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 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 you cover will be broad and varied, spanning business change to technical programmes. You will shape the delivery approach, set expectations, guide multi‑disciplinary teams and keep projects moving forward in environments where priorities shift and challenges evolve. In addition to day‑to‑day delivery leadership, you will operate at a strategic level, leading whole projects or major elements of larger programmes, driving governance and assurance activity, and writing and managing business cases that support informed decision‑making. Project delivery will span the full lifecycle: planning, scheduling, coordinating; managing time, cost, quality and benefits; and proactively controlling risk, issues, dependencies and change. You will bring structure to uncertainty, create momentum during periods of change, and offer clarity for key decisions. You will engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, producing clear reports, briefings and recommendations that support confident decision‑making. Delivery methods will be tailored to each project to suit the context and unlock progress and value. Some projects will be led independently; others will place you within larger, multi‑disciplinary delivery groups. You will be supported by a well‑established project management community, and the outcomes you deliver will have real‑world impact across the organisation. The role also includes line management responsibilities and opportunities to take on mentoring as part of your continued development. Occasional UK travel may be required. About You You have a recognised project management qualification, such as the Association for Project Management (APM) Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ), the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), or an equivalent certification. You hold at least four GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above (including English and Mathematics), or equivalent Level 2 qualifications. You have experience delivering projects across varied environments and are ready to take on more complex, higher‑impact work. You have led significant workstreams, engaged with senior stakeholders, and maintained progress when challenges arise. You understand the foundations of project management, planning, reporting, financial tracking, risks, issues and change, and can apply these with confidence in environments where detail, judgement and clear communication matter. You know how to influence, negotiate and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues, from technical specialists to business generalists. You adapt your communication style to suit different audiences, presenting information clearly to support informed decision‑making. Experience delivering projects in agile delivery, digital or engineering settings, Government Digital Service (GDS) frameworks, cyber security or emerging technologies (including artificial intelligence) would be beneficial, though not essential. Training and Development A structured induction will help you understand our mission, ways of working and the delivery community you will be joining. You will meet your line manager and a dedicated buddy who will support your transition. Continued development is integral to the role. You will have access to internal and external training, practical experience, and community support, including mentoring, coaching and project management forums. We encourage you to explore relevant courses, frameworks and accreditation pathways as a corporate member of the Association for Project Management (APM). Guidance and opportunities are in place to help you grow with confidence. Rewards and Benefits You will receive a starting salary of £53,000 to £64,841 depending on skills and experience, plus the following benefits:

25 days annual leave, increasing automatically to 30 days after 5 years of service, plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privileged holidays. Employee performance scheme opportunities. Interest‑free season ticket loan. Excellent pension scheme. Cycle to work scheme. Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on‑site coffee bars (at some locations). Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal Opportunities At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including individuals from under‑represented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident organisation, and we aim to ensure a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria are offered an interview. The Minimum Criteria You must hold a minimum of four GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, including English and Mathematics, or equivalent Level 2 qualifications. You must also hold a recognised project management qualification (APM PFQ, APM PMQ or equivalent). Relevant experience delivering projects across varied environments, with accountability for managing projects or significant workstreams, is required. Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including influencing senior stakeholders and presenting clear information to a variety of audiences, are essential. Pass the Organisational Situational Judgement Test. If you meet this criterion, you will be directed to complete an application form. What to Expect Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. Following stages are:

Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT). Application sift, which assesses motivation, organisation and relevant experience. Interview to assess competency and suitability. Conditional offer of employment, subject to a drugs test and vetting.

Please note you must successfully pass each stage to progress. The process may take 6 to 9 months, so continue any current employment until you receive your final offer. Before You Apply To work at GCHQ you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. The role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You must adhere to a strict drugs policy and cannot take recreational drugs during the application process. The role is based in Cheltenham. You should live within a commutable distance and consider financial implications. We offer reasonable reimbursement for travel costs to in‑person appointments, subject to the Candidate Expenses Policy. Set up a separate email address for communication with GCHQ to keep personal information separate. Browse our ‘How to Apply’ page for information on reasonable adjustments. Right to Withdraw Statement We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role once a certain number of applications have been received. Submit your application at your earliest convenience. #J-18808-Ljbffr