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Despite what films and TV might tell you, MI6 isn’t all about high-octane, action-packed missions. But it is genuinely fascinating and rewarding work – where you’ll use everyday skills to tackle extraordinary challenges.
About the role
So, what does an Intelligence Officer do? Well, they use their intellectual curiosity to help gather, deliver and use secret intelligence to protect the UK and its interests overseas. At the same time, they use their interest in people to build strong connections and relationships. Working with government departments and agents at home and abroad, our Intelligence Officers help to keep our nation safe and secure.
Intelligence Officers cover four main areas. We have Targeting Officers, who analyse data to be turned into real-life intelligence operations. Case Officers, who build and manage relationships with agents (the people who pass on intelligence to us – not the likes of 007). Reporting Officers, who analyse, validate and test the intelligence before briefing government officials. And finally there are Operational Managers, who plan and manage the collection of intelligence.
It’s all critical work. You might meet an agent for a chat in a café. Or you might gather intelligence online at our offices. In fact, your work will look much like any other office role – and you’ll usually be contactable throughout the day too, in case your family and friends need you. No matter what, everything you do will be legal and you’ll be supported all the way.
Learning and development
You’ll start off by completing our three-year Intelligence Officer Training Pathway, where you’ll learn all about gathering intelligence. In that time, you’ll do both classroom and on-the-job training, and experience a few different roles with your own workload to look after. So when you’re ready to graduate, you’ll be able to apply for a role in an area that best suits your skills and interests. And don’t worry about having to stay in one area: every three years or so, you’ll move into one of the other Intelligence Officer areas to broaden your skills and experience. Wherever you are, there’s constant access to a mentor and plenty of support around you – from both your colleagues and our many staff affinity groups.
Benefits
There’s a lot on offer. Such as opportunities to work overseas, an interest-free relocation loan, 25 days’ annual leave, an excellent pension scheme, financial support for learning and development, and shared parental and adoption leave.
About you
There are few things we look for in our Intelligence Officers. A minimum 2:2 degree or higher. A knack for solving problems and building persuasive arguments. Being proactive and organised. Confident, credible and influential communication with anyone and everyone. Inclusive and empathetic collaboration. If you’re an avid learner; a people person; if you throw yourself into learning new things and embracing change, you’ll be welcome here, whoever you are. We want to be diverse in every sense of the word: different backgrounds, cultures, gender identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations. And we’re secretly, just like you.
To apply, please visit our website.
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. 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 at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Full eligibility details can be found on our website
