Flexible Working: Full time, part-time, and compressed hours are possible. Please note, the MI5 role is office-based only. At GCHQ, home working is available up to one day per week, but beyond that, it is an office-based role. Remote working, from another location is not initially available but may be possible after 18-24 months, at which point you may have the opportunity to work from any of our GCHQ offices in Cheltenham, London, or Manchester.
Your knowledge of Somali could unlock a career in intelligence. By joining MI5 or GCHQ, you can play your part in protecting the UK.
About Us
MI5 and GCHQ are part of the UK’s Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard Britain’s people, interests, and businesses from various threats at home, overseas, and online, including cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you’ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.
The Role
If you have a passion for languages, working as a language specialist for the UK intelligence agencies presents a truly unique opportunity. You’ll be working at the heart of our mission, supporting high-value activities that will keep the country safe. We’re looking for Somali linguists for a role that goes well beyond translation and transcription - this role is about more than words. Your knowledge of the Somali language, as well as your in-depth understanding of Somali culture, ideology, and politics, will be a significant asset in helping to safeguard the UK.
As a linguist specialising in Somali, the role involves analysing material in this language, providing insights to support analysts, investigators, and operational teams. You’ll work autonomously, prioritising tasks and communicating with key stakeholders. With an adept knowledge of the Somali language and surrounding culture, you’ll identify nuances and seek out key information from spoken and written materials, contextualise it, and make the information accessible and understandable to others. There may be a requirement to support language technology tools and AI in the given language. Interpretation might also be necessary, with full training provided. At times, working under pressure will be required, but full support from managers and other linguists will be available to help you succeed. As the subject matter expert, your contributions will be highly valued. Collaboration within mission and language teams across different organisations, is essential, using language technology to piece together intelligence and support informed decisions. Identifying relevant material and fitting it into the intelligence narrative are key aspects of this role, all within a supportive environment.
You’ll engage in a mix of individual work and group projects, with plenty of cross-team collaboration. You may mentor other linguists, form working groups, or enhance your analytical, reporting or technical skills. This role offers significant opportunities for learning, development, and knowledge-sharing.
Please note, all MI5 contracts include a mobility clause. This means you could be liable to serve away from your usual place of work for periods of detached duty or training.
About You
You don’t need experience or qualifications to be a Somali Language Specialist with us. However, you must have writing, speaking, reading, and listening language skills, excellent written English, and a good knowledge of Somali culture, history, religion, and politics. Essentially, you’ll be passionate about the language and a proficient user (at a C1 level on the CEFR framework or equivalent, see explanation below) of the Somali language.
At C1 level or higher, you’re able to:
• Understand a wide range of longer and more demanding texts or conversations.
• Express ideas without too much searching.
• Effectively use the language for social, academic, or professional situations.
• Create well-structured and detailed texts on complex topics.
At GCHQ, we evaluate passive language skills to the equivalent of a C1 level in reading and listening. MI5 requires a C1 or an equivalent level across all four skills. You can also access the CEFR self-assessment grid for more information on our requirements.
Your proficiency could come from growing up in a multilingual family, undergoing language training in the military, or studying Somali at a high level academically. Whatever your route into the language, you’ll be inquisitive, curious, and a keen problem-solver. You won’t take things at face value: you’ll ask questions and think analytically to find solutions. Working with others will be enjoyable for you, you’re a confident communicator both verbally and in writing, and you’ll take pride in the insights you can bring.
During the interview process, you’ll need to pass a language proficiency test by reading and translating newspaper articles and broadcasts, as well as listening to and interpreting audio materials. The results will be considered alongside the role requirements on a case-by-case basis. We regret that we’re unable to reimburse travel expenses.
Training and Development
When you join, you’ll receive a thorough induction on our tools, methods and ways of working. We understand that starting a new role can be challenging, so we don’t expect you to be fully prepared from day one. We’ll provide comprehensive training to ensure you have all the skills and knowledge needed to excel in your role. Initial training will be provided on tools, the job, the context, and everything you need to know beyond the language.
At MI5, you’ll have access to maintenance language classes to keep your language skills and knowledge up to date. You can also attend immersion sessions led by Language Specialists from the UK’s Intelligence Services. Additionally, we provide various internal training courses, support in acquiring, and funding for language-related qualifications.
At GCHQ, alongside the maintenance training, we’ll provide support and help you keep your language skills up to date. You’ll be encouraged to pursue areas of interest to you, whether it’s management, enhancing your deep language skills, or improving your analytical and reporting capabilities. We’ll work with you to support your goals. Qualifications, including CertTrans and DipTrans exams, are available with GCHQ funding.
So, whether you’re at MI5 or GCHQ, you’ll have all the support you need to explore new opportunities, further your knowledge and build a rewarding career.
Rewards and Benefits
At MI5, you’ll receive a starting salary of £39,152, with the opportunity to qualify for additional language allowances once in role. At GCHQ, you’ll receive a starting salary of £36,408, with an additional £3,120 per annum after a successful 6-month probationary period, and in recognition of your language skills.
Plus, other benefits include:
• 25 days’ annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
• Dedicated Development Budget (MI5 only).
• Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs.
• Interest-free season ticket loan (travel and parking GCHQ only)
• Excellent pension scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Facilities such as a gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars.
• Paid parental and adoption leave.
Equal Opportunities
At MI5 and GCHQ, 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 underrepresented in our workforce, such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment, and commitment to diversity on our websites:
https://www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/working-at-MI5/diversity
https://www.GCHQ-careers.co.uk/life-at-GCHQ/diversity-inclusion.html
We’re Disability Confident
MI5 and GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This scheme aims to encourage employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident employer, we aim to offer a fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews 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:
• Demonstrate a strong motivation and commitment to work for the UK intelligence agencies, assessed at application form sift.
• Achieve a pass in the Somali language test.
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
• Initial application and eligibility sift.
• In-person language tests in London.
• An in-person interview and assessment centre (London or Cheltenham, depending on availability).
You may also be required to undergo a hearing test for this role. We regret that we’re unable to reimburse travel expenses.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 9-12 months to process, including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before You Apply
To work at MI5 or GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here:
https://www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs
https://www.GCHQ-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html
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:
https://www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs/vetting
https://www.GCHQ-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html
Please note, we have a strict drugs policy, 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.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application more securely.
The MI5 roles are based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. An interest-free loan via our benevolent fund is available at MI5 with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.
The GCHQ roles are based in Cheltenham, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.
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 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.