Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP) - Registration of interest - MI5

£40,428 rising to £43,705 after 1 year

Flexible working: throughout most of the six-year programme, you’ll be able to benefit from flexitime and compressed hours, subject to business need. However, during Stage 2 (the nine-week period of assessed training modules) you will need to follow fixed full-time hours (36 hours per week). Remote, hybrid or home working are not possible in this role.  

Can you see yourself working in a supportive team, piecing together complex information and making sound decisions that have real-world impact? On our six-year Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP), you’ll develop the skills, confidence and experience to become a fully trained Intelligence Officer – and play your part in helping us keep the country safe. You’ll learn from experienced colleagues, contribute to real investigations and grow through structured training and meaningful, mission-focused work.

You don’t need prior Intelligence experience (nobody has that before they join). If you’re naturally curious, enjoy problem-solving and collaborating, and are comfortable making evidence-based decisions, you could thrive here. Whether you’re changing careers or preparing to begin your professional career, we’ll teach you everything you need to know. 

Across the six years, you’ll build strong foundations in a non-investigative posting, complete two assessed modules to gain accreditation and take on two two-year Intelligence Officer roles (for example, in Counter-Terrorism or Counter-Espionage), where you’ll work on investigations that disrupt threats and protect lives. 

Before you register: 

You must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. If you’re successful at the end of the recruitment process, you’ll need to undergo Developed Vetting and comply with our no drugs policy. You must complete your registration, application and all recruitment processes from within the UK. Finally, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with our guidance on the use of AI in applications. See our website for full eligibility details. 

The IODP application window opens at 10am on Monday 23 March 2026. The window may only be open a few hours, so plan to apply early. 

Register your interest

We’re inviting people from Black, Asian or other ethnic minority backgrounds to register their interest, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce. If you register, you’ll be invited to online Insight and Skills sessions to learn more about the IODP. 

Please note: a registration of interest does not constitute a job application and has no impact on the recruitment process. Anyone who registers and later decides to apply will need to complete an application form once the application window opens. We welcome applications from everyone and assess solely on merit.

Register your interest here.

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