Generic role: Scientist or Senior Scientist

Profession: Science and Engineering

Three-year fixed-term. Full time at Met Office, Exeter

Opening date for applications: 23 April 2013

Closing date for applications: 22 July 2013

Background information

Statistical analysis lies at the heart of the work of the Weather Consultancy Group. Our broad customer base expects the team to be able to produce weather statistics relevant to their needs. These include: extreme value analysis and return periods, frequency analysis and probability distributions, and the robust isolation of events using significance tests. In addition, many customers see the value in using our skills, which we must maintain, to analyse their data for weather sensitivity. Examples include: metered usage of a commodity, sales figures, system failures or insurance claims.

Specific job purpose

To deliver statistically robust solutions to the perceived weather dependencies of all Met Office supported business sectors, including government, commerce and industry.

Specific job responsibilities

• To analyse customer data for statistical relations with the weather and so enable the customer to plan and forecast in terms that are of value to them.
• To produce weather statistics from observational, gridded and forecast archives that meet customer needs.
• To prepare proposals, reports and presentations associated with commissioned work and so complete a professional customer experience.
• To review critically the statistical methods used by and of potential use to WCU, thereby ensuring that up to date, efficient and effective tools are being employed.
• To ensure the effective use of IT resources and the exploitation of techniques for the efficient delivery of consultancy.

Qualifications, skills and abilities required

Essential

• An honours degree (2:2 or above or equivalent experience) in a mathematical, physical science or related discipline.
• At least 3 years post-graduate experience in multivariate environmental data analysis.
• Evidence of successfully communicating statistical methods and results to colleagues and customers.
• Expert capability in the use of statistical software, and a demonstrable understanding of the underpinning statistical theory.
• Evidence of planning and organisational skills necessary for meeting customer deadlines, sometimes concurrently.
• Evidence of working effectively in team environment, improving the productivity of the team.

Desirable

• Team leadership experience.
• Extensive use of "R" as a statistical software platform.
• Proven capability in frequency analysis, time series analysis, multiple regression, significance testing and extreme value analysis.
• Experience in working with meteorological data.
• Ability to present results via MS Office.

Additional supplementary information

Please note that your application will be reviewed for its suitability within 3 weeks of your application being received and we welcome applications at any time during the campaign.

Application and further information

Please mark your request or returned CV: Environmental Statistician 002671 R

To apply we require you to submit two documents - your CV and the Application Summary Form (PDF, 56 kB) . Your CV needs to include sufficient evidence of where your skills and experience satisfy the essential criteria outlined on the job description.

Please send this to HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk.

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.