At MI5, we work hard to keep our country safe. And it’s equally important that we protect our people, places and property. When you join us as a Security Officer, you’ll help us do just that – from one, or several of our locations.

As a MI5 Security Officer, you’ll help to protect our assets, people and places and make our complex security operation a success. You’ll work with a team of motivated professionals to provide a reassuring presence, while conducting a range of security duties and responsibilities.

A main focus of the role will be to use bespoke security architecture (e.g. CCTV and Access Control systems) to maintain security assurance across our estates. You’ll also be responsible for processing visitors and vehicles and engaging in incident and emergency response.

What we look for

It takes people from a variety of backgrounds to help us tackle the threats that we face and MI5 is committed to reflecting the society we protect. For this reason, our Security Officers come from all walks of life and you don’t need any security experience to apply. Instead, you’ll have good customer service skills and be keen to learn. You’ll need to enjoy working in a team, be calm under pressure and understand when to be insistent.

You’ll also need to communicate confidently and take care to write clearly and concisely. With excellent attention to detail, you’ll compile accurate written logs. Proactive and motivated, you’ll be an effective time manager with strong administrative and observational skills.

You’ll need a minimum GCSE (or equivalent) C/4 in Maths and English Language and have some basic IT skills, including the ability to use email and Microsoft Office.

Your career 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 and to develop other skills.

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. You’ll also contribute towards project work aimed at further improving our security offering.

Promotion within the specialism is subject to organisational/business need with transfer to other parts of the organisation encouraged, albeit after an initial qualifying period of 5 years.
 
Location

We currently have roles in in London (zone 1-2).

Dates

It is expected that successful applicants will commence employment between February and April 2022.

Shift patterns

As part of the application process, you will need to select which shift pattern you are applying for, 24-hour or day shifts.

Our 24-hour shift workers typically work a full 7-day week comprising day and night shifts. This will include: 2 day shifts (covering 06:00 – 18:30, including an hour’s unpaid meal break), 2 night shifts (covering 18:00 – 06:30 including an hour’s unpaid meal break) and 4 days off.

Our Day Officers typically work Monday to Friday, 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.

Fitness

A reasonable level of personal fitness is important due to the nature of this role. Candidates are expected to undertake and pass a Fitness for Role medical which includes having a body mass index of 30 or less and a blood pressure within NICE guidelines of less than 140/90. If successful, applicants will need to maintain their fitness levels throughout their placement as periodic medicals form part of the deployment as a Security Officer.

Honesty and integrity are crucial to us if you wish to be considered for employment with the organisation. Giving misleading or omitting information during the recruitment and vetting process is viewed very seriously and will lead to your application not being taken forward. You should ensure you follow our guidance from when you commence your application.

Recruitment Process

The first thing we will ask you to do is complete our pre-screening questions.  If you do meet these criteria we will then ask you to begin an application.  The first step will require you to create a login.  You can do this by providing your full name, email address and a memorable password.  Once you have successfully created a personal account, you will be required to complete an initial application form which contains some initial eligibility questions.

If you meet the initial eligibility criteria, we will invite you to complete and submit our full application form.  Our recruitment team will then complete an application sift.  Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a telephone interview to check that you have the skills and motivations to work for us.

Assuming you pass this interview, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre.  Depending on your performance, this may be followed by a final selection interview.  The next stage is a security interview with a vetting officer and then fitness test.

The recruitment and vetting process can take at least nine months to complete. During the recruitment process our recruitment team will give you further information about when you would be able to join. Due to COVID, the above process may change but we will keep you informed.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must meet our residency criteria.  You must be born or be a 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 7 out of the last 10 years.  This is particularly important if you were born outside of 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.  You can apply at the age of 17 years 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.

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

Equal Opportunities Statement

The UK Intelligence Agencies are Equal Opportunities employers, committed to reflecting the society we protect.  Out recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit.  We welcome applications from LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with a disability, particularly from women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates.

Disability Confident: Offer of Interview

As part of our commitment to being a ‘Disability Confident Leader’ we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the role that they are applying for.    

To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:
i)    Eligibility Questions – You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy.  If you meet the eligibility criteria you will be directed to complete a full application form.
iii)    Application form – upon completion and an application form sift, you will be invited to interview.  This is our offer of interview.  

Please be aware that we withhold 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.