Climate and Nature Scientist

Met Office; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Civil Service pension

Generous annual leave

Job summary

The Met Office is seeking an exceptional Climate and Nature Scientist to help transform climate and nature understanding for policy, adaptation and risk management. The role supports the Climate and Nature (CaN) team within the CMA group, delivering robust analyses and insights through collaborative research and external partnerships.

You will develop and apply quality-controlled code and modelling approaches, communicating results through peer-reviewed outputs, blogs, and conferences while

Qualifications

• PhD level scientific background or equivalent research experience.
• Strong experience with observations and/or climate modelling.
• Proven ability to publish and communicate research findings.
• Excellent programming skills in R or Python and scientific computing.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop quality-controlled code and tools to analyse datasets and build models.
• Deliver outputs to assess climate and nature interactions and inform policy.
• Collaborate with nature experts and external organisations.
• Present outputs in publications, reports and public media.
• Engage with CaN, CMA colleagues and the wider Met Office.

Skills

Observations

Modelling

Independent research

Collaborative

Scientific computing

R or Python

Scientific communication

Public presentations

Education

PhD or equivalent research experience

Job description

We’re looking for an exceptional Climate and Nature Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Climate and Nature Scientist, 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. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best toagreea 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 aforcefor 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 ofdecision-making
• We’re bettertogether-understandingpartnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

You will work in the Climate and Nature (CaN) team which is part of the Climate Monitoring and Attribution (CMA) group in the Monitoring and Projections National Capability. Here, the term 'nature' includes individual species, natural and managed ecosystems and biodiversity across all living systems.

The CaN team work to improve understanding, monitoring and modelling of climate and nature interactions to help inform relevant UK government policies and targets, and appropriate adaptation and mitigation actions.

• Develop quality-controlled code and/or use other tools and techniques to analyse datasets, develop models and deliver outputs to assess and communicate climate and nature interactions.
• Collaborate closely with nature experts and organisations external to the Met Office to ensure project work addresses requirements for nature.
• Work effectively with colleagues in CaN and CMA, and across the wider Met Office.
• Keep up to date with relevant climate and nature literature.
• Communicate project outputs in peer-reviewed publications, reports and other media e.g. blogs.
• Present to national and international science conferences, policy or user meetings and public audiences.

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 Climate and Nature Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £49,448 annually, which includes:

• 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.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience

• Lead Criteria: Experience with observations and/or modelling, with evidence of working independently to provide high class research outputs (Expert by nature).
• A physical or biological scientific background equivalent to PhD level or suitable research experience.
• Evidence of keeping up to date with scientific literature and learning new techniques for data analyses and/or modelling (Keep evolving).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues in a team and with customers (Bettertogether).
• Good scientific computing and programming skills such as in R or Python (Expert by nature).
• Ability to write clear scientific communications, including substantial contributions to scientific papers or customer reports (Live and breathe it).
• Enthusiasm for presenting scientific results to different audiences, including at international conferences and meetings (Live and breathe it).

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

Closing date 27/09/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 12/10/2026. 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 [e-mail] .

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 DisabilityConfidentScheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

Weunderstand 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: [e-mail] If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: [e-mail]

Our rewards and benefits are as varied as our customers and our people, depending on your role, and which part of the business you join. The one thing they have in common is that they’re designed to recognise your contribution to our success.

Starting at 27.5 days and rising to 32.5 days after five years of service (both figures exclude bank holidays). As well as the flexibility to buy or sell annual leave annually.

You’ll automatically qualify to join our alpha pension scheme, part of the Civil Service Pension arrangements. The scheme is recognised as one of the most generous occupational pensions.

Lifestyle support

Whether you wish to utilise our excellent family-friendly schemes, be paid up to 3 days for volunteering with your chosen organisation, have the reassurance of a generous sickness pay scheme or be part of an organisation that is happy to pro-actively talk about flexible working the Met Office wants you to have a great work and lifestyle balance.

Established hybrid working

We have bases all over the UK and some roles allow for you to work abroad so there is the option to travel for work also, we have established amazing hybrid working practices across all of our offices and have enhanced technology to enable office and home-based meetings. We work with employees to agree on a suitable working pattern that works for us both and have various working patterns in place.

Investing in your development

The world around us is constantly changing. New technologies, shifting climate patterns, artificial intelligence. These factors and more shape the need for us to develop our skills and knowledge as a business and as individuals. Our investment in learning and development is testament to this and we have partnered with external bodies in each profession to help shape the way we develop the incredible talent right across the Met Office. We help everyone to understand their strengths and opportunities and tailor learning programmes that match their career. For us, this is world-leading learning and development.

There is a great variety of work here, sometimes I can be applying new science to one of our models, improving some of our internal tools, reviewing code, helping someone get the most out of their development plan, or attending a talk to learn new skills. Sometimes I work with older code cleaning it up, so it works better and is more future-proof. It’s always satisfying to see other people working with my improved code.

Anna Whitford

Scientific Consultant

Coming from an academic background I wanted to be able to develop new research approaches, but I also wanted a change towards being more impact-focused, where the science I produced would be both useful and used right away. My work is supporting customers to better understand the impact of climate change on their business, with the added benefit of gaining experience on a wide range of projects - there is always something new to learn!

Emily Wallace

Science Fellow, Weather and Climate Extremes and Impacts Team

The Weather and Climate Extremes and Impacts Team was formed in response to multiple extreme events in the UK. Our customers are dealing with the impacts of severe weather and are more routinely asking questions that blur the lines between what would have traditionally been thought of separately as weather services and climate services. The work we do is critical in our changing world as we bring together teams to provide seamless services to help people stay safe.

Managing Scientific Consultant

I have been at the Met Office since graduating and have been able to work my way from a foundation scientist to a manager. I enjoy working with customers on the application of science, helping them operate more safely and efficiently and enabling them to be more resilient to the weather both now and in the future. I get to see how the work of the team is directly having impact and benefit to industry and society.

Senior Scientific Software Engineer

There is a great variety of work here, sometimes I can be applying new science to one of our models, improving some of our internal tools, reviewing code, helping someone get the most out of their development plan, or attending a talk to learn new skills. Sometimes I work with older code cleaning it up, so it works better and is more future-proof. It’s always satisfying to see other people working with my improved code.

Our typical recruitment process

5. Assessment

Some roles may require you to attend an assessment day. Any job-specific assessments will be outlined in the job advert and more details will be provided at the interview stage.

6. Offer

If you are successful following the interview, the hiring manager will contact you to offer the role. The Resourcing Team will then follow up with an offer letter and start your onboarding.

7. Onboarding

Before we can confirm a start date, we will first need to complete security clearance and reference checks. These usually take between eight to ten weeks to complete. We'll also discuss any workplace adjustments that you may need. So they are in place on your first day.

On your first day your new manager will introduce you to the team and you’ll start our online corporate induction. You’ll also be asked to update your details in our People Hub system including bank details ready for your first pay day.

For those living outside of the UK, there are some roles where we can sponsor Skilled Worker visas. However, you will need to pass security clearance which requires you to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years and 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application.

2. Application

Apply through our careers website. Each application will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the job advert. We recommend that you use the CARL or STAR method to answer the key questions. Evidence your answers and reference our values to bring your application to life.

3. Screening

The sift panel will assess all applications against our essential criteria. Our screening process usually takes one to two weeks following the closing date of the advert. After which, we'll be in touch to let you know whether your application has progressed to the next stage.

4. Interview

Most recruitment processes will include a single-stage interview, some of which are virtual interviews and some may be in-person. Our interviews tend to blend competency questions, which focus on the essential criteria, with values-based questions.

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