Description

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA’s annual budget is about 7 billion Euro.

Under the direct authority of the Director General, you will contribute to the ESA-wide management, supporting the ESA Director General in the discharging of all relevant responsibilities and tasks and participating in the pursuit of ESA’s overall objectives. You will be a member of the ESA Executive Board and support the Director General’s leadership of ESA at senior management level.

Furthermore, you are also the Head of Establishment at ECSAT and as such responsible for relations with the administrative authorities of the host country, for on-site health, safety, environmental, and security provisions.

The Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications has a workforce of around 200 staff and contractors spread over four different ESA Establishments in Europe and an annual budget of about 700 Million Euro.

Duties

In the framework of the ESA matrix organisation comprising programme directorates and support directorates, and under delegation from the Director General, you will be responsible for ESA’s satellite telecommunication programmes, the implementation of the full portfolio of ARTES 4.0 projects in partnership with European and Canadian industries and operators, ensuring that the commercial nature of ARTES is maintained and enhanced, the related technology preparation activities, industrial growth and competitiveness, the growing importance of strategic programme lines related to 5G/6G non-terrestrial network integration, secure communications and quantum/optical technologies, the ESA programme in support of EU Secure Connectivity programme (IRIS^2), Moonlight and Civil Security from Space.

You will actively work to ensure the well-being, motivation, training and career progression of your Directorate workforce, incentivising a spirit of initiative, transparency, information flow and coordination with other Directorates.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing, and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

You will liaise with external entities (Member State delegations, industry (space and non-space), academia, international partners, stakeholder organisations) as required.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

At least a master’s degree in a relevant discipline coupled with in-depth knowledge and experience in functions similar to those described above, preferably acquired in an international industrial or telecom operator setting. Competence/experience/interest in the field of business applications (downstream activities) including beyond telecommunications will be an asset.

Additional requirements

Key qualities required for this post are an innovative spirit and a strategically oriented mind, a proven capacity to lead change and manage people and teams, excellent relations management and negotiation skills and the ability to influence high level decisions.

In addition, you should have:

• the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to drive performance within and across teams throughout the organisation;
• demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
• excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.