Security Officer

Locations:

Reading, Oxfordshire and Swindon – 37 hours:

•    12 hour rotating shifts £35,847 (including allowances and contractual overtime)

London – 36 hours (TFL Zones 1-5):

•    12 hour rotating shifts £39,781 (including allowances and contractual overtime)
•    Day shift £35,042 (including allowances and contractual overtime)

About Us

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

The Role

As an MI5 Security Officer, you’ll protect our assets, people and places, and help make our intricate security operation a success. As part of an inclusive, friendly team of motivated professionals, you’ll provide a reassuring presence for staff and visitors and carry out a range of security duties.
 
You could be interacting with colleagues from all areas of the organisation, operating our bespoke security control room, or monitoring CCTV and alarm systems. You’ll maintain security assurance across our estates – identifying and reporting potential security breaches. And, you’ll be responsible for processing visitors and vehicles into our buildings and engaging in incident and emergency response, all while supporting our first aid and business continuity needs.

About You

MI5 is committed to reflecting the society we serve. We look for people from a variety of backgrounds to help us tackle the threats we face, which is why you don’t need any previous security experience to apply. What you will be is people-focussed, with good customer service skills and a willingness to learn. You’ll enjoy working in a team and will remain calm under pressure, keeping your composure and take timely action in any emergency.

As you’ll be communicating with a range of people, it’s important you have a minimum grade C/4 or above in GCSE English. You’ll also have some basic IT skills, including the ability to use email and Microsoft Office applications.

With good attention to detail, you’ll compile accurate written logs, taking care to write clearly and concisely. You’ll also have good time management skills, combined with administrative, organisational and observation skills. And of course, you’ll demonstrate the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity by taking a collaborative and supportive approach to working with colleagues and visitors.

Please note that you’ll also be required to have, and maintain, a reasonable level of fitness. As part of the recruitment process, you’ll need to complete a Fitness for Role assessment to evaluate your fitness, eyesight and hearing. More information on this can be found below.

Training and Development
 
At MI5, continuous learning and development is at the heart of all that we do. You’ll be supported to gain professional security qualifications, equivalent to the Security Industry Association (SIA) standards.
 
We’ll also provide you with suitable tailored and ongoing security practitioner training and mentoring. This will include exposure to our protocols, procedures and security systems as well as customer care, conflict management/resolution and fire safety. Plus, you might have the opportunity to contribute towards project work aimed at further improving our security offering.

You are required to stay within the security team for a minimum of 5 years, during which time you could have the opportunity to apply for promotion.

Shift Patterns and Locations

As part of the application process for London the following shift patterns are available:

•    Our 12 hour rotating shift workers typically work the following pattern comprising day and night shifts:  2 day shifts (covering 0600-1830, including an hour’s unpaid meal break), 2 night shifts (covering 1800-0630 including an hour’s unpaid meal break) and 4 days off.

•    Our day shift workers typically work Monday to Friday. Each week you will work a different shift pattern of either 06:00-15:00, 08:00-17:00 or 11:00-20:00

The above times are provided as a guide and exact shift patterns may vary.
 
Before applying, you must ensure that you have considered the above start times/shift patterns, and you'll need to check your transport routes to ensure that you can easily travel to your chosen location(s) for the shift times stated. You’ll require a full driver’s license for the roles outside of London.

For the roles in Reading, Oxfordshire and Swindon, you’ll be given the option to select your preferred location at the start of your application. More information about locations will be provided as you progress through the application process. 

Please note there are currently 12 hour rotating shifts and day shifts available in London. In Reading, Oxfordshire and Swindon there only 12 hour rotating shift patterns available.

If you are successful in your application, you will be required to wear a uniform.

It is expected that successful applicants will commence employment approximately 10 months following interview.

Fitness

Personal fitness is an important aspect of this role. As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be expected to undertake, and pass, a Fitness for Role medical assessment.

The Fitness for Role medical assessment currently includes:

•    Eyesight test
•    Hearing Test
•    Step Test
•    Advisory only BMI test

If successful, you’ll need to maintain your fitness throughout the duration of the placement, as periodic medicals form part of the deployment of a Security Officer.

Rewards and Benefits
 
You’ll receive a starting salary of £35,042 - £39,781 depending on location and shift pattern, plus other benefits including:
 
•    25 days’ Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays. 
•    Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
•    Personal Learning Budget
•    Interest-free season ticket loan
•    Excellent pension scheme
•    Cycle to work scheme
•    Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
•    Paid parental and adoption leave 

Equal Opportunities

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/diversity

We’re Disability Confident

MI5 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

•    Eligibility questions – you’ll be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll be directed to the initial application form
•    Application sift – you’ll be required to pass an application form sift 
•    Online situational Judgement Tests – you’ll be required to reach the pass mark set for the situational judgement tests.

On successful completion of these stages, you’ll be invited to complete an online interview. This is our Offer of Interview.

What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

•    Application sift, looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation
•    Online situational judgement tests, examining your responses to different situations typical to the role
•    Online interview
•    If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 10 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply

To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

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. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

Right to Withdraw Statement: 

Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.