Job summary
About Us
We're MI6 also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Our mission is to protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK from overseas threats such as regional instability, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. Working across the globe and in close partnership with MI5 and GCHQ we help the Government to counter these threats through the provision of secret intelligence. A role in MI6 will see you providing vital support to this work, within a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
Job description
About the role
As an Intelligencer Officer (IO), you'll be central to our mission. Our IOs gather secret intelligence from around the globe to protect the UK and its interests overseas. It's a fascinating and diverse role where you'll use everyday skills, including communication, influencing and empathy to tackle extraordinary challenges. It's genuinely interesting and rewarding work.
We don't expect you to be a fully trained IO when you join; it's your skills and potential that we're interested in. Your initial training course will help prepare you, exploring all four of the IO roles (more on that below) and building a range of strengths. Then, you'll join one of our operational teams to continue your development.�
IOs work across four main business areas:
1. Operational Managers:�plan operations, while identifying and managing risks.
2. Targeters: turn information, such as data, into operations alongside our partner agencies.
3. Reporting Officers:�link us with Whitehall (UK Government) and our intelligence customers and are responsible for validating and testing the intelligence, as well as briefing ministers.�
4. Case Officers:�build and manage relationships with agents - the people who pass us the intelligence we need.
This is critical work that keeps the UK safe. Depending on the business area you're in, you might meet a contact for a chat in a caf� to brief them, on an intelligence requirement or debrief them if they have intelligence for you. You could be discussing the intelligence with a customer in Whitehall, or you could be gathering intelligence online at our offices using a range of data tools to build an intelligence picture. And, like any other job, you'll be contactable if your family and friends need you.
You can find more about what it's like to work as an IO by listening to some employee .
The Intelligence Officer Training Pathway
You'll begin by completing the three-year Intelligence Officer Training Pathway, where you'll learn the language and methodology of intelligence. You'll benefit from 8 weeks of initial classroom-based training where you'll be allocated a role within one of the four business areas (see above). With continuous support and a personal mentor, you'll enjoy on-the-job learning. As you become more experienced and your confidence grows, you'll be given a portfolio of work to own and manage your support. You'll then complete additional training at a higher level, before continuing in your role for the remainder of the Pathway.
Once you graduate from the Pathway, you'll be able to apply for role in the areas best suited to your skills and interests such as Counter terrorism, Counter Proliferation or maybe a geographical area such as Russia or China. At some stage early in your career, you might consider applying for an overseas posting and learning a language. Either way, you'll have developed the skills and experience you need to start your career as a fully trained IO.
For the remainder of your career, you'll benefit from moving into a different tole approximately every three years, increasing your knowledge and skills across our core work. So, it's important that you demonstrate aptitude and interest in at least two of the four business areas during the recruitment process. (However, if you specialise in a particularly niche area, there may be an opportunity to stay within this area of work for longer than three years.) The breadth of opportunity, as well as learning, really does make this a role like no other.
Person specification
About You
We're looking for people with a keen interest in foreign affairs, technology and travel - open to new experiences, cultures and languages. We need people who can take a wealth of information and enjoy making sense of it. These people will come from a variety of backgrounds and bring diverse life experiences and deep intellectual curiosity.
At the same time, we're looking for people who can build good relationships with those around them, are curious about what makes people 'tick' and are able to connect and be empathetic with others by understanding how they feel.
You'll need a minimum of a 2:2 degree or higher in any subject, and if you're an undergraduate, you'll be expecting your final degree result within 12 months of your application date. Unfortunately, we cannot accept an application earlier than that. This role is open to eligible candidates including those applying from HM Government departments/agencies (military/police included).
As well as demonstrating a strong motivation for joining the organisation and doing the IO role, you'll also be able to demonstrate key competencies, further details of which can be found .�
Ultimately, the skills we're looking for are the ones you use every day - and not just at work. Maybe your people skills come from volunteering. Your love of learning from a hobby. Maybe you can coach your friends through a tricky escape room, or you know just how to calm your kids down. Those are just a few examples of the diverse range of people skills we are looking for.
Benefits
Rewards and Benefits
Along with a starting salary of �39,709, you will receive other benefits including:
5. 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30 days after 5 years' service) and public and privilege holidays
6. Those who relocate to London for the role will have access to an interest-free loan of �2,500 for 3 years
7. Financial support for learning and development
8. Interest-free season ticket loan
9. Excellent pension scheme
10. Cycle to work scheme
11. Paid parental and adoption leave
12. On-site gym, restaurant, and coffee bar
Flexible working
A good work/life balance is important. On completion of the three-year training pathway we offer part-time, compressed hours, and job shares, subject to business need.
Please note: part-time/flexible working applications during the three-year pathway will be considered on an exceptional case-by-case basis.�
Equal Opportunities and Diversity
At MI6 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society that 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, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.�
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website.�
We're Disability Confident
MI6 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 support people with disabilities. being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a virtual 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:
13. Eligibility Questions: You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. if you meet the criteria here, you will be invited to complete the initial application.
14. Online Assessments: You will be requires to reach the pass mark set for the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and our Computer Analysis Test (CAT) which looks at your eligibility to problem-solve and analyse a number of documents.�
If you successfully pass these tests and an application form sift, you will be invited to a virtual interview session. this is our Offer of Interview.�