Intelligence Officers
We’ve protected the UK from overseas dangers such as terrorism, cyber-threats and regional instability since 1909. As an Intelligence Officer (IO), you’ll be central to our mission. IOs gather, deliver and use secret intelligence to keep the country safe. It’s a fascinating and diverse role where you’ll use everyday skills, including communication and empathy, to tackle extraordinary challenges..
You could help plan and manage an intelligence gathering operation, meet with overseas agents or keep the government up to date with accurate reports. Whatever the requirements, you’ll be at the heart of what we do - keeping the UK safe.
We seek to attract the very best talent this country has to offer. We’re not looking to recruit a trained IO. We’re interested in potential. You’ll bring a thirst for learning and a desire to make an impact. Plus, you’ll have an interest in foreign cultures and how they shape societies.
There are four roles within the IO umbrella, and successful applicants will typically do all four during their career, either in the UK and/or overseas.
- Operational Managers, who plan and manage intelligence collection operations.
- Targeters are charged with turning information, such as data, into human intelligence operations.
- Reporting Officers link us to Whitehall and are responsible for validating and testing intelligence.
- Case Officers are the people managing and building relationships with agents.
Summer Intelligence Internship
We also have a joint MI6, MI5 and GCHQ Summer Intelligence Internship. If you’re in your final (or penultimate) year of university (as of the 2023/24 academic year) and from a Black heritage, ethnic minority and low socio-economic background, this is your opportunity to bring your fresh perspective into intelligence, gain unique experience, and discover if a career with us is right for you.
You can find out more about the Internship on the MI5 website.
What's it like
Application Process
Takes up to
15 months
from start to finish
after each stage we'll assess your suitability before you go on to the next stage
you register online
www.sis.gov.uk
you complete a short application where we check you meet our initial eligibility criteria
you complete a situational judgement test
you fill out an application form
you complete an online analysis exercise
YOU SUBMIT AN ONLINE DRUGS TEST
YOU ATTEND A VIRTUAL INTERVIEW INCLUDING A ROLE PLAY EXERCISE
YOU ATTEND A TWO-DAY ASSESSMENT CENTRE
you receive a conditional job offer, dependent on passing security vetting
security vetting
(this takes on average 120 working days)
YOU RECEIVE A FORMAL JOB OFFER
YOU SIGN A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
Join Us
SIS offers a wide range of fascinating and unique operational roles both overseas and in the UK. Join us, and you’ll have a stimulating, rewarding and varied career.
You’ll receive training to give you the skills you need to contribute to intelligence operations. And you’ll learn from some dedicated colleagues across the intelligence community, Whitehall and foreign services. We work in a collaborative environment; we’re proud to be a welcoming organisation where teamwork is key. From a range of growing affinity groups to social events throughout the year, you’ll engage with people from all walks of life. We all share the same purpose – to keep our country safe, secure and prosperous.
Find out more about diversity at SIS
To succeed as an Intelligence Officer (IO), you’ll need some key attributes. You’ll have first-class interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, mental sharpness and a keenness to contribute to the UK’s safety and prosperity. As for training – we’ll provide that. Whether it’s foreign languages, technology, management or another area, you’ll develop your abilities from day one. And you’ll do it alongside some of the best IOs we have.
You don’t have to speak another language or be a whizz with tech, but if you are interested and want to learn, we can teach you. With your genuine curiosity about the world, you’ll hit the ground running (either in the UK or overseas) following an initial training course.
There are four roles within the IO umbrella, and successful applicants will typically do all four during their career, either in the UK and/or overseas.
- Operational Managers, who plan and manage intelligence collection operations.
- Targeters are charged with turning information, such as data, into human intelligence operations.
- Reporting Officers link us to Whitehall and are responsible for validating and testing intelligence.
- Case Officers are the people managing and building relationships with agents.
We are keen to identify motivated individuals, with an interest in both data analytics and people, to play a vital role supporting our high priority work. Our SIS operational data analysts turn raw data into meaningful insights that help us to keep our country safe and prosperous.
We make a considerable investment in developing the skills of our operational data analysts. You will join a diverse, skillful community of like-minded individuals to complete a 2 year training programme.
Successful candidates are graduates passionate about data, technically savvy, enjoy making connections and discovering trends. They are curious and like to solve puzzles. They are willing to share, work collaboratively and with creativity. Above all, their interpersonal skills are just as important.
We are looking for experienced industry and corporate professionals with 5 - 10 years' experience in people-facing roles. If you are interested in different cultures, have established language skills, and welcome the prospect of travel and living overseas - then we have a number of exciting roles that may suit you.
We need people who are proactive, resilient and have a creative approach to their work, along with experience of building and maintaining successful relationships.
Software Engineers
We have a small number of opportunities for full-stack engineers who have experience working across the full software-development lifecycle.
We are particularly interested in engineers with skills in: GoLang, gRPC, Protobuf, Kubernetes & Docker Python, Java, C#, C, C++, and React (+Redux).
Please note these roles are distinct from other roles on the SIS website. If you are interested in these roles, please do not apply to any others on the website - or disclose your application to others.
All applicants must be British passport holders.
We particularly welcome applications from women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
To be considered, please send a CV and descriptive covering letter detailing your motivations for applying to:
Recruitment Department, PO Box 73517, London, W12 2FB
Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Eligibility
Nationality
We protect British interests both at home and overseas. Because of this, to be eligible to apply you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered but you may be required to give up your non-British citizenship before you can take up employment with us. Each case will be carefully considered on its own facts.
Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply from the age of 17 years. If successful, you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.
Drug use
We have a strict no drugs policy which prohibits the use, possession or supply of illegal drugs, including the use of drugs that are illegal in the UK but are legal in some other countries. Misuse or abuse of prescribed medication or any other substance is also incompatible with holding security clearance, which can be refused or withdrawn if this policy is not observed, so you must adhere to our policy from the point of application onwards.
The point of application is the date you submit your application form.
You will be required to undergo a drug test during the application process.
Security clearance
When you join SIS, you’ll be given clearance relevant to your role. Some of our positions mean you’ll have access to a wide range of sensitive information. It’s paramount for the safety of our organisation, our people and our country, that this information doesn’t get into the wrong hands. Because of this, you’ll have to pass our security clearance to the appropriate level. It’s a long process, taking up to three months in most cases. And it takes a very fair, in-depth and pretty intrusive look at your life, including your finances. So it’s important to be aware of this commitment before you apply, and be completely open and honest when you answer our security questions. If any details are concealed, your application can’t be taken forward.
Apply now
