Project Control Officer - GCHQ

Flexible Working: We support full-time, part-time and flexible hours, with hybrid working available dependent on business need (generally a 80% office 20% home-working split).

About Us

At GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A role in GCHQ means you’ll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The Role

Our award-winning Programme Management Office is crucial to our success, which is made possible through a blended workforce that’s as collaborative as it is inclusive. As a Project Control Officer, you’ll be at the heart of this office, using your skills with numbers to support projects that are as varied as our missions. With a strong focus on finance, you’ll be responsible for bringing structure to the delivery of transformational projects, including planning, budgets and resource management. You’ll also analyse, interpret and provide insights into the progress of projects, establish the best ways to set things up and keep them moving, and fulfill a range of detailed monthly financial governance tasks.

But your work won’t stop here – you’ll also support delivery, embed effective ways of working, and apply appropriate financial governance and assurance. Working closely with the Project Managers you’ll be reporting on project progress as you help to mitigate risk to ensure project quality and support collaboration. If anyone wants the latest status or figures, you’ll be the go-to- person who makes it happen. You’ll also identify financial risks and implement controls to address them, investigating invoices that don’t match up.

But this isn’t just a desk job. You’ll collaborate with stakeholders, project managers, and customers in your efforts to support our vital work, ensuring the right information is shared with the right people. If you’re happy working with numbers and have good communication skills, you could be the next member of our friendly team.

About You

You’ll have a minimum of 2 GCSEs at Grade 4/C in Mathematics and English Language (or an equivalent Level 2 qualification), plus experience using Microsoft Office and Excel, which you’ll use to manipulate and extract data. You should also be able to demonstrate an appreciation for budgets and financial reporting.

Adaptable, motivated and collaborative, you’ll be comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels. Since you’ll be liaising with senior staff, running workshops, supporting new starters, and welcoming visitors, you’ll be a skilled communicator and capable of handling conversations sensitively.

You’ll be attentive to small details, happy to handle numbers, data and tech with your can-do attitude. Intellectually curious, you’ll have a penchant for problem-solving too, so you’ll be keen to work with others to find solutions to unique challenges.

Training and Development

When you join us, you’ll receive a full induction into our organisation, which will help you get to grips with how we operate. You’ll then have a team induction to give you a rounded understanding of Project Control, followed by on-the-job training to help you settle in.

We’re committed to developing our staff and recognise this will be different for everyone. We have an exceptional skills community, dedicated to supporting you. There’ll be lots of tailored training, coaching and mentoring, alongside opportunities to pursue career pathways which cover a range of specialism tracks. Whatever your professional goals, we’ll work with you to build the skills you need to excel at your role and throughout your career.

Rewards and Benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of £32,092 per annum, plus the opportunity to qualify for skills retention payments. Other benefits include:

• 25 days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan (parking and travel)
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym and 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. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:

https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq.html

We’re Disability Confident

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

• A minimum of 2 GCSEs at Grade 4/C in mathematics and English Language (or an equivalent O-Level , BTEC or Level 2 qualification).
• Working knowledge of MS Office, pulling data and reporting together, particularly in manipulating and extracting the right data, so that it can be easily digested and presented.
• Able to demonstrate an appreciation of budgets and financial reporting.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach, being self-starting and able to engage with a range of stakeholders and customers.

What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

• Paper sift - you are advised to make full use of the word allowance for each question
• Interview
• Drugs test
• Vetting Interview

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 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 need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

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.

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.

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 launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on 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 bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

When you are ready to apply for the role, return to the previous page, and click the submit button at the bottom of the page to start your application. You'll be able to select the role you want to apply for in the application form.