Deployable Project Foundation Scientist

Met Office; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading climate organization is looking for Deployable Project Foundation Scientists to contribute to diverse scientific projects. This full-time role, which may allow hybrid working, offers a unique opportunity to apply scientific expertise across various domains. Candidates should have a relevant degree and demonstrated problem-solving skills. The role includes tailored support and training to foster professional growth, making it a great launchpad for scientific careers.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution

Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days plus Bank Holidays

Qualifications

• Practical experience in a scientific or technical discipline.
• Inquisitive and motivated with problem-solving experience.
• Proactive in professional growth and development.
• Supportive and collaborative team member.
• Clear and effective communicator.
• Aptitude for coding and analytical work.

Responsibilities

• Work on a portfolio of projects in diverse scientific domains.
• Apply scientific expertise to real-world challenges.
• Receive tailored support and training throughout the role.

Skills

Problem-solving

Critical reasoning

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Communication

Coding

Education

2:1 undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a related field

Job description

We're looking for three exceptional Deployable Project Foundation Scientists to help us make a difference to our planet.

The Met Office's Deployable Project Scientists team is recruiting a new cohort of exceptional scientists who want to make a real difference to our planet. As part of this team, you will undertake a series of short-term placements across a variety of host teams, applying your scientific expertise to diverse challenges and gaining exposure to many areas of our organisation.

As our Deployable Project Scientist (EO), 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

The Deployable Project Scientists team offers a unique route into the Met Office. You'll join colleagues who strive every day to be a force for good, and you'll work in a high-achieving, collaborative environment where your growth is supported and encouraged. We are looking to appoint up to five scientists who show strong potential to thrive in this setting.

Are you looking for more than just a job? Are you seeking instead a meaningful career where your scientific skills can contribute to an organisation whose values align with your own? Are you excited by the opportunity to develop technically while working on real-world problems that deliver impact for a wide range of customers and stakeholders?

As part of the Deployable Project Scientists cohort, you will work on a portfolio of projects spanning a broad range of scientific domains and applications, ranging from weather and climate science to international capacity building, defence, underpinning research and user-focused applications. This model provides a rare opportunity to explore different scientific areas, learn new analytical and coding techniques, and build a wide professional network. Many scientists describe it as the ideal launchpad for becoming a well-rounded scientific professional.

Although these are permanent positions, team members typically "graduate" into other roles across the Met Office after around two years, choosing a position that aligns with their preferred specialism. This makes the role perfect for people who are enthused by the breadth of Met Office science and want to avoid specialising too quickly.

You will receive tailored support and training based on your experience and the needs of the projects you undertake. Starting as part of a cohort also means you will immediately have a peer network for support, collaboration and shared development, both during your placement period and long after.

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 Deployable Project Foundation Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £38,070 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

1. Experts by Nature

   You will have practical experience and foundational knowledge in a relevant scientific or technical discipline. This may include (but is not limited to) physical, mathematical, statistical, environmental, behavioural or other science/technology areas. This may have been gained through:

   • Relevant work experience, and/or
   • A 2:1 undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related field. (Lead Criteria)
2. We're a force for good

   You are an inquisitive and motivated problem-solver, with experience applying critical reasoning and analytical skills to scientific or technical challenges relevant to the work of the Met Office. You can demonstrate how you approach problems, evaluate evidence, and draw sound conclusions.

3. You are a proactive professional

   You take responsibility for your professional growth and development, showing the ability to reflect on your performance, identify training needs and manage your time effectively. You are able to learn and apply new concepts, tools and methods to support the delivery of project objectives.

4. We're better together

   You can provide evidence of being a supportive and collaborative team member, with the potential to build strong working relationships, contribute constructively, challenge ideas appropriately and work effectively with scientific and technical colleagues to achieve shared goals.

5. We live and breathe it

   You are an inclusive, clear and effective communicator, able to adapt complex scientific or technical information for audiences with varying levels of expertise. You can present information concisely and confidently, both in writing and verbally.

6. We keep evolving

   You show aptitude and enthusiasm for coding and analytical work, with the ability to learn new programming languages or analytical techniques. Ideally, you have some experience handling, cleaning or analysing datasets to draw meaningful insights. You may already have experience with Machine Learning approaches, or you can demonstrate a clear interest in developing your skills in this area.

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

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 21/01/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 02/02/2026. 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: