Foundation Operational Meteorologist

Academic Posting

Join the Met Office as a Foundation Operational Meteorologist.

Kickstart your meteorology career with a global leader in weather and climate science and services!

This role offers pathways to qualification as an Operational Meteorologist combining meaningful ‘hands-on’ experience with training and development.  You will work in a team with the largest customers of our weather services nationwide.  From day one you will be making a direct, real-life impact to our armed forces, airports and the safety of the public.  

Our opportunities are full time, 37 hours per week, starting in August 2026 and you will be deployed to various UK Met Office sites.

Why you should join

Comprehensive and world-leading training with a variety of development pathways. Your route will be determined by your previous meteorological experience and performance during recruitment selection days, but you can typically expect to be qualified within 18 to 24 months.
A supportive and collaborative team environment with an opportunity to shape your own development within the Met Office, supported by dedicated People Leaders (who specialise in career development) and experienced Meteorologists.
A range of potential development pathways, leading to diverse and rewarding careers in areas such as operational meteorology, customer service delivery, business analysis or scientific research.
Varied work designed to help you gain a broad understanding of our business and customers including time at your primary location as well as other sites across the UK. There is also potential for overseas secondments at our defence locations - more information at Met Office Frontline Stations.

What you'll do

Your role will be dependent on the pathway you take. Based on your experience and the needs of our business when you join you may focus more on some of the following areas than others, or you may proceed directly to study for your qualifications. Either way you will build the experience and skills to deliver across these areas.

Weather Observations & Analysis: Real time analysis of the local weather and environmental conditions, conveying technical data to your team, contributing to the creation of products for a range of customers.
Delivering weather-based environmental services: Using environmental data to deliver a range of services that allow customers to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. You will gradually increase in responsibility to deliver these independently.
Customer Engagement: You will actively partner with a range of users, which may include defence, aviation, or media customers, responding to initial queries and engaging with the Met Office team if required. Building and maintaining working relationships through provision of meteorological advice and developing an understanding of how this adds value for our users and their decision making.
Business Support: As a core part of your team, you will contribute to day-to-day office operations. Maintain local knowledge management (how and why we carry out tasks), processes such as updating guidance and communicating changes to the wider team.
Network: Make an impact to the wider network (of bases and offices including our headquarters in Exeter) by collaborating with colleagues across the organisation, sharing knowledge and building strong working relationships with peers.
Project Work/Activity: Contribute to business-critical Met Office-wide projects such as key change initiatives, events, software testbeds or the creation of educational materials.
Self-Development: Create and be responsible for a personal development plan ensuring that you understand the wider organisation, our products and services and keep learning throughout your career.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

An expert by nature with a degree in meteorology, a physical science, mathematics or engineering (at 2:2 or higher) or experience in Operational Meteorology. Ideally you also hold A-level mathematics or physics or the direct equivalent qualification (e.g. IB, Scottish Highers). (Lead Criteria)
Excellent communication skills and fluency in both spoken and written English; this is important as you will need...

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