Workplace:
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Reporting to the Head of the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department, you will be responsible for the scientific evaluation of proposed mission ideas or approved candidate mission concepts, ensuring their scientific maturity and integrity, and for reviewing the conformance of proposed or approved missions with scientific and/or other user community requirements.
You will convene mission-specific advisory groups (MAG) and establish and maintain the mission requirement documents and the science support plans. You will ensure coherence of implementation with approved mission objectives for all phases of all missions. You will also manage scientific studies and campaigns supporting all mission phases, assigning dedicated mission and campaign scientists for each mission and actively driving calibration/validation and derived product definitions, as well as the definition of derived processing methodologies.
In addition, you will manage the Advisory Committee for Earth Observation (ACEO) Secretariat and will be responsible for organising its activities, including the management and implementation of the scientific selection procedure for research missions in accordance with the ESA Earth Observation Science Strategy.
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting on the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
A PhD degree in physics, engineering or a relevant Earth science and applications discipline is required for this post.
Previous experience working on a multi-agency, cooperative programme is an advantage.
You bring solid experience as a team leader, with an extensive understanding of management and procurement processes.
Importance will be attached to your personal credibility with leading scientific authorities in the field.
Furthermore, you should have:
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.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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.
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 via email at [email protected].
Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be 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*.
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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.