Salary - £40,428, increasing to £43,705 after one year
Flexible working: Full-time and part-time hours are available. This is an office-based role, and you will be able to benefit from flexitime and compressed hours, subject to business need. Due to the sensitive nature of the role, remote, hybrid, or home working is not possible.
The role
HR Services is a critical function supporting colleagues across MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, both in the UK and abroad. In everything we do, we aim to deliver best practice and ensure compliance every time, enabling colleagues to work efficiently and safely wherever they are based. As you support teams across all three agencies, you’ll gain a unique insight into how HR operations underpin the mission of the wider organisation.
Joining one of our HR operations teams means stepping into a role that keeps the organisation moving. Every day brings something different: supporting someone newly posted into a high-pressure role, advising managers on sensitive staff matters, or ensuring essential changes are processed quickly and correctly. You’ll become part of the team that colleagues rely on, developing a deep understanding of how HR operations sustain the mission and how your work supports colleagues whose decisions have real-world impact.
Working closely with Payroll and Pension teams across the agencies, you’ll contribute to cross team and cross organisational collaboration. You will handle a wide range of HR queries and provide clear, accurate guidance on policy. It is all about delivering an excellent experience for our colleagues, prioritising workflow, resolving queries efficiently and continually contributing to improvements in how we operate.
Some roles will require line‑management responsibilities for one or two administrative team members, which can be discussed at interview stage. There may also be opportunities to travel to other MI5 sites.
About you
You have experience working in HR, or you are working towards your CIPD with a desire to build a career in HR. What matters is that you’re ready to apply what you know and grow your capability in a role where accuracy, judgement and people‑focused problem‑solving really matter.
Because much of your work will involve supporting colleagues through our online ticketing system, you’ll need to explain things clearly, simply and professionally in writing. Often, you’ll be helping someone who is under pressure, unsure what to do next, or in need of reassurance. That’s where emotional intelligence becomes essential: recognising when someone needs extra support and responding in a way that makes their job – and their day – a little easier.
You’ll also be working with basic data every day, such as calculating annual leave or checking information for accuracy, so you’ll need to be comfortable engaging with details responsibly and confidently. We don’t expect you to be a technical specialist; we do expect you to take pride in getting things right.
HR Services is collaborative by nature, so effective communication skills and the ability to work well with others help you thrive. Teamwork, curiosity, empathy, problem‑solving and a willingness to learn are all qualities that will set you up for success.
And above all, you’ll enjoy working with people. Because in this role, every interaction helps colleagues across the organisation focus on the mission that matters.
Training and development
When you join HR Services, you’ll begin with a thorough induction to your team, our processes and the systems you’ll be using every day. This gives you a clear understanding of your role and how HR supports the wider mission across MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. You’ll meet colleagues from across the function, learn how our operations fit together, and start building the confidence you need to take on your responsibilities.
Your development will involve a mix of structured training, practical learning and ongoing development. As you grow in the role, you’ll gain experience across different areas of HR. Each opportunity helps build your judgement, your understanding of how HR shapes the employee experience, and your ability to navigate sensitive or complex scenarios with confidence.
You’ll have access to internal and external training relevant to your role, along with support from a mentor who will help guide your development and encourage you to stretch your skills. If you’re working towards your CIPD, support may be available (including study time) depending on business need and funding.
For your first four years, you’ll remain within HR Services so you can build solid foundations and develop a deep understanding of our work. After that, you’ll be able to explore roles across the wider organisation, including other areas of corporate services. Throughout your journey, you’ll be part of a supportive community where the people you work with are committed to supporting your development – so you’re never navigating challenges alone.
Rewards and benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £40,428 plus other benefits including:
* 25 days’ annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 years’ service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
* opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
* a dedicated development budget
* an interest‑free season ticket loan
* a cycle to work scheme
* facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on‑site coffee bars (at some locations)
* paid parental and adoption leave
Requirements
To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality.
This role requires the highest level of security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes.
The role is based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. We do not offer relocation costs.
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