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About Us
MI5 safeguards the UK against threats such as terrorism, espionage, cyber and sabotage. We investigate suspect individuals and organisations in the UK to obtain, collate, analyse and assess secret intelligence relating to these threats. Alongside our British Intelligence partners MI6 and GCHQ, we provide the UK government with the information they need to protect national security. At MI5 you’ll enjoy varied and rewarding work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The Role

As a Photography Specialist, you will provide specialist stills and video photography services to MI5. Due to the dynamic, 24/7 nature of national security work, it’s a role that’s out of the ordinary. We’re therefore looking for an experienced professional, who’s flexible, mobile and prepared to work in difficult environments, including at heights. Quick to adapt to change, you’ll be ready to respond at short notice, including out of office hours.

Whatever the project, you’ll deliver to the highest standards, often to tight deadlines, even under challenging circumstances. It’s work that requires the utmost attention to detail, creative problem-solving and the ability to work unsupervised within a larger team. With the chance to work with suppliers and partners as well as other internal teams, you’ll enjoy interesting opportunities to collaborate and connect with people, that you’ll not find anywhere else.

Although you’ll generally work standard office hours, you may be required to work outside these times, including at weekends. You’ll also be expected to join an on-call rota, with a choice of Overtime or Time Off in Lieu as compensation for extra hours.

Finally, there’ll be some opportunities for UK travel, sometimes at short notice. You’ll need to be able to work away from home occasionally and be comfortable with distance driving.

About You
You’ll be able to demonstrate extensive experience in the photographic industry, supported by in-depth technical knowledge, or a recognised photographic qualification, such as City and Guilds, HNC or HND (level 5 qualification). Knowledge of Adobe CC software packages including Photoshop and Lightroom will be essential. Skilled in image enhancement and low light photography, you’ll have an interest in technology and you’ll be keen to keep your skills up to date. If your initial application is successful, we’ll ask you to bring your portfolio to the interview.

In addition to proven technical talents, you’ll have a gift for problem-solving and collaboration. A confident communicator, you work well with others, going the extra mile to get the job done. Crucially, you’ll need to be physically fit, hold a full driving licence, and you’ll be prepared to take a medical before starting the role.

Training and Development
We invest in our people, and work with them to develop their careers. Our roles are unique, highly specialised and technical. If you have the skillset we’re looking for, we’ll provide full MI5 and team inductions, role-specific, in-house training, plus the chance to acquire and maintain membership of professional photographic bodies.
Technologies advance at a rapid pace, so it’s vital for us to stay ahead of the game and set the pace in the race for emerging technology. That’s why you’ll receive the training to develop and maintain the right skills for the job, and broaden your knowledge across a wide spectrum of skills. Opportunities for ongoing training could focus on developing your leadership capability and building on your technical skills. Throughout your career, there’s a wide range of learning and development activities you’ll have access to, and including opportunities that are broader than just your job role.

Our Foundation Technical Specialists Training Pathway sets a baseline for all new Technical Specialists. This pathway is both modular and flexible, and can be adapted to reflect your individual needs, skills, experience and expertise. The pathway lasts at least one year, helping you to integrate into your role in the team in a structured way. This will help prepare you to perform at your best, as you learn within a supportive environment.

You’ll receive mentoring from established Technical Specialists, who will share their knowledge and professional experiences to help you settle and grow into your new role. There are opportunities for progression throughout your career with us, both within the team and the wider organisation.

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, ethnicities, 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:

• 
  Strong motivation for applying to work at MI5 and this particular role – assessed at application sift
• Demonstrate experience working in the photographic industry or recognised photographic qualification – assessed at sift
• Able to demonstrate an interest in technology and new emerging technologies, either through work experience or self-taught – assessed at interview

What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

• Application sift, looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation
• Motivational and competency based interview
• If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. You application may take around 6 – 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you’ve received your final job offer.

Before You Apply
To work at MI5 you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

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.

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.

This role is based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. A loan is available to support people relocating to London.

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. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

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.