Project Manager and Project Management Practitioner Ref. 591

Mind Achieving Impact AwardSocial Mobility Foundation AwardThe Times Top 100Disability confident leaderThe Prince's Responsible Business

Mission Enablers
Cheltenham
£25,295 - £39,577

GCHQ is a fascinating place to be a Project Manager. It has critical roles in providing signals intelligence as well as understanding threats and exploiting opportunities in cyber space,   and the evolving nature of the work means it is unlikely you will be asked to manage the same type of project twice. This creates work that is exciting and stimulating and so we are looking for creative, flexible and forward-thinking individuals.

Some of the roles support GCHQ in discharging its responsibility as the UK’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance. This work includes protecting and promoting the vital interests of the UK by providing advice and assistance on the security of communications and electronic data. You will use your project management skills to plan and deliver requirements for a wide range of customers within Information Assurance.

Opportunities are now available for Project Managers (GC8) and Project Management Practitioners (GC9). The grade of appointment is dependent on your level of experience and/or knowledge and will be decided by the interview panel.

In some cases, those who have some experience of using project management skills, formally or informally, who do not reach the standard for Project Management Practitioner (GC9) but show potential may be offered a place on our Development Scheme.   This will usually be at a lower grade (GC10) and salary, but will provide an opportunity to develop the skills and experience required to reach the standard for GC9.   Those on the Development Scheme will be supported with mentoring, tailored development plans linked to individual need, and carefully selected short placements In order to expose them to the full project lifecycle to build their experience.

This opportunity will be decided by assessment of performance throughout the selection process.

Roles are mainly based at our Cheltenham site. There may also be opportunities to work with partner organisations off-site.

We take our professionalism seriously – GCHQ has recently achieved corporate accreditation to the Association for Project Managers.

GCHQ Project Management community

The GCHQ Project Management Community totals approximately 300 individuals. We are committed to developing the community to improve the supply of skills and experience, hosting regular knowledge sharing events to promote best practice and networking.

The community is also supported by a central team responsible for the development, deployment and welfare of the community. Project Managers are deployed from a central pool according to business priority although we also take individual preference and development needs into account as far as possible.

Our Project Managers are deployed throughout the business offering a wide variety of project/programme work in support of our mission; this ranges from technical projects through to business change. You’ll have the opportunity to move around and develop your skills and experience - you need never be bored.

Each Project Manager also bears a responsibility to contribute to corporate development by “giving back”. This may include coaching and mentoring other project managers to support their development, as well as sharing learning experiences and learning about new initiatives and other areas of the business at the monthly PM Forum.

Professional Project Management Development

A development framework exists specifically for Project Managers to support professional development whether through traditional classroom training, e-learning or other options such as work-based structured learning, coaching and mentoring. It is intended that every Project Manager will gain PRINCE2 Practitioner status and maintain this level of knowledge through re-accreditation sponsored by GCHQ. Membership of the APM is also encouraged and funded.

Project Management is a well-run professional stream within GCHQ with a well-defined set of roles at different levels. Those looking for advancement will have a clear view of what’s required and will be able to work with the central team to identify training and job opportunities to support their development.
Requirements

You must have:

  •  Direct experience of delivering projects using PRINCE2 or a similar structured methodology
  •  Track record of delivery in a project management role using PRINCE2 (practitioner level) or an equivalent structured method across the full project lifecycle (including execution, closure and preferably initiation)
  •  Leadership skills with the drive and enthusiasm to motivate and challenge
  •  Excellent communication, team-building and stakeholder management skills
  •  Strong customer focus with the ability to translate customer needs into accurate requirement specifications
  • An innovative and hands-on approach with the ability to recognise and respond to opportunities within the business
  •  Good presentation skills.


Applications are also welcomed from existing Civil Servants who meet the above criteria and are looking to transfer into GCHQ.

Roles/Responsibilities

Project Managers (GC8)

As a Project Manager you will have experience of the initiation and management of medium complexity project work throughout the project lifecycle, including planning and implementation. Your experience of project complexity will extend from a technical focus to include stakeholder intensive projects. Typically you will have experience of taking a leading role in procurement and delivery, in establishing governance arrangements and in stakeholder management within your project.

 You will be expected to:

    Maintain business case throughout life of project
    Manage external project dependencies
    Plan for and manage stakeholders in connection with product delivery
    Perform financial planning and management.

You will gain experience of managing with a focus on outcomes and this will normally include elements of business change. As a result, the project teams you manage will often include business as well as technical resource, providing greater experience of managing disparate teams.

In this role you will therefore have experience of developing and implementing communications plans, as well as experience in leading, tasking and developing other, less experienced, project management staff.   You may also have managed the preparation of projects for OGC Gateway reviews.  

Project Management Practitioners (GC9)

As a Project Management Practitioner you will have experience of managing low/medium complexity and medium risk project work post initiation to closure. Project work complexity at this level is often technical and you will have experience in leading a technical team towards the delivery of outputs and services through the application of project management processes. The overall focus of experience gained is primarily on the planning and implementation phases of project work.

It is expected that you will:

    Contribute to project initiation
    Identify and monitor new project information as it emerges
    Monitor and manage project/product quality
    Develop and maintain plans for your project component
    Monitor and manage project financial and development progress within allocated tolerance
    Manage local risks.

This role focuses on planning and implementation. You will have exposure to and experience of the entire project lifecycle; you will also participate in project initiation, project review and other workshop-based activities.

You will have experience in risk and issue identification and management within the context of project work and elsewhere you will have experience in practicing escalation processes and other governance procedures in place for your assigned work.
 
Selection Process

As part of this campaign you will be required to undergo:

Minimum Eligibility Sift – Technical Sift – Project Management Skills Assessment – Interview
 
Candidates successful at the sift stage will be asked to undertake an assessment of their project management skills. This will be arranged on our behalf by WS Atkins plc. The assessment will take the form of an interview and will be held in Cheltenham.
 
If you are eligible to apply, please click on the Apply button below, where you will be requested to upload your CV and complete a Security Questionnaire.

The Reward Package

Salaries start from:

£25295 – GC10 - Trainee

£30911 – GC9 - Practitioner

£39577 – GC8 - Project Manager

Additional bonuses may be payable depending upon your skills and experience.

Key Dates:

Application closing date: Monday 14th March 2016 at 23:00

This campaign is on-going throughout the year and candidates will be taken forward in the recruitment process on a quarterly basis

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.