Intelligence Officers

For all of these positions, you'll go through the same Intelligence Officer application process, which will determine which of these jobs you're most suited for.  It's not until you enter SIS and have completed the initial induction course that you are assigned to your first role within the office.  Most Intelligence Officers will hold a variety of different roles during their career with SIS and will go on at least one foreign posting.  In most cases, foreign postings will last for several years and officers may be accompanied by their partners and children.

While we are interested in people with language skills, particularly in Mandarin, Arabic, Dari, Farsi and Pashto, if you do not have existing language skills you will not be at a disadvantage in the recruitment process.  We offer opportunities to learn new languages once you have joined SIS. 

Case Officers: These officers plan and carry out covert intelligence operations overseas.  Spending time in London as well as abroad, they gather the secret intelligence the Government needs to promote and defend UK national interests.  Case Officers are responsible for recruiting and running agents, and must demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills.  They will normally spend about one third of their career overseas.

Targeting Officer: These officers use their analytical skills to build up intelligence pictures of different areas of interest, identify sources and contribute to operational planning. Targeting Officers direct the work of officers overseas and work very closely with Case Officers and Reports Officers in order to plan successful intelligence gathering operations.  They may be posted overseas.

Reports Officer: Reports Officers will become subject matter experts on geographical areas or specific topics, such as terrorism or counter proliferation.  They will work closely with Whitehall customers, Case Officers and Targeting officers to ensure that the intelligence collected and disseminated meets customer needs.

If you would like to find out more about careers as an Operational Officer and some of our officers' own experiences, read the Operational Officer Profiles .