Roaming Network Officer

We’re looking for an exceptional Roaming Network Officer to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Roaming Network Officer, the job involves hybrid working, which is where an employee works the majority of the week in our weather station network with some time working in our Watnall office and some time from home.

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.

This job will require the post holder to travel around the UK as a Network Officer and you will also be expected to make occasional visits to Exeter HQ to support the work of the wider Surface Observations Operations Team.

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

You will ensure the quality, timeliness, and availability of observations from land surface-based observations networks.

As a Roaming Network Officer, you will be responsible for overseeing land observation site performance, installing meteorological instruments, responding to incidents, and the inspection and maintenance of observing equipment to maintain the highest standards of observation quality, timeliness, and availability. You will be the first point of contact for voluntary observers and site authorities within your area of responsibility.

You will travel extensively, and you will be expected to become an authority on land surface meteorological instruments and methods of observation.

The role requires the ability to physically transport and install equipment at our weather stations, occasionally being required to trek over rough terrain, sometimes in challenging or poor weather. Overnight stays will be required, with up to 4 nights away from home per week. The role involves travel by air and sea to remote islands.

• Inspect and assess the suitability of observing sites against documented standards, 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, seeking new sites, and recommending sites for withdrawal or automation.
• Collect, manage, and archive site metadata in accordance with international requirements.
• Plan site visits in an efficient manner and manage and maintain sufficient local stocks of calibrated instruments, observing equipment and literature required.
• Work with colleagues in the Surface Observations Operations team and other Network officers to ensure a network-wide quality management approach to the Met Office Surface observing networks.
• Occasionally visit land observation sites at short notice to support the verification of national weather and climate records

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 20/09/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 05/10/2026. 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 careers@metoffice.gov.uk.

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.

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: careers@metoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.