Secret job of the week

This has appeared a few times today in the JobServe:

"My client MI5 requires experienced IT Project Managers with proven delivery experience from full SDLC to 3rd party contractor & vendor management. Ideally Prince 2 certified you will have demonstrable experience of working within structured methodologies while delivering projects to quality & budget. You will have a broad understanding of IT from a corporate systems perspective, having delivered a range of IT projects, improving operational effectiveness. Utilising your exceptional communication skills, you will be the first line in holding both the business & suppliers accountable for their delivery responsibilities. A strong leader, you will be a good Manager of people especially Matrix management, governed by best practice principles & your commitment to high quality service delivery. Confident in your organisational skills,you will be proactive & able to make informed, objective & robust judgements by managing the bigger picture. Proficient in all aspects of project management your resume will include expertise in mitigating & managing project risks. To apply you must be a British citizen. Due to their recruitment & vetting process, your application could take up to 8 months. You must limit those you tell about your application to your partner &/or immediate family. The security service is committed to reflecting those equal opportunities & the society they protect."

For overseas readers MI5 is our security service, until a few years ago its existence was officially denied. It's a bit like the FBI except it deals exclusively in covert domestic security matters. Nowadays it even has a website.

I didn't apply because:

• I don't know what SDLC is
• I'm not going to wait up to eight months for extremely high-level vetting.

Interestingly though, the salary range wasn't bad, especially considering it's part of the government.

As you can imagine, there's been a lot of investment in British security activities. This has translated into massive spend for our security and intelligence services. Why, even MI6, a.k.a. the Secret Intelligence Services, has a website.

Oh BTW, if I had applied I wouldn't make mention of it here.