We're looking for an exceptional Polar Climate Senior Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Polar Climate Senior 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 and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we'll do our best to agree a 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 a force for 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 of decision-making
* We're better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
* We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers
Your world of expertise
An opportunity has arisen to join the Polar Climate team in the Ocean, Cryosphere and Climate (OCC) group, working alongside other members of the group and the wider Met Office, as a Polar Climate senior scientist. This is an exciting time to join us as we focus research to further our understanding of polar climate science and climate change in polar regions, producing scientific outputs that contribute directly to government policy outcomes. You will be a key member of the Polar Climate team which undertakes:
Scientific research to evaluate observed, and projected, changes to the polar climate system, and to further our understanding of the role polar regions play within the wider climate system
Development and evaluation of the sea ice model configurations used within all Met Office systems - from short-range prediction on weather timescales, to long-term climate projection.
Communication of scientific understanding on present and future polar climate change to government and media, and through peer-reviewed science, with a focus on sea ice in particular.
Job Purpose
We seek an enthusiastic and experienced senior scientist to work within the Polar Climate Group to perform novel scientific research to further our understanding of polar climate science and climate change in polar regions, with a focus on marine and cryosphere.
* Deliver novel scientific research, to enhance our collective understanding of observed changes to the polar climate system and the potential impact of polar changes on the wider climate system, including the UK
* Analysis and interpretation of climate model output to improve and constrain future projections of polar climate change, in particular for sea ice
* Perform research to improve the understanding and representation of physical processes in climate models important for polar climate modelling and projection
* Communicate own work, including via peer-reviewed scientific papers and attendance at workshops and conferences, to enhance the scientific reputation of the Met Office and the Polar Climate Group
* Contribute to, and where appropriate lead, briefing of UK government stakeholders to ensure that policymakers are equipped with the latest polar climate science.
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 Polar Climate Senior Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £60,268 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:
* Proven track record of delivering high quality research, in a mathematical or physically based science, equivalent to a PhD plus relevant postdoctoral research experience. (We're experts by nature)
* EITHER: demonstrated experience of working with the physical polar climate system, ocean or cryosphere; OR: experience in a related field and a proven ability to quickly learn new science areas, techniques or concepts.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills with a strong/improving publication record and the ability to communicate scientific and/or technical concepts to a broad range of audiences.
* Demonstrated evidence of experience in the development and use of scientific software, including familiarity with scientific programming languages.
* Demonstrated ability to work independently on challenging scientific or technical problems and to deliver high quality scientific output in a timely fashion through effective planning. (We live and breathe it)
* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others to deliver new scientific understanding and/or technical system improvements. (We're better together)
How to apply
If you share our values, we'd love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.
Closing date 08/02/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 16/02/2026. 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 .
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 Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.
We understand 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: If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
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