Our team and mission

This position is based at the ESA HQ – Paris, France

The Launchers and HQ procurement division is at the service of the Space Transportation Directorate, which performs launcher development and operation, launch services and launch base activities. We also support the general procurement activities of the Agency’s headquarters.

The work of our launcher procurement service focuses on the procurement activities involved in:

• Developing Ariane 6, meaning the launcher itself, and the facilities used to manufacture and launch it;
• Procuring technical assistance to prepare the launch system architecture for Ariane 6 launches;
• Supporting the development and operation of the Vega launcher (and its evolutions, Vega C and Vega E);
• Developing the Space Rider programme, a vehicle transporting payloads which will both go to, and return from space;
• Procuring launch services, which means procuring transportation services from Earth to space for ESA missions (predominantly on ESA-developed launchers i.e., on Ariane and Vega);
• Preparing for the future of space transportation, by developing and improving on technologies and implementing new ways of working (for example, enabling the involvement of SMEs);
• Supporting the commercialisation of space transportation services i.e., funding companies which show promising plans for end-to-end space transportation services.

Highlights of the work of our HQ and Guiana Space Centre procurement service are:

• Accompanying the operation of the Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 launcher (for example, procuring adaptations to the rocket, maintaining the facilities used to manufacture and launch it, performing engine testing, etc).
• Supporting industry financially in its move away from the manufacture of Ariane 5 towards the manufacture of Ariane 6 (i.e., supporting over-costs);
• Maintaining the Guiana Space Centre;
• General procurement activities e.g., lease of ESA offices, renovation of ESA-HQ, management of our pension fund, service contract to manage medical expenses, etc.

Our division is a team of 13 professional lawyers, plus one secretary and one trainee, based at both ESA HQ – France (in the 12th and 15th arrondissements in Paris) and ESRIN – Italy(given that this site hosts the management team for the Vega European small launcher programme).

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions (IPR, Disclosure, DPD, export control, liability,…)

ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions: legal analysis of ESA specific regimes (IPR, disclosure, PDP, liability, export control …) and implementation in ESA GCC; with specific focus on difference between general contracts, EXPRO contract and Manpower contract, in the frame of the Procurement Regulations reform.

2) Topic 2: Getting used to ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases

Gaining a first procurement experience in getting used to ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases, under the supervision of a Contract Officer in the service.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

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.

Additional Requirements:

1) Topic 1:

• Business Law, Contract Law, Intellectual Property Law
• Knowledge and background in space domain/technology is an asset

2) Topic 2:

• Business Law, public procurement law, contract law