Climate Impacts Scientist (Russia)

 

Background information

The aim of a new project for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to build improved capacity in Russia for climate modelling, and provide state-of-the-art advice on potential future climate change and its impacts in Russia. The research will include assessment of the impacts on the sustainability and carbon balance of Russian soils, agriculture and ecosystems. There will also be a strong role for the job holder in collaborating with Russian scientists, presenting results to non-scientific audiences and communicating with customers and stakeholders.

Purpose of the job

Provide projections of climate change and its impacts to collaborators in Russia as part of a two-year project for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Principal accountabilities

• Retrieval of output data from existing climate model simulations, processing the data and providing it to Russian collaborators.
• Running new Regional Climate Model simulations for Russia, and contributing to model development.
• Testing and developing climate impacts models for Russia, and using new science to develop impacts models.
• Analysis of model results and presentation in scientific papers.
• Overall internal responsibility for the FCO project and organisation of workshops with Russian collaborators.
• Communication of project results to policymakers and other stakeholders both in the UK and Russia, through oral briefings and written reports.
• Mentoring of visiting scientist from Russia.
• Reporting on progress of project to the customer and project managers (Foreign and Commonwealth Office and AEA Technology).

Qualifications, skills and abilities required

 

Essential

• A degree (2.2 or above) in a relevant subject (e.g. physical, environmental or life sciences, engineering, computing or similar).
• Evidence of experience in climate research.
• Evidence of an interest in climate-change impacts.
• Evidence of very good interpersonal skills appropriate to collaborations both within and external to the Met Office.
• Proven ability to develop and manage large pieces of software and large data sets.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and abroad.
• Good written and oral communication skills, presenting research and writing for both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Proven ability to deliver scientific projects to specified deadlines.

Desirable

• A proven ability to innovate.
• Willingness to work across scientific disciplines.
• Prior experience of working with the Unified Model, particularly in its regional climate model configuration, would be an advantage.
• Prior experience of Fortran and Unix would be an advantage.
• Prior knowledge of Russian climate and ecosystem processes and issues relating to impacts of climate change in that region would be useful.

Additional supplementary information

The job holder will be expected to work on their own initiative and take responsibility for delivering their work to the customer, whilst also being able to collaborate with internal and external colleagues. They will also be expected to build links with other related projects elsewhere. They will need to be flexible to respond to any changes in the requirements of the project as the work progresses, and be able to contribute to the further development of the climate-impacts research area. The project may include short periods of time to be spent working in Russia with our partners at Roshydromet.

Commitment to diversity

The Met Office values diversity and recruits on merit.

Minimum time in post

Once appointed into post, job holders are expected to remain in that post for a minimum of two years before being given the opportunity to apply for other relevant internal roles that may become available within the Met Office.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants

To widen the pool of candidates on which to draw, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the published minimum criteria for the post/entry level.

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.

Civil Service Recruitment Code

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 Commissioners' Recruitment Code. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk or telephone 01392 885000 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Met Office, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Benefits and facilities

• As an employee of the Met Office you will be eligible to join the Nuvos Civil Service Pension Scheme with a low employee contribution. This is a defined benefit scheme which the Met Office, as an employer, contributes to. You also have the option to join a partnership scheme where the employer can contribute and the employee can contribute if you wish. For more details please see the Civil Service Pensions website.
• Annual Leave allowance of 25 days (JL1, 30 days) (plus 8 days public holiday and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times during the year).
• Training opportunities.
• Performance-related pay.
• The Met Office sports and social club.
• The potential to work in different areas within the same organisation.

Starting salaries

The pay range is stated at the top of the job description. Entry to the Met Office is normally at the pay band minimum with minimal scope for negotiation. Where a range is advertised, only exceptional candidates with proven experience and skills will be appointed above the minimum of this range. Packages and ranges offered above the pay band minimum may consist partly or wholly of elements of non-consolidated (non-pensionable) pay.

Relocation

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

Mobility

Normally, staff appointed at Job Level 4 and above automatically have a mobility clause in their employment contract, which means they may be required to serve at other UK mainland locations. Some Job Level 5 staff may also have a mobility commitment, depending upon the job.

Nationality

In common with all United Kingdom (UK) Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, applicants for employment in the Met Office are required to satisfy certain nationality requirements. For full guidance see the Border & Immigration Agency's 'Working in the UK' website, where you will find information about working in the UK.

Again, in common with all UK Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, some posts in the Met Office are 'reserved' for UK nationals only. Applicants who are not UK nationals should be aware that further career prospects might be affected.

Application forms and further information

Download application form (PDF, 653 kb)

Guidance notes and information for applicants (PDF, 58 kb)

Download equal opportunities form (PDF, 922 kb - to be returned along with the application form)

If you require a Word version of the application form, please email HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk including 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

Please mark your request or returned application form: Climate Impacts Scientist (Russia) 001518R

Thank you for your interest if you apply for this position. However, due to the high numbers that apply for positions in the Met Office we are unable to reply to each applicant individually. Therefore, if you have had no response from us within four weeks of the closing date you may assume you have been unsuccessful.