Maybe you had not realized because they are very discreet, but the generational change has become an urgent need for the National Intelligence Center (CNI). As is the case in a large part of the Administration, the average age of its staff increases steadily and requires the incorporation of young profiles constantly.
A 2021 report already pointed out this staffing trend, which presents the Intelligence Center as an increasingly veteran structure and a growing demand for specialists capable of covering strategic areas, from cybersecurity to the operation of sensitive infrastructures.
Much more than analysts and technicians. Although the CNI usually associates itself with highly qualified profiles in intelligence, technology or languages, the range of real vacancies is wider and, like many other companies, it is also noticing a shortage of maintenance personnel.
Just as I collected InfobaeIn the latest recruitment processes, the Intelligence agency has insisted on the need for essential trades for the operation of its facilities: locksmiths, electricians, plumbers, air conditioning technicians or industrial maintenance specialists. It is enough to visit their job portal to realize the number of job offers for this type of professionals.
The detail: they are more than plumbers. However, there is something in these offers that draws attention: in addition to the qualification that accredits technical knowledge, having a B2 level of French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic or Chinese is valued. It’s not a coincidence. In the CNI, even electricians are potential agents. “Not only are they profiles to work in the CNI facilities, but sometimes they are necessary for certain operations that we carry out,” he declared to Infobae a CNI agent with 20 years of experience.
Beyond that detail, the reason for having your own internal maintenance team is simple: they are critical positions for the physical security of complexes where any intervention, no matter how small, must remain under internal supervision, reducing the intervention of external contractors.
The CNI finds you. Just as published The Newspaperthe National Intelligence Center has launched a talent hunt, gaining visibility at cybersecurity events and job fairs. According to CNI sources consulted by the newspaper, thanks to this job opening, 4,000 interviews have already been carried out with different technical profiles so far this year.
Not only do the CNI’s Human Resources staff intervene in these job interviews, but in some of them the section heads who demand candidates also intervene discreetly. In this way, it is those responsible for the CNI themselves who choose its future members.
Spies are not officials. CNI workers are not officials comparable to the rest of the Administration. Their status is that of statutory staff of the CNI, governed by its own regulations that determine access, internal mobility, evaluation and working conditions.
This framework responds to the nature of the organization: an intelligence service that works with sensitive and, sometimes, classified national security information.
Competition from private companies. Contrary to what happens with the rest of the Administration, one of the most complex obstacles to the generational change of the CNI is competition from the private sector. The recruitment of technological profiles (cybersecurity, data analysis, systems engineering) forces us to compete with private companies that are offering higher salaries, greater work flexibility and teleworking options.
Although the employment section of the CNI specifies that it is not mandatory to live in Madrid, new candidates must complete prior training at the facilities that the organization has in the capital. However, one of its biggest drawbacks is that, even if they take place anywhere in Spain, many positions require physical presence and do not allow the use of external connections. Any external access implies potential risk, which limits the adoption of hybrid modalities. This clashes head-on with the demand for flexibility of these technical profiles.
An inevitable renewal. As detailed by the CNI sources consulted by The newspaper, The internal challenge of the CNI for the coming years will be to maintain this constant flow of new talent while the generation of Baby boom he retires
Moving in an environment where discretion, operational restrictions and the impossibility of giving too much information about the nature of the work play against the needs of a secret service. Now we know that, if you are interested in working for the CNI, they are not always the ones who will try to recruit you. You can also send them your resume.
In WorldOfSoftware | “We are absolutely certain that it is an external attack.” The phones of Pedro Sánchez and the Minister of Defense have been infected with Pegasus, according to the Government
Imagen | Unsplash (Chris Yang)
