Security Officer

Salary and hours:

24‑Hour Officers: £37,338. A rotating shift pattern

Your shifts will be fixed, so you must be able to commit to them. Further details will be provided in due course

Flexible working: due to the nature of this role, flexible, home or remote working isn’t possible. Rest assured we’ll work with you to maintain a good work-life balance, taking into account any responsibilities outside of work wherever possible.

About us

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting‑edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber‑attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

As one of our Security Officers, you’ll be the first point of contact for visitors and staff entering our buildings. Working in a close‑knit, supportive team, you’ll anticipate and reduce security risks, making sure our building and everyone in it stays safe.

You may be working in our Security Control Room, monitoring CCTV, or overseeing access to the building, or you could be carrying out physical searches or patrolling the grounds (both on foot and in vehicles). Whether you’re responding to an alarm, giving first aid, or helping a visitor understand security procedures, you’ll always follow our policies carefully and keep clear, accurate incident logs.

In this role, your calm, friendly presence will be invaluable. Each day, you’ll greet people from all walks of life, including government officials and colleagues from our partner agencies, and guide them through any security processes they need to know. As the first person they meet at GCHQ, you’ll make a great first impression while completing the necessary checks and staying alert to anything unusual.

You’ll be joining a team that’s as supportive as it is experienced. As you learn from your colleagues and develop your skills, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grow. With the chance to work with MI5 and MI6, as well as other security teams throughout GCHQ, this could be the beginning of an exciting career within the UK Intelligence Agencies.

You’re motivated, proactive, and quick to spot problems before they emerge. Your strong situational awareness means you’re confident in responding to changing situations and making sound decisions under pressure. Along with your friendly manner and people skills, you’re also someone who communicates clearly and enjoys working with others.

You may already have experience in the security industry or come from a military, police, prison service, or other protective services background. Equally, you could have developed strong customer service or public‑facing skills in another role. Whatever your background, you’ll bring a can‑do attitude and a desire to contribute to vital work.

• security or customer service experience, as you’ll interact daily with visitors, colleagues and partner agencies
• an English Language GCSE at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent experience, which has developed your written and verbal communication skills
• a full driving licence, as you’ll undertake both foot and vehicle patrols
• basic IT and Microsoft Office skills to support your incident logging
• the ability to reliably commute for your assigned shift times

You don’t need a high level of fitness for this role, but there are some physical aspects to be aware of. You’ll need to be comfortable operating heavy doors, using stairs or lifts, and carrying out physical search and screening duties, which may include lifting or moving bags and equipment. Foot patrols will take you…