People Leader - Operational Technology

Met Office; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension with high employer contribution

Annual leave starting at 27.5 days plus bank holidays

Job summary

A leading environmental agency in the UK is seeking a People Leader for its Technology Directorate. This role involves managing a team of technologists, focusing on engagement and development. The candidate should demonstrate experience in leadership and recruitment, with a commitment to fostering a high-performing team. This full-time position offers substantial benefits including a robust pension scheme and generous annual leave.

Qualifications

• Evidence of an engaging leadership style to develop a high-functioning team.
• Experience leading teams aligning with corporate and people standards.
• Utilising tools for recruitment and staff performance.

Responsibilities

• Line manage 15 to 20 technologists.
• Identify skills gaps and opportunities across the team.
• Lead recruitment activities within the team.

Skills

Engaging leadership

Team development

Recruitment techniques

Motivating teams

Tools for performance development

Job description

People Leader – Technology Directorate

We’re looking for an exceptional People Leader to help us make a difference to our planet.

Our opportunity is full‑time, 37 hours per week, but we also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 33 hours per week or a job share. We are looking to appoint three positions – two permanent and one 12‑month temporary with potential to become permanent.

Flexible working

The role may be suitable for hybrid working. The advertised location will be your contractual place of work.

Key responsibilities

• Line manage approximately 15 to 20 technologists, ensuring they are engaged, motivated and inspired.
• Identify skills gaps and opportunities across the team, feeding into strategic training needs and workforce planning with leadership.
• Ensure the team is aligned to all corporate standards and people management processes.
• Lead recruitment activities within the team.

Benefits

• 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 after 5 years, with option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year.

Essential criteria

• Force for Good – evidence of engaging leadership style and techniques to develop a high‑functioning, highly engaged team.
• Expert by Nature – experience leading a team aligning with corporate and people standards.
• Live and Breathe It – evidence of utilising tools and techniques for recruitment, staff performance and development.
• Better Together – evidence of motivating and developing effective teams.
• Keep Evolving – willingness to actively engage and contribute to new capabilities and ways of working.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply to begin your application. Complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend using the CARL method (Context, Action, Result, Learning).

Closing date 23/11/2025 at 23:59. First‑stage interviews commence from 01/12/2025. 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 are made by people, not AI.

Eligibility & Security

We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK. You must have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, with 2 immediately preceding the application, and achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe great minds don’t always think alike. As an equal‑opportunities employer we welcome applications from everyone with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.

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