Project Manager

Cheltenham, Manchester and North West England Job Summary Following successful completion of probation, you may also be eligible for a skills retention payment of approximately £5,000, subject to achieving a skills assessment aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). Flexible working: We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including part-time working (minimum of 30 hours per week), compressed hours, and flexible start and finish times. While all roles require on-site working, we're happy to discuss flexible working options where 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 places the emphasis on teamwork.

The role As a Project Manager, you'll manage a range of projects from initiation right through to completion. Some projects you'll lead independently; others you'll deliver as part of a larger, multi‑disciplinary team. The projects you lead will be varied, spanning everything from business change to the delivery of technical capability, so you'll learn to tailor how you plan, track, and communicate to suit the context. Day-to-day, you'll coordinate scope, plans, schedules and cost; manage risks, issues, and dependencies; and provide clear updates and recommendations that support timely, confident decisions. You'll work closely with colleagues, suppliers, customers, and partner organisations, building relationships and acting as a trusted point of contact. In fast-moving environments, you'll bring structure, momentum and clarity, keeping delivery aligned to time, cost and quality expectations, and knowing when to escalate for support. As part of a well‑established project management community, you'll have supportive peers to learn from and established standards to guide your practice. UK travel may be required to meet teams and engage with stakeholders; the frequency and locations will be project or programme dependent The role As a Project Manager, you'll manage a range of projects from initiation right through to completion. Some projects you'll lead independently; others you'll deliver as part of a larger, multi‑disciplinary team. The projects you lead will be varied, spanning everything from business change to the delivery of technical capability, so you'll learn to tailor how you plan, track, and communicate to suit the context. Day-to-day, you'll coordinate scope, plans, schedules and cost; manage risks, issues, and dependencies; and provide clear updates and recommendations that support timely, confident decisions. You'll work closely with colleagues, suppliers, customers, and partner organisations, building relationships and acting as a trusted point of contact. In fast-moving environments, you'll bring structure, momentum and clarity, keeping delivery aligned to time, cost and quality expectations, and knowing when to escalate for support. As part of a well‑established project management community, you'll have supportive peers to learn from and established standards to guide your practice. UK travel may be required to meet teams and engage with stakeholders; the frequency and locations will be project or programme dependent Person specification About You You have at least four GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above (including English and Mathematics), or equivalent Level 2 qualifications, or relevant experience demonstrating solid numeracy and communication skills. You're keen to develop your project delivery expertise and build the capabilities expected of a Project Manager at the HEO level, aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). You've already gained experience supporting project delivery and are now ready to take ownership of your own projects. Through your involvement in planning, coordination and reporting activities, you've developed an understanding of project controls and the role that effective risk, issue and change management plays in successful delivery. You're comfortable working with both technical and non-technical colleagues, helping to maintain momentum and keep projects on track. You adapt your communication style to suit different audiences, providing clear and timely information to support decision-making. You build productive stakeholder relationships and use influencing and negotiation skills to achieve positive outcomes. Collaborative and supportive, you work well as part of multi-disciplinary teams and value shared learning. You're curious proactive and calm under pressure, qualities that help you navigate changing priorities and identify practical solutions to complex challenges. Training and development  A structured induction will help you understand our mission, ways of working, and the delivery community you'll be joining. From day one, you'll be supported by your line manager and a dedicated buddy, helping you settle in, build confidence, and navigate the organisation. Development continues through a blend of internal and external training, practical experience, and community support. As a corporate member of the Association for Project Management (APM), we encourage you to explore relevant courses, frameworks and accreditation pathways. Access to mentoring, coaching and project management forums will provide opportunities to share learning and strengthen your professional network. You'll be encouraged to dedicate time to your professional development, helping you build your expertise across planning, risk and issue management, reporting, financial tracking and benefits management. This will prepare you to take on broader responsibilities as you progress. As you grow in the role, you'll also have opportunities to support and mentor others. Throughout your journey, you'll be part of a supportive project management community committed to shared learning and professional growth. Rewards And Benefits You'll receive a starting salary of £43,083, plus other benefits including:

• 25 days' annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 years' service, 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 subsidised gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations) 
• paid parental and adoption leave

  Visit our website to find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity .    About

• You'll be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), which assesses criteria important for all roles in our organisation 
• Meet the minimum pass mark for your motivation and skills for the role and organisation - to be assessed at application sift  Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details What to expect  Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order: 
• Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) in which you rate the appropriateness of responses to a series of short scenarios. 
• Application Sift, looking at your motivation and skills for the role and the organisation. 
• Virtual Interview, including technical and competency-based questions. 
• If successful, you'll receive a conditional offer of employment.  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, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.  Before you apply  To work at GCHQ, you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about 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 more about the vetting process. 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.  Before applying, we recommend setting up a separate email address for your contact with us to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid including identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you manage your application with us more securely.  The role is based in Cheltenham, so you'll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.    We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation. Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hard copy receipts for reimbursement.   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 begin your application. Applying from outside the UK will affect 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 reserve the right to close applications once a certain number have been received. To avoid missing out, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. If you have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act 2010) and need additional time to complete your application, please submit your initial application and then contact us using the email address provided as soon as possible, please use the subject line “Reasonable Adjustments Extension” and briefly outline the support you require. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks. Nationality requirements Open to UK nationals only. Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

Contact point for applicants Job Contact

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk Recruitment team
• Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk Further information https://recruitmentservices.applicationtrack.com/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-3/brand-7/xf-86fafc4408db/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/3