About Us

MI5 safeguards the UK against threats such as terrorism, espionage, cyber-attacks and sabotage. We investigate suspect individuals and organisations in the UK to obtain, collate, analyse and assess secret intelligence relating to these threats. And alongside our British Intelligence partners MI6 and GCHQ, we provide the UK government with the information they need to protect national security. At MI5 you’ll enjoy varied and rewarding work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The role

As an 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. For example, you will interact with colleagues from all areas of the organisation, operate our bespoke security control room and monitor CCTV and alarm systems. You will also use security architecture (e.g. CCTV and Access Control systems) to maintain security assurance across our estates – proactively mitigating and reporting potential security breaches. You’ll also be responsible for processing visitors and vehicles into our buildings, and engaging in incident and emergency response, while supporting our first aid and business continuity needs.

Locations:

London (TfL zones 1-2 and Zone 5):

•  Day shifts £32,292 (including allowances and overtime)
• 12 hour rotating shift pattern £36, 847 (including allowances and overtime)

Manchester, Suffolk and Wiltshire:

• 12 hour rotating shift pattern £33,106 (including allowances and overtime)

Belfast:

• 12 hour rotating shift pattern £32,298 (including allowances and overtime)

About you

It takes people from a variety of backgrounds to help us tackle the threats we face, and MI5 is committed to reflecting the society we protect. For this reason, our Security Officers have a wide range of previous experience, and you don’t need any security awareness 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 able to keep your composure and understand when to be insistent. 

You’ll also need to communicate comfortably with a range of people, remaining calm when under pressure, and be able to think clearly and take timely action in an emergency.

With excellent attention to detail, you’ll compile accurate written logs, taking care to write clearly and concisely. Proactive and motivated, you’ll be an effective time manager with strong administrative, organisational and observation skills. As one of our Security Officers you will be expected to role model the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity by demonstrating an inclusive and collaborative approach in working with immediate colleagues and when dealing with visitors.

We’ll also expect you to have some basic IT skills, including the ability to use email and Microsoft Office. 

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 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. 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 specialism of the security team for a minimum of 5 years during which time you might apply for promotion, subject to agreement from your line manager and business/organisational needs. After five years you might also seek out other opportunities in other areas of the organisation. 

Shift patterns 

As part of the application process for London the following shift patterns are available to select from 

• 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 submitting an application, you must ensure you have considered the above start times/shift patterns and you'll need to check your public transport routes to ensure that you can easily travel to your chosen location(s) for the shift times stated.

Please note there are currently 12 hour rotating and day shift patterns available in London. In Manchester, Suffolk, Wiltshire and Belfast there are 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 between October and December 2023. 

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. 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 £32,292 - £36, 847 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 carried out by the Hiring Manager
• 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 test, examining your responses to different situations typical to the role
• Online interview
• If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6-9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply

With our roles in Manchester, Suffolk and Wiltshire you’ll be given the option to select your preferred location at the start of your application. More information about location will be provided as you progress through the application process. You will require a full driver’s license for regional roles.

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.