Description

Reporting directly to the Director of Earth Observation Programmes, the Head of the Earth Observation Projects Department is responsible for the overall system definition and management of approved ESA Earth Observation Programmes up to and including launch and in-orbit verification.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading the teams responsible for the design and implementation of the space segment of approved Earth observation missions undertaken by ESA (including Earth Explorer, Scout, Earth Watch, meteorological, Copernicus and national programmes) up to and inclusive of launch and in-orbit commissioning;
• directing, planning, distributing and monitoring projects;
• ensuring and endorsing the consolidation of the final programmatic framework of the future missions to be implemented (cost-at-completion, schedule, procurement and geo-return);
• ensuring that the approved mission requirements are implemented within the agreed schedule and established cost-at-completion;
• interfacing with industry as needed for supporting project teams;
• interfacing on technical and programmatic issues with Member States and partner organisations, for example EUMETSAT for meteorological missions and the European Commission for Copernicus missions;
• implementing ESA industrial policy for the elements under your responsibility;
• developing and motivating departmental staff members by assessing performance, encouraging learning and development, delegating responsibilities and providing regular and constructive feedback;
• encouraging synergy across project teams and creating a sense of unity and purpose between teams and across ESA, recognising team success and supporting any relevant ESA corporate activities;
• dealing effectively with sensitive or difficult situations, liaising with Human Resources as required;
• ensuring that a long-term, strategic view is taken for the Department and effectively communicating that strategy and vision;
• maintaining close cooperation with all EOP departments: Future Missions and Architecture (EOP-F) for the preparation of future missions; EO Mission Management and Ground Segment (EOP-G) for ground segment aspects; and Science, Applications and Climate (EOP-S) for science aspects and commercialisation.

You will be assisted by programme managers and project managers, as well as by the Project Control and Management Support and System Support functions.
In carrying out your duties, you will liaise closely with other departments and offices within the Directorate, and draw on the support of other Agency directorates.
You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s in engineering or physics is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You should have:

• the ability to provide strategic direction to individuals and teams and relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context, as well as the ability to support others (team members, senior management and other stakeholders) in this process;
• previous experience of managing managers and managing a large entity encompassing several teams.

You should also have:

• proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team of managers;
• the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Department 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 take solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as the ability to support others (team members, upper management and other stakeholders) in this process.

People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.