diff --git a/.github/workflows/apply.yml b/.github/workflows/apply.yml
index 8de5da2..39b5803 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/apply.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/apply.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Find sha for plan
         id: sha
         env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
           GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
           GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ jobs:
       TF_WORKSPACE: ${{ matrix.workspace }}
       AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
       AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/clean.yml b/.github/workflows/clean.yml
index 00bd852..38b9e46 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/clean.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/clean.yml
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ jobs:
       TF_WORKSPACE_OPT: ${{ matrix.workspace }}
       AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
       AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cleanup.yml b/.github/workflows/cleanup.yml
index 88e0e75..b7e1089 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cleanup.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cleanup.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Clean Up
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', github.repository_owner)] || secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/fix.yml b/.github/workflows/fix.yml
index dd414c8..21352a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fix.yml
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Generate app token
         id: token
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        if: ${{ ! env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         uses: tibdex/github-app-token@3beb63f4bd073e61482598c45c71c1019b59b73a # v2.1.0
         with:
           app_id: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
@@ -146,7 +149,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name || github.repository }}
           ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }}
-          token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN || steps.token.outputs.token }}
           path: head
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ jobs:
       - if: steps.github-modified.outputs.this == 'true' && github.event_name != 'pull_request_target'
         uses: ./base/.github/actions/git-push
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN || steps.token.outputs.token }}
         with:
           suffix: fix
           working-directory: head
diff --git a/.github/workflows/labels.yml b/.github/workflows/labels.yml
index eb17c7e..ae7deb9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/labels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/labels.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Sync
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', github.repository_owner)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/plan.yml b/.github/workflows/plan.yml
index 1442cb8..15c6ad8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/plan.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/plan.yml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ jobs:
       TF_WORKSPACE: ${{ matrix.workspace }}
       AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.RO_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
       AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.RO_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RO_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync.yml b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
index ca0af0f..568c2c1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ jobs:
       TF_WORKSPACE_OPT: ${{ matrix.workspace }}
       AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
       AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.RW_AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
+      GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
@@ -107,6 +108,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Generate app token
         id: token
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        if: ${{ ! env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         uses: tibdex/github-app-token@3beb63f4bd073e61482598c45c71c1019b59b73a # v2.1.0
         with:
           app_id: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
@@ -116,7 +120,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN || steps.token.outputs.token }}
       - uses: ./.github/actions/git-config-user
       - env:
           WORKSPACES: ${{ needs.prepare.outputs.workspaces }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update.yml b/.github/workflows/update.yml
index 9ff4cd7..d7a6cb7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: scripts
       - name: Update PRs
         env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
           GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', matrix.workspace)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
           GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade.yml
index 6f79579..3730bf0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ jobs:
     with:
       ref: inputs.ref
     secrets:
+      RW_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       GITHUB_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: ${{ secrets[format('RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_{0}', github.repository_owner)] || secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID }}
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade_reusable.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade_reusable.yml
index 80a1cc1..1d6cf0a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade_reusable.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade_reusable.yml
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ on:
         description: The github-mgmt-template ref to upgrade to
         default: master
     secrets:
+      RW_GITHUB_TOKEN:
+        required: false
       GITHUB_APP_ID:
-        required: true
+        required: false
       GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID:
-        required: true
+        required: false
       GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE:
-        required: true
+        required: false
 
 jobs:
   upgrade:
@@ -26,6 +28,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Generate app token
         id: token
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        if: ${{ ! env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         uses: tibdex/github-app-token@3beb63f4bd073e61482598c45c71c1019b59b73a # v2.1.0
         with:
           app_id: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_APP_ID }}
@@ -42,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           path: github-mgmt
-          token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN || steps.token.outputs.token }}
       - name: Copy files from the template
         run: |
           for file in $(git ls-files ':!:github/*.yml' ':!:scripts/src/actions/fix-yaml-config.ts' ':!:terraform/*_override.tf' ':!:.github/workflows/*_reusable.yml' ':!:README.md'); do
@@ -57,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: github-mgmt
       - uses: ./github-mgmt-template/.github/actions/git-push
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RW_GITHUB_TOKEN || steps.token.outputs.token }}
         with:
           suffix: upgrade
           working-directory: github-mgmt
diff --git a/docs/SETUP.md b/docs/SETUP.md
index b4154a1..d176112 100644
--- a/docs/SETUP.md
+++ b/docs/SETUP.md
@@ -87,7 +87,15 @@
     - [ ] one with read & write policy attached
 - [ ] Modify [terraform/terraform_override.tf](terraform/terraform_override.tf) to reflect your AWS setup
 
-## GitHub App
+## GitHub API access
+
+There are two possible ways for GitHub API access:
+- With GitHub Apps, which has the benefit of not being tied to a GitHub user
+- [experimental] With personal access tokens for a GitHub user, which has the benefit of more granular permissions, but is limited in functionality and requires more manual work:
+  - Only teams and team memberships are supported right now
+  - The GitHub user must be a team maintainer for any teams it should manage
+
+### GitHub App
 
 *NOTE*: If you already have a GitHub App with required permissions you can skip the app creation step.
 
@@ -114,18 +122,50 @@
     </details>
 - [ ] [Install the GitHub Apps](https://docs.github.com/en/developers/apps/managing-github-apps/installing-github-apps) in the GitHub organization for `All repositories`
 
+### Personal access token
+
+- [ ] Create a separate dedicated GitHub account for GitHub Management. It is not recommended to use your personal account.
+- [ ] [Create two fine-grained personal access token](https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/managing-your-personal-access-tokens#creating-a-fine-grained-personal-access-token) for the dedicated GitHub account - *they are going to be used by terraform and GitHub Actions to authenticate with GitHub*:
+  - Resource owner: The GitHub Organization
+  - Expiration: 366 days (you can also [remove the limit](https://docs.github.com/en/organizations/managing-programmatic-access-to-your-organization/setting-a-personal-access-token-policy-for-your-organization#enforcing-a-maximum-lifetime-policy-for-personal-access-tokens)
+  - Repository access:
+    - Only select repositories: Select the GitHub Management repository
+  - Permissions:
+    <details><summary>read-only</summary>
+
+    - `Repository permissions`
+        - `Contents`: `Read-only`
+        - `Metadata`: `Read-only`
+    - `Organization permissions`
+        - `Members`: `Read-only`
+    </details>
+    <details><summary>read & write</summary>
+
+    - `Repository permissions`
+        - `Contents`: `Read & Write`
+        - `Metadata`: `Read-only`
+    - `Organization permissions`
+        - `Members`: `Read & Write`
+    </details>
+- [ ] Switch to an organization owner account and approve the tokens in the organizations settings, under "Personal access tokens > Pending requests"
+- [ ] Give the dedicated GitHub account write access to the GitHub Management Repository
+
 ## GitHub Repository Secrets
 
 - [ ] [Create encrypted secrets](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/security-guides/encrypted-secrets#creating-encrypted-secrets-for-an-organization) for the GitHub organization and allow the repository to access them (\*replace `$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME` with the GitHub organization name) - *these secrets are read by the GitHub Action workflows*
-    - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/apps/$GITHUB_APP_NAME` and copy the `App ID`
-       - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_ID`
-       - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_ID`
-    - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/installations`, click `Configure` next to the `$GITHUB_APP_NAME` and copy the numeric suffix from the URL
-       - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID` (or `RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME` for organizations other than the repository owner)
-       - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID` (or `RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME` for organizations other than the repository owner)
-    - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/apps/$GITHUB_APP_NAME`, click `Generate a private key` and copy the contents of the downloaded PEM file
-       - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE`
-       - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE`
+    - If you use a GitHub App:
+      - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/apps/$GITHUB_APP_NAME` and copy the `App ID`
+         - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_ID`
+         - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_ID`
+      - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/installations`, click `Configure` next to the `$GITHUB_APP_NAME` and copy the numeric suffix from the URL
+         - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID` (or `RO_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME` for organizations other than the repository owner)
+         - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID` (or `RW_GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID_$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME` for organizations other than the repository owner)
+      - [ ] Go to `https://github.com/organizations/$GITHUB_ORGANIZATION_NAME/settings/apps/$GITHUB_APP_NAME`, click `Generate a private key` and copy the contents of the downloaded PEM file
+         - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE`
+         - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE`
+    - If you use personal access tokens
+      - [ ] `RO_GITHUB_TOKEN`
+      - [ ] `RW_GITHUB_TOKEN`
     - [ ] Use the values generated during [AWS](#aws) setup
        - [ ] `RO_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID`
        - [ ] `RW_AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID`
diff --git a/scripts/src/env.ts b/scripts/src/env.ts
index e0f3bbb..6e0b670 100644
--- a/scripts/src/env.ts
+++ b/scripts/src/env.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ export default {
   TF_WORKING_DIR: process.env.TF_WORKING_DIR || '../terraform',
   FILES_DIR: process.env.FILES_DIR || '../files',
   GITHUB_DIR: process.env.GITHUB_DIR || '../github',
+  GITHUB_TOKEN: process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN || '',
   GITHUB_APP_ID: process.env.GITHUB_APP_ID || '',
   GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID: process.env.GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID || '',
   GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE: process.env.GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE || '',
diff --git a/scripts/src/github.ts b/scripts/src/github.ts
index 8473e71..b8e0828 100644
--- a/scripts/src/github.ts
+++ b/scripts/src/github.ts
@@ -102,16 +102,21 @@ export class GitHub {
       // NOTE: We import these dynamically so that they can be mocked
       const {createAppAuth} = await import('@octokit/auth-app')
       const {Octokit} = await import('@octokit/rest')
-      const auth = createAppAuth({
-        appId: env.GITHUB_APP_ID,
-        privateKey: env.GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE
-      })
-      const installationAuth = await auth({
-        type: 'installation',
-        installationId: env.GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID
-      })
+      let token = env.GITHUB_TOKEN;
+      if (token == '') {
+        const auth = createAppAuth({
+          appId: env.GITHUB_APP_ID,
+          privateKey: env.GITHUB_APP_PEM_FILE
+        })
+        const installationAuth = await auth({
+          type: 'installation',
+          installationId: env.GITHUB_APP_INSTALLATION_ID
+        })
+        token = installationAuth.token;
+      }
+
       const client = new (Octokit.plugin(retry, throttling))({
-        auth: installationAuth.token,
+        auth: token,
         throttle: {
           onRateLimit: (
             retryAfter: number,