Harmony Project Manager
JOB DETAIL
Vacancy in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
This post is classified A2–A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale with progression to A5 after successful kick-off of the space segment B2CDE1 contract.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
The Harmony mission is an Earth Observation research mission selected as the 10th Earth Explorer mission and adopted at the 2022 ESA Council meeting at ministerial level for implementation.
The Harmony mission will provide unique collocated, high-resolution data concerning the interaction of oceans, atmosphere, sea ice and clouds, which are critical processes for long-term climate model predictions. Over land, the mission will provide an enhanced understanding of geodynamic processes, and improved mitigation of earthquake, volcano and landslide hazards. The mission will also provide key cryosphere observations of rapidly changing glaciers, ice sheet margins and permafrost.
As with all Earth Explorers, the Harmony mission is a full system with the provision of a space segment, a payload data ground segment, a flight operation segment and the launch service. The space segment consists of two bistatic passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR) receive-only satellites, enhanced by a thermal infrared (TIR) optical payload, flying in a loose formation with Sentinel-1. Using Sentinel-1 as an illuminator of opportunity and augmenting its observations with a “stereo SAR” configuration for direct measurements of surface velocities would make a highly innovative contribution to Earth observation capabilities. The two spacecraft are planned to be launched in 2029 in a single launch on Vega-C.
Duties
You will report to the Earth Explorers Programme Manager within the Earth Observation Programmes Department. As Harmony Project Manager you will have full responsibility for the cost, schedule, and performance of a ~€400m project.
The principal tasks and responsibilities will include:
- responsibility for the end-to-end implementation of the Harmony mission within the agreed technical specification, cost and schedule;
- representation of the project to ESA’s technical authorities (Inspector General, audit, frequency coordination, Security Office, Clean Space office, and so on), industry, Harmony mission advisory group and Future EO participating states (DOSTAG, PB-EO);
- management of the industrial contract(s), ensuring that the satellite design and ground segment meet the scientific requirements;
- management of the interface with the scientific users, ensuring that the science data provided will be of interest (L2 product definition and accuracy);
- management of the ESA multi-functional team and associated EOP, TEC and IPL support, ensuring that all appropriate information is available to all project participants such that they may discharge their responsibilities efficiently within the agreed framework.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in scientific/engineering discipline.
Additional requirements
Previous experience of managing people and teams within an international environment, will be an asset, as well as industrial experience in space business and knowledge of the Earth 0bservation science community.
You should further have:
- proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team in a project;
- the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Project and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
- the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
- demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
- a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
- 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.
- people management experience is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offer and FAQ
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us email [email protected].
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
Recruitment will normally be at the first grade in the band (A2); however, if the candidate selected has little or no experience, the position may be filled at A1 level.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
