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 an Associate Commercial Practitioner, you’ll work as part of a professional and efficient function delivering a range of key procurement activities. Supporting the Commercial Practitioner, you’ll develop your skills and grow your procurement knowledge while gaining valuable exposure across our three pillars:
You could be working with our Customer Facing Teams, managing relationships, developing commercial solutions and agreeing the future pipeline and prioritisation of the workbook. Or, you might be supporting Commercial Delivery within Category Teams across Technology, Estates, People and Professional Services, and the Supply Chain Security Team. We also have roles in Commercial Operations, with responsibility for Policy, Audit, Finance, MI and People Development.
From contract implementation, management and tendering, to partnership negotiation and budget control, you’ll contribute to a highly valued service. You’ll work with customers and suppliers as you support contract performance and delivery, and ensure we meet individual requirements as well as Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). And as your knowledge and experience grows, you’ll help improve commercial systems and processes, and ensure we continue working in line with procurement best practice.
This is an exciting time to join the commercial function, as it goes through a transformation to meet future demands. You’ll be joining a friendly, inclusive and highly supportive team working across the Intelligence Agencies. You’ll be working for MI5, but you could be based at one of our MI6 or GCHQ locations - we can discuss this with you as part of the application process.
Whether you’re managing and nurturing supplier relationships, or liaising with customers from partner agencies, across government or our overseas counterparts, you’ll provide a smooth-running, collaborative and efficient procurement service that’ll aid our mission to keep the country safe.
About You
You don’t need a qualification in procurement to join, and there’s no minimum qualification requirement, but you’ll be willing to study towards a professional commercial qualification such as CIPS (or business equivalent). What you will have is a genuine interest in commercial, procurement and/or supply chain management, as well as experience in at least one of the following: contract management, sourcing, commercial policy and assurance, supply chain, low value procurement and invoicing, supplier management, or extensive, exceptional customer service.
You’ll also have experience of working in a role where you’ve managed contracts, sourced activity in response to demands, or worked with suppliers and other industries within a procurement environment. This includes risk identification, finance management and experience working within a team. And, with your strong communication skills, you’ll build great working relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues at both operational and senior levels.
Importantly, you’ll take a positive approach to supporting change and improvement. You’ll be a problem solver, able to identify opportunities to make our services even better while helping us overcome any potential setbacks. You’ll look to grow your skills, taking ownership of changes to your work and processes. You might have previously engaged in working groups or taken on mentoring or coaching roles – you’ll be someone keen to develop and improve your own skillset, as well as our services.
Training and Development
No matter your experience or background, you’ll receive dedicated support when you join. We’ll work with you to build your own progression plan, from mentorship with an assigned partner to access to a wealth of core and technical skills training. We’ll support your career growth, including the completion of relevant qualifications as you progress. You’ll get all the help and guidance you need to grow a rewarding career at the heart of national security.
Plus, you’ll be working in a culture committed to your development. You’ll have an induction into the function when you start and regular check-ins with your manager throughout the year, as well as help to identify the skills and experience you need to excel. In short, you won’t be on your own – throughout your career, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who want you to succeed.
Rewards and Benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £34,414 - £35,734 (London), £32,050 - £33,452 (Cheltenham or Buckinghamshire) plus other benefits including:
- 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
- Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
- Personal Loan Budget
- Interest-free season ticket loan
- Excellent pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
- 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, 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:
- Eligibility questions – You will be asked a series of questions. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be directed to the initial application form.
- Application form –You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy and are required to meet the minimum pass mark set.
- On successful completion of these stages, you will be invited to attend a virtual Interview.
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
- The first thing we will ask you to do is complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our initial criteria. If you do meet these criteria, we will then ask you to fill out a full application form where you will need to create a log in and provide your full name, email address and a memorable password.
- Our recruitment team will conduct a sift of your application. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview, where you will have the opportunity to demonstrate key behaviours relevant to the role.
- If you are successful at this stage, we will then start the vetting process, which includes a Security Interview. This interview is an important part of the selection process. It’s an interview to explore your life and experiences, and it’s not a competency or capability-based interview.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 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. 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.
Whichever location you select, 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 individuals with relocation costs.
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 hold 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.