Rain Gauge Inspector in Stevenage

On behalf of the Met Office, we are looking for a Rain Gauge Inspector (Inside IR35) for a 6-month contract. Working remotely, however, will be covering Southeast England. Do not wait to apply after reading this description; a high application volume is expected for this opportunity.

Background: We are looking for an exceptional Rain Gauge Inspector to join our Surface Observations Operations (SOO) team and help us make a difference to our planet. We provide critical weather services and world-leading climate science to deliver extraordinary impact and benefit across the globe. Our work helps people make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.

The role is full-time weekday working supporting our Land Networks operational activities and is being offered as a temporary position, initially up to 6 months with a potential for extension, depending on future business needs. The role has lone working, driving, and overnight stay requirements.

You will be responsible for field-based inspection of our partner rain gauges (including organisation/logistics of in-person site visits), gathering of site metadata, report writing, and record keeping using our IT databases and tools. You will undertake basic equipment and site maintenance of rain gauge equipment to maintain the highest standards of precipitation observation quality. You will become a key point of contact for our partner rain gauge authorities.

You will travel extensively across England, mostly within Southeast England, and the role holder will receive appropriate field-based supervised training. Eventually, you will become an authority on rain gauge instrumentation and methods of precipitation observation. You will meet and work with a range of volunteer weather observers, and you will guide them in observational best practice to ensure national and international meteorological data standards are met.

There is potentially scope to develop the role over time, enabling inspection of a broader range of meteorological instrumentation across our wider weather station networks. The role requires the ability to physically transport rain gauge and inspection equipment by hand, occasionally being required to trek over rough terrain, sometimes in poor weather. Overnight stays may be required for up to 3 nights per week, subject to change.

Job Purpose: To visit, inspect, grade, report on, and record information about rain gauges to national and international meteorological standards, ensuring the quality, timeliness, and availability of precipitation observations from our partners' surface-based land networks.

As a Rain Gauge Inspector (Inside IR35), your main responsibilities will be:

• Inspect and assess the suitability of observing sites, install or repair equipment and advise on the deployment of instruments to ensure that observing standards are met.
• Instruct, encourage, and provide feedback to voluntary observers on how to undertake the observing task to improve the quality and quantity of observations they produce.
• Ensure quality, timeliness, and availability of observations from observing sites meet requirements by monitoring performance, ensuring instrument calibration and accuracy, advising on new sites, and recommending sites for withdrawal or adjustment.
• Collect, manage, and archive site metadata in accordance with international requirements.
• Liaise with our rain gauge partners to plan site access and visits in an efficient manner and manage and maintain sufficient local stocks of observing equipment and literature required.
• Work with colleagues in the Surface Observations Operations team in neighbouring regions to ensure a network-wide quality management approach to the Met Office Surface Observing networks.

Essential:

• SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role; as a minimum, you must be willing and eligible to undergo checks.
• Ability to transport, install, and maintain equipment at remote weather station sites, including working across uneven terrain and in challenging weather conditions.
• Full, valid UK driving licence and the willingness to undertake frequent work-related travel.
• Demonstrated experience engaging effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Proven capability to work independently, including in lone working environments.
• Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage tasks, resources, and priorities efficiently.
• Strong planning skills, ensuring effective preparation and delivery of operational activities.
• Willingness to undertake overnight stays as required by operational needs.
• Proficient IT skills, including confident use of Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable:

• Ideally live within the Southeast of England.

Other information: Met Office terms and conditions will be met for overnight stays and travel costs. Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Disability Confident: As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the Met Office guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge that this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs.