas such as sea ice, physical oceanography, ocean modelling or sea level.

Additional supplementary information

If the successful candidate is currently in a role within the Met Office Scientific Framework, they will ordinarily remain in the role to which they are currently mapped.

Application forms and further information

Please mark your request or returned application form: Marine Ecosystem Modelling Scientist 002540 R

Please complete this form (using Adobe Reader 9 or above). You can save the form part-way through and return to it later, using the Adobe Reader toolbar. Once you are happy with it submit it using the button at the end of the form. Alternatively, print the form out, complete by hand, and return by post.

 Download application form (PDF, 199 kB)

 Guidance notes and information for applicants (PDF, 57 kB)

If you require a Microsoft Word version of the application form, please email HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.ukincluding the words 'application request' in the subject line. An automatic email will be returned to you immediately. If you have not received an email within 48 hours then please contact us.

Alternatively, you can call or write to:

HR Customer Services
Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
EX1 3PB

Tel: 01392 885000

We are unable to reply to each applicant individually. If you have had no response from us within four weeks of the closing date please assume you have been unsuccessful. If you meet the sift criteria but have applied more than three times for the same or similar job within the last two years, it will be up to the recruiting manager's discretion whether to offer you an interview.

Nationality and residency requirements

All successful applicants offered conditional employment at the Met Office are required to undertake national security vetting. Usually successful applicants can start after satisfactory initial security vetting (whilst full national security vetting is undertaken), but for a small number of posts a higher level of vetting is needed. If you do not have five years' continuous UK residency this may take longer and we may have to reconsider your application if there are delays in the security procedure.

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 Working in the UK website.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants

To widen the pool of candidates we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the published minimum criteria for the job.

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. When appropriate, you should provide details of any particular arrangements you will require for the interview, e.g. car parking, speech facilitator.

Any false declaration of disability to obtain an interview may invalidate any resultant contract of employment.

Priority status for staff in the Civil Service Surplus Talent Pool

If you are an existing Civil Servant and have applied through the CS Vacs website, your application will be given priority status, in that your application will be assessed for suitability before other applications are entertained. Surplus staff should provide a letter from their HR department confirming this status and attach it to their application form.

Civil Service Recruitment Principles

The Met Office's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk mailbox or telephone 01392 885000 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Met Office, contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Commitment to diversity

The Met Office values diversity and recruits on merit.

Benefits and facilities

Employees can join the Civil Service Pension Scheme called 'Nuvos', a defined benefit scheme which both you and the Met Office contribute to. You also have the option to join a partnership scheme where the employer can contribute and you can contribute if you wish. For more details please see the Civil Service Pensions website .

• Annual Leave allowance of 25 days (plus 8 days public holiday and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times during the year).
• Training opportunities, performance-related pay and access to the Met Office sports and social club.
• The potential to work in different areas within the same organisation, but note that employees are expected to complete 24 months in post before applying for alternative posts within the Met Office.

Starting salaries

The pay range is stated at the top of the job description. Entry to the Met Office is normally at the pay range minimum.

Relocation

Unless stated in the job advert and job description, financial support is not available for candidates to move to the job location.

Payment of interview expenses

Candidates invited for interview will only be paid expenses if stated in the invite to interview letter.

Mobility

Appointed staff will normally have a full mobility clause written into their employment contract. A small number of roles have a limited mobility obligation.