Secret Intelligence Service Hiring for Security Officer Full Time

About Us

We’re MI6, also known as the 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.

The Role

MI6 could not operate without its Security Officers operating 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. They are our first line of defence as well as a friendly face to staff and visitors.

As a security for MI6, you will maintain the security of our buildings, carry-out reception duties, control and monitor staff, contractors, and visitors access to our premises. You will be a reassuring professional presence, conducting searches where necessary, monitoring security systems and responding to alarms and incidents as they arise.

This is a full-time role working a shift pattern on site which is an average 48 hours per week over a 6-week period including weekends, nights, and Bank Holidays.

About You

You will need a good standard of English, ideally have a GCSE in English Language grade 4 or above and be confident in using Microsoft Word & Excel.

Previous security experience will be advantageous but should not preclude anyone with the potential to become an effective security professional. You will receive training to the required standard if you do not already have recognised security qualifications.

A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this role.

To become a Security Officer for MI6 you will need to have a mature and responsible attitude to work. You will also need to be confident, to be able to challenge people when necessary and have the ability to use your initiative to make quick decisions when dealing with unexpected situations.

Training and Development

As a new Security Officer, you will receive induction training and supervision from your supervisor. You will receive training to the required SIA (Security Industry Authority) standard if you do not already have recognised security qualifications.

Rewards and Benefits

Equal Opportunities

At MI6 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.sis.gov.uk/explore-careers.html

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 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:

• Passing the application sift carried out by the Hiring Manager

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
• Full application
• Application sift, looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation
• Assessment centre, including a competency-based interview, drugs test and an Occupational psychologist interview
• If successful you will receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to a driving assessment, medical and 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

To work at MI6, 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.

For MI6 the role is 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 to assist with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.

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 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.