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- Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP)
What this Programme has to offer
At MI5 Intelligence Officers play an essential role in keeping the country safe, which makes for one of the most challenging, stimulating and rewarding careers you can imagine. As the country faces increased threats to national security, your role as an Intelligence Officer gives you opportunity to have a tangible impact on the security of the UK.
Starting Salary
£31,807
Our starting salary is £31,807, rising to £34,385 after the first year.
Work Life Balance
Flexible
You can’t take your work home with you, so once you leave the office your time is your own.
Future
Varied Career
You will work in a wide range of areas both before and after your training, having an immediate impact on the work we do in a unique working environment.
Induction
Our structured two year Intelligence Officer Development Programme will enable you to develop the skills you need to become a widely deployable Intelligence Officer, whilst you work in roles which directly support the intelligence capability of MI5.
Development Programme Postings
This will be structured as either two postings of approximately one year each, or one posting up to 24 months in length. The roles will provide insight and understanding of how MI5 functions, and develop relevant and transferable skills for a varied and fulfilling career. Roles include, but are not limited to Policy, Digital Intelligence, Warrantry, Legal Casework and Analysis.
Foundation Investigative Training Course
At the end of the two years, you'll advance onto our Foundation Investigative Training (FIT) course. This five week course will prepare you for a direct move into one of our core investigative sections as a trained Intelligence Officer. On successful completion of FIT, you'll be eligible to apply for promotion.
Investigative Posting
As a trained Intelligence Officer, your first role could be countering threats from international or Northern Ireland related terrorism to espionage or hostile states. You'll set investigative strategies, make recommendations based on your assessment of threat levels and collaborate with colleagues and the Police to thwart threats. After this posting, you will move into a business enabling role within the Intelligence Officer family.
Post Programme
After the programme you will have a varied career across a broad range of roles that could include investigative, operational, assessment or policy functions. No one persons' career is exactly the same.
What we are looking for
People from a range of backgrounds and degree disciplines join the Intelligence Officer Development Programme. To apply you’ll need to have, or be expecting, a 2:2 in any degree discipline or have relevant work experience.
As a confident communicator, you can quickly establish productive working relationships with your colleagues. You’ll need to be organised, have a good eye for detail and trust your own judgement. While happy to take responsibility for your own areas of work, you’ll also enjoy collaborating to solve problems and make decisions. MI5 also expects its employees to have a high degree of honesty and integrity.
Application Process
Throughout our recruitment process we will assess your skills against the requirements of all our Intelligence Development Programmes. This increases your chances of securing an exciting and rewarding career with MI5 and allows us to deploy the talented individuals that apply into the most suitable roles, maximising our capability to protect national security.
Application Stage
Ensures you are eligible to apply
Situational Judgement Test
Online test that asks you to make decisions regarding a number of work specific scenarios
Online Investigative Assessment
A 90 minute online assessment that will test your ability to make a proportionate assessment in relation to a fictitious investigation
Telephone Interview
The telephone interview will test your motivation and include some competency questions
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre will consist of a competency interview, two role plays, a group exercise and a written assessment
Final Selection Board
Following the assessment centre, you may be invited to attend a final selection board; this will be based on your performance throughout the process
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