Foundation Analysts

Our information. Your attention to detail. Let’s build the bigger picture.

MI5’s mission is to keep the places, people and communities that we love safe. Our Foundation Analysts are at the heart of this, finding details that help us stop threats and prevent harm. It’s a varied role, which is why we need people from all backgrounds to help us. As a Foundation Analyst, you can build a career doing a vital job within a supportive team.

The Role

As part of a multi-skilled analysis team based near Belfast, you’ll work towards a shared purpose: developing insight from data. Every day, you’ll work together with colleagues, providing information to help keep people safe. You’ll join a four-year development programme where you’ll learn how to analyse a variety of data which is often incomplete, so we can understand the whole picture.

Working closely with teams across MI5, you’ll work to understand their requirements. You’ll use this information to find the right answers and support our investigations using the different tools and techniques you will be trained on throughout the programme. Although you’ll work with a variety of intelligence, from audio files to written communications, you’ll be very clearly briefed on what you’re looking for. Your tasks will be prioritised to help you manage and plan your own workload. Day to day, you’ll explain your findings and share your progress with colleagues.

Whilst it may be a fast-paced environment, you won’t be on your own. You’ll always have your team to help you, provide guidance and talk through your ideas. You’ll also have the support and resources to develop your skills. Throughout the programme, you’ll enjoy ongoing training, including specific training on how to analyse different types of data. On top of this, there will be opportunities to learn about the organisation more widely and make time for your own self-development.

About You

It’s only with different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that we can find the answers we’re looking for. Our Foundation Analysts have different backgrounds and come from different communities – but the thing that unites them is their passion for protecting the people and places they love.

If you relish learning new things, then we’ll teach you everything you need to know. This will be your first rung on the ladder for a long and fulfilling career in analysis. Although you’ll have a C or 4 in GCSE English or equivalent qualification, we aren’t looking for someone who has experience in analysis or a degree. It’s more important that you’re curious and a team player, with a logical, proactive approach.

You’ll need to enjoy solving problems and contributing to their resolution. You’ll be keen to get stuck in and find answers yet know when to seek guidance from more experienced colleagues. It’s this flexibility and motivation that’ll help you to adapt to changing situations. As you’ll be working with a range of people, you’ll need to be comfortable communicating and listening.

Please note that you’ll need to be able to drive to our site. Car parking facilities are available for all.

Whilst we accept applications from graduates for this role, you should note that it is not a graduate level position and the Intelligence and Data Analyst Development Programme (IDADP), Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP) and Technical Graduate Development Programme (TGDP) are more suited to those looking for a graduate opportunity. These opportunities are regularly advertised on our website.

Training and Development

You’ll initially complete eight weeks of full-time training before going into your first analyst role. During this time, you’ll have your own development partner to provide continuous support and help you settle into the team.

After this posting, you’ll then move onto your second role in the programme which will involve shift work on a 24/7 basis, for which you’ll receive an allowance. You don’t need any experience of working shifts and you’ll know your shift pattern well in advance so you can plan your life outside work.

You’ll then move to your third and final role on the programme for the remainder of the four-year programme. You’ll return to a standard working pattern in a different analysis team, where you’ll be able to consolidate your new knowledge and experience of data. After this role, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in a certain area of analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Work together with other teams in MI5 to gather information and understand requirements;
• Learn how to work with different types of data and answer specific questions;
• Support your team by communicating your findings with clarity via regular updates;
• Work independently within your team, demonstrating a curiosity for data;
• Seek guidance and opinions from experienced analysts;
• Explain information clearly, recording and sharing knowledge securely;
• Adhere to compliance, policy and legal guidelines.

Rewards and Benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of £27,751 plus other benefits including:

• 25 days’ Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 12 days public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• A Personal Learning Budget
• Excellent pension scheme
• Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant
• Paid parental and adoption leave

Equal Opportunities

At MI5 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, ethnicity, 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.mi5.gov.uk/careers/diversity

We’re Disability Confident

MI5 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:

• Initial application – You will be asked to provide your basic personal details and complete a number of yes/no questions. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will then be asked to complete the online tests.
• Online Tests – You will be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the cognitive ability test and transcription assessment test.
• Application Sift – You will be required to meet the minimum pass mark for the application sift.

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 – You will be asked to provide your basic personal details and complete a number of yes/no questions to check if you are eligible to apply.
• Online tests – Once you have submitted the initial application, you will be asked to complete a short cognitive ability test as well as a transcription assessment.
• Full application – You will be asked to provide more information on your background (e.g. education and employment history), answer a couple of questions about your motivation for applying for the role and two competency-based questions.
• Telephone Interview – You’ll then be asked questions about your motivation for applying as well as some strength-based and competency-based questions.
• Assessment centre – You’ll attend an online assessment centre involving an interview, roleplay and written exercise.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 9 – 12 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 MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. If successful, you will not normally be required to give up your non-British citizenship but, as a condition of your employment or secondment, MI5 may impose restrictions on your postings, work travel and/or general use of that nationality.

You can read our full eligibility criteria here https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs/

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 https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/vetting

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.

The role is based near Belfast, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

Discretion is vital for working at MI5. Please do not discuss your application with anyone at this stage. You will receive more information on this throughout the process.

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.

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.