MI5’s mission is to keep the country and its people safe. Because of this, our careers are not only rewarding and unique, but the variety is unlike anywhere else. This variety, together with our diverse and supportive working environment, means most people who join MI5 stay for a substantial part of their careers.

The role

As a Security Professional at MI5 you will make a significant contribution to the overall protection of its staff, visitors and estates. Working within a highly motivated team, you will be a reassuring presence when conducting a full range of duties and responsibilities.

The role of this team is vital in maintaining the security of our buildings, controlling and monitoring the access of staff, visitors and vehicles and conducting the necessary physical searches. As well as carrying out reception duties and monitoring security and CCTV systems, you will respond effectively to any incident or emergency and contribute to health and safety in the workplace.

The skills

Security experience is not necessary; we are looking for people with excellent customer service skills, who can remain calm under pressure and have an awareness of when to be sensitive and when to be assertive. You will need to be able to communicate with others clearly, concisely and confidently, complete written logs accurately and have an eye for detail. Good observation, time management and organisational skills are essential, as is a strong team ethos and an enthusiasm for self-development. This is a role where you will be continually learning from your experience and sharing that knowledge with others.

Basic IT skills, including the ability to use email, the Internet and Microsoft Office will be required. A reasonable level of fitness is important as you will need to respond to incidents across the estate quickly. Fitness assessments throughout your career will ensure you are able to effectively carry out the role.

Training and career development

You will receive full training that will focus on customer care, conflict management, first aid skills and fire safety. On-the-job coaching will familiarise you with our systems and procedures. Full support will be given to enable you to gain formal accredited qualifications (currently City & Guilds) within the first year of employment. You will also receive training in order to obtain your Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.

Being a Security Professional is a specialist role but there are limited promotion opportunities. Promotion is on merit and where opportunities allow. You will spend a minimum of five years as a Security Professional at MI5 after which, and dependent on business needs, you will be eligible to apply for other roles within the organisation.

Shift patterns

We currently require 24hr shift workers. The shift system is for the full seven day week and comprises day and night shifts. Your working pattern consists of two day shifts (covering 06:00/07:00 – 18:00/19:00, including an hour’s unpaid meal break), two night shifts (covering 18:00/19:00 – 06:00/07:00, including an hour’s unpaid meal break) and four days off.


Before you apply

The role is based in South West England. More information will be provided about the location in the final stage of the recruitment process.

You will need to hold a full current valid UK driving licence.
 
You must be available to start this role from the beginning of November 2018.

Honesty and integrity are crucial if you want to work at MI5. Giving misleading information or omitting or concealing information during the recruitment and vetting process is viewed very seriously. You should ensure that you follow our guidance from when you apply.


Recruitment process

The recruitment process for this role is outlined below (in order):

Eligibility Questions – you will answer a number of questions based on the requirements for the role.

Application Form – you will create a personal account, where you will complete our full application form.

Telephone Interview - this will primarily be competency based and will require you to give specific examples of when you have demonstrated abilities required for effective performance in the Security Professional role.  It will also explore your motivation for the role.

Assessment Centre and Face to Face Interview – this will focus on the key skills and competencies essential for effective performance in the role. It will also further explore your motivation for the role. In line with our strict ‘no drugs’ policy you will be required to undertake a drugs test and complete an accompanying questionnaire.   

Security Interview – it is an interview to explore your life and experiences. This is an important part of the selection process, and is not a competency or capability-based interview.  This interview will take place in central London and you will receive assistance with your travel expenses.  

Medical Examination – this is to ensure you have the required level of physical fitness for the role. It will also include a sight test and a hearing test.

Please note: you must successfully pass each stage of the process in order to progress to the next. The assessments will take place in London and a substantial proportion of your travel expenses will be reimbursed.  

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the job vacancy that they are applying for. This is known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS).

To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (refer to the recruitment process, as above) are:

Eligibility Questions – we must be satisfied that you meet all of our eligibility criteria.

Application Form – along with the standard eligibility requirements for this post, your application will be assessed on how far you meet the job specification and the competency questions you answer. Your application must score the minimum amount of points set.

On successful completion of these stages, you will be invited to a Telephone Interview and this is our guaranteed interview.  The assessment centre will take place in central London.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must meet our residency criteria. You must be a born or naturalised British citizen and one of your parents must be a British citizen or have substantial ties to the UK.

Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for nine out of the last ten years prior to application. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You will nonetheless be considered if you have, for example, served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty’s Government, studied abroad, or lived overseas with your parents.

Due to vetting requirements you will need to be 18 years old, or above, to apply. Your application may take around six to nine months to process.

Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member, providing that they are British. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not post on social media sites about your application or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive further guidance during the recruitment process.

Please note you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.

More details and guidance about the recruitment process, including vetting can be found in the ‘Applying for Jobs’ section.

All applications will be considered on merit. MI5 is committed to reflecting both equal opportunities and the society we protect. More information can be found here

Key Dates:

Application closing date: Tuesday 6th February 2018

Telephone Interviews will take place during February 2018

Assessment centres will take place during March 2018