Flexible working: We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including part time
Below, you will find a complete breakdown of everything required of potential candidates, as well as how to apply Good luck.hours, compressed working patterns, and flexible start and finish times. All roles require on-site working. We are happy to discuss individual requirements.About usGCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. Weuse cutting-edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify, analyse and disruptthreats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK fromterrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ, you'll do varied and fascinating work in asupportive and inclusive environment that places the emphasis on teamwork.The roleAs a Principal Project Manager, you will be responsible for delivering a variety of complex,high-impact projects, taking them from initiation through to completion. The portfolio youcover will be broad and varied, spanning business change to technical programmes. Acrossevery project, you will be trusted to shape the delivery approach, set expectations, guide multi-disciplinary teams and keep projects moving forward in environments where priorities shiftand challenges evolve.Alongside this day-to-day delivery leadership, you will also operate at a strategic level, leadingwhole projects or major elements of larger programmes, driving governance and assuranceactivity, and writing and managing business cases that support informed decision-making.The projects you lead will directly enable major organisational outcomes. Your leadership willspan the full project lifecycle, planning, scheduling and coordinating; managing time, cost,quality and benefits; and proactively controlling risk, issues, dependencies and change. Thisinvolves bringing structure to uncertainty, creating momentum during periods of change, andoffering clarity when key decisions are required.You will engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders, partners,suppliers and customers, producing clear reports, briefings and recommendations thatsupport confident decision-making. Delivery methods will be tailored to each project to suitthe context and unlock progress and value.Some projects will be led independently; others will place you within larger, multi-disciplinarydelivery groups. In every case, you will be supported by a well-established projectmanagement community, and the outcomes you deliver will have real-world impact acrossthe organisation. The role also includes line management responsibilities, with opportunitiesto take on mentoring as part of your continued development. Occasional UK travel may berequired to meet teams and engage with stakeholders.
About youYou have a recognised project management qualification, such as the Association for ProjectManagement (APM) Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ), the APM ProjectManagement Qualification (PMQ), or an equivalent certification. You'll also have at least fourGCSEs at Grade 4/C or above (including English and Mathematics), or equivalent Level 2qualifications, or relevant experience demonstrating solid numeracy and communication.
You have experience delivering projects across varied environments and are ready to takeon more complex, higher-impact work. You have led significant workstreams, engaged withsenior stakeholders, and maintained progress when challenges arise. You understand thefoundations of project management, planning, reporting, financial tracking, risks, issues andchange, and can apply these with confidence in environments where detail, judgement andclear communication matter.You know how to influence, negotiate and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues, fromtechnical specialists to business generalists. You adapt your communication style to suitdifferent audiences, presenting information clearly to support informed decision-making.Your credibility, consistency and reliability help you build trust quickly across teams.Experience delivering projects in environments such as agile delivery, digital or engineeringsettings, Government Digital Service (GDS) frameworks, cyber security, or emergingtechnologies (including artificial intelligence) would be beneficial, though not essential.You bring qualities that define successful project managers at this level: flexibility in shiftingenvironments, calmness under pressure, a proactive approach to problem-solving, andcuriosity about how to deliver the best possible results. You value collaboration and sharedlearning, and you're committed to your own development, ready to stretch your leadershipskills and continue progressing.Training and developmentA structured induction will help you understand our mission, ways of working, and thedelivery community you will be joining. During your first weeks, you will meet your line managerand a dedicated buddy who will support your transition, build your confidence, and help younavigate the organisation.Development continues through a blend of internal and external training, practicalexperience, and community support. As a corporate member of the Association for ProjectManagement (APM), we encourage you to explore relevant courses, frameworks, andaccreditation pathways. Access to mentoring, coaching, regular career check-ins and projectmanagement forums, will provide you with opportunities to share learning and strengthenyour professional network.Ongoing development is integral to the role. Support is available to deepen expertise acrossplanning, risk, financials, reporting and benefits, as well as to build leadership capabilitiesneeded for increasingly complex delivery. Whether the aim is to broaden experience,specialise in a particular area or progress into more senior project roles, guidance andopportunities are in place to help you grow with confidence. Throughout this journey, anactive and generous project management community contributes to shared learning andprofessional growth.Rewards and BenefitsYou will receive a starting salary £53,000 to £64,841 dependent on skills and experience, plusother benefits including: 25 days annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 yearsservice, plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme an interest-free season ticket loan an excellent pension scheme a cycle to work scheme facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations) paid parental and adoption leave
Equal OpportunitiesAt GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need aworkforce that truly reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense ofthe word: people of different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualorientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. Wetherefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including individuals fromgroups that are currently under-represented in our workforce, such as women, people fromethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economicbackgrounds.Visit our website to find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity .We are Disability ConfidentGCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work andPensions Disability Confident scheme. The scheme encourages employers to thinkdifferently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and developdisabled people. As a Disability Confident organisation, we aim to ensure that a fair andproportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria forthis position, assessed at sift, are offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. Thisis known as the Offer of Interview. To secure an interview for this role,the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:
You will be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the OrganisationalSituational Judgement Test which looks at your ability to problem solve. If you meetthis criteria, you will be directed to complete an application form. You must hold a minimum of four GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, including EnglishLanguage and Mathematics, or equivalent Level 2 qualifications. Relevantexperience demonstrating solid numeracy and communication skills may beconsidered as an alternative. You must hold a recognised project management qualification, such as theAssociation for Project Management (APM) Project Fundamentals Qualification(PFQ), the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), or an equivalentcertification. Experience delivering projects across varied environments, with accountability formanaging projects or significant workstreams. Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with experienceinfluencing senior stakeholders and presenting clear, concise information to a varietyof audiencesWe offer a range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable youto perform at your best. Visit our 'How to Apply' page for information on reasonableadjustments we can offer.What to expectOur recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview ofeach stage, in order:1. Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) rating the appropriateness of yourresponses to a series of short scenarios. The SJT tests criteria important for all rolesin our organisation.2. Application sift, which will assess your motivation for the role, the organisation andyour relevant experience.
* Interview to assess competency and suitability for the role.
* If successful, you will receive the conditional offer of employment, subject to a drugs
test and vetting.Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next.Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process including vetting, sowe advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.Before you applyTo work at GCHQ, you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Readabout our eligibility criteria.This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting(DV). It's something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. Find out moreabout the vetting process.Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can't takeany recreational drugs, and you'll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevantstage.Before applying, we recommend setting up a separate email address for your contact with usto ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try toavoid including identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surnameand date of birth. This is good practice and will help you manage your application with usmore securely.The role is based in Cheltenham, so you'll need to live within a commutable distance. Pleaseconsider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as wedo not offer relocation costs.We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-personappointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided withyour interview or assessment invitation. Reimbursement is discretionary and will only bemade in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidatesmust book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hard copyreceipts for reimbursement.Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are basedoverseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to begin your application. Applying fromoutside the UK will affect our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss yourapplication, other than with your partner or a close family member.Right to withdraw statement:Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role oncea certain number of applications have been received. xcunqrw Please be mindful of thisand submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.