Job summary
MI6 and GCHQ are part of the UK�s Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard Britain�s people, interests, and businesses from various threats at home, overseas and online, including cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you�ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.
Job description
What mark would you give your Russian? If you answered "пятерку", then have you ever thought about how your language skills could help keep people safe? As a Russian Language Specialist at the UK�s Intelligence Services, your knowledge of the Russian language, as well as your in-depth understanding of Russian culture, ideology and politics will be significant in helping us to protect the UK and its interests.
With an adept knowledge of Russian Language and culture, you�ll be able to identify the nuances of, and seek out key information from spoken and written materials, contextualise it, and make it accessible and understandable to others. And, every step of the way, you�ll have plenty of opportunities to develop your own career path, focusing on the areas that interest you most. Whatever you�re doing, you�ll enjoy varied, and rewarding work using language skills in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
At MI6, you�ll be part of a multi-disciplinary team and play an active role in directing projects and driving forward investigations. It�s rewarding work, which will draw on your judgement, people skills, as well as linguistic and cultural expertise. Confident reading, writing, speaking, and listening to Russian, you�ll do everything from translation and interpretation to operational work that includes planning, casework, and training.
At GCHQ, you�ll combine language and technical skills to piece together snippets of information, collected from a variety of digital communication sources. Working in a diverse team of experts, you�ll apply analytical skills and an understanding of communication technologies to build up the intelligence picture. Your language skill and cultural knowledge will help identify reportable intelligence and progress operations, as well as help shape and influence government policy.
Person specification
You don�t need any experience or qualifications to be a Russian Language Specialist with us, but you do need strong language skills, excellent written English, and thorough knowledge of Russian culture, history, religion, and politics. Essentially, you�ll be passionate about the language and a proficient user (at C1 level, see explanation below) of Russian in all its forms. Your proficiency could come from growing up in a multi-lingual family, undergoing language training in the military, or studying Russian to a high level academically.
At C1 level or higher, you�re able to:
� Understand a wide range of longer and more demanding texts or conversations.
� Express ideas without too much searching.
� Effectively use the language for social, academic, or professional situations.
� Create well-structured and detailed texts on complex topics.
You can also access the for more information on our requirements.
Whichever organisation you join, we�re looking for resilient problem solvers with innate curiosity, who are attentive to small detail and have strong interpersonal skills.
You also need:
� An analytical, enquiring mind.
� Good judgement and effective people skills.
� A collaborative approach, as you�ll share your knowledge and contribute to professional standards of best practice.
During the interview process, we�ll assess your language skill via a number of translation and transcription tests. Put yourself to the test and see if you�ve got the potential, we�re after, have a listen to a Russian audio clip here. If you can understand most of what�s said, we strongly encourage you to apply!
Benefits
Training and Development
At MI6 and GCHQ, we have an inclusive and supportive working environment that�s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. We value and nurture talent and we�re committed to ensuring you have the support and guidance to build a rewarding career at the heart of national security. From language events and workshops, through to acquiring professional qualifications, our strong learning culture will continuously develop you, your knowledge, and skills.
By joining MI6 or GCHQ, you�ll be joining a network of colleagues who work across the Intelligence community. This widens our perspectives enhances our abilities, creates an open culture, and enables us to be more effective in our work.
As part of the selection process for MI6, we�ll identify specific areas for development and tailor a training plan to meet your needs. When you join, you�ll have an induction and be assigned a buddy from the same language area to help you settle in. You�ll also be paired up with a profession head to oversee your career interests. You�ll receive training in applied skills, such as interpretation, and gain access to a range of language and non-language training opportunities, including our corporate academy.
GCHQ has an equally strong development offering. You�ll work alongside and learn from a community of language experts who�ll share their knowledge and encourage your contributions. Along with being assigned a buddy on day one, you�ll undertake a comprehensive induction package that spans multiple areas of the business, providing you insights into how we use the Russian language in our work. Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) qualifications can be attained, and you�ll also have opportunities to upskill, which in turn will attract financial rewards.
Whatever your career path, you�ll be part of a community of passionate, dedicated, and talented language specialists, working together on critical work you won�t find elsewhere.
Rewards and Benefits�
At MI6, you�ll receive a starting salary of �39,938 with the possibility to qualify for additional language allowances once in role.
At GCHQ you�ll receive a starting salary of �34,663. Upon successful completion of the 6-month probationary period you�ll be eligible for an additional annual payment of �3,000 in recognition of your language skill.
� 25 days� annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional days� public and privilege holidays.
� Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
� Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs.
� Interest-free season ticket loan (travel and parking GCHQ only).
� Excellent pension scheme.
� Cycle to work scheme.
� Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars.
� Paid parental and adoption leave.