• Function title: Programme Manager (SESAR Contribution)
• Reference: NOC-EG-2023-AD/654
• Location: Brétigny-sur-Orge (The selected candidate must reside either at this location or within a reasonable proximity that allows for the satisfactory execution of their duties). – Information about living in Brétigny-sur-Orge
• Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
• Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
• Type of post: Head of Unit or equivalent
• Job level: AD11-AD12 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Principal Technical Expert
• Number of posts: 1
• Duration of appointment: 5 Year(s) – extension or conversion of the contract is possible – see “Useful information” section
• Security clearance: Security vetting may be required in accordance with the relevant EUROCONTROL security policies
• Directorate/Service: EGSD/INO/SPC – Core SESAR Contribution
• Working arrangement: Hybrid work (remote and onsite)
• Competition publication date: 13/07/2023
• Competition closing date: 21/09/2023 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within The European Green Sky Directorate, the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub (EIH) carries out research, innovation and simulation activities to help improve European aviation performance, safety and sustainability, bridging the gap between R&D and operations. The EIH also addresses emerging new technologies as well as deployment of drones and urban air mobility systems.

Your role

Your role will be to:

• Contribute to the strategy for the future evolution of the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub’s (EIH) role and organisation within the Agency, and participate to the elaboration of the EIH’s Strategic Business Plan and its translation into programme objectives.
• Define and ensure implementation of the strategic orientations of the programme including the technology watch and content integration.
• Prepare all the bids in reply to SESAR 3 Calls for Tender under Exploratory Research, Industrial Research, Digital Sky Demonstrators, Fast-Track Innovation, represent EUROCONTROL and coordinate EUROCONTROL’s position within external consortia.
• Implement the programme consisting of all the projects constituting the mainstream contribution of EUROCONTROL to SESAR 3 and Horizon Europe.
• Oversee and lead the Agency’s contribution and all projects and resources of the Programme, including internal staff (+/- 70 FTEs) and external outsourcing effort in accordance with contractual agreements, inter alia:
  • Ensure projects delivery according to agreed schedules.
  • Ensure provision of the Programme’s key contract deliverables with the required level of quality.
  • Report on progress and risks/issues/opportunities to EIH’s and Directorate’s (senior) management.
  • Define, coordinate, deliver and foster cross unit and cross directorate work; identify opportunities to improve effectiveness and business performance.
  • Monitor project execution through regular project reviews with project managers and take remedial actions in case of non-compliance with SESAR 3 plans.
  • Solve resource conflicts between projects and ensure the consistency of the delivery across all projects within the programme.
  • Manage the relationship with external project partners (ANSPs, airspace users, aviation industry, etc.).
  • Ensure all projects are properly staffed and resourced in coordination with the Resourcing & Development Manager.
• Manage and implement the budget allocated to the Core SESAR Contribution Programme planned at 6 M€ per annum.
• Develop and maintain excellent and effective relations with stakeholders and represent the Agency in internal/external high-level groups (industries, DG RTD, DG Move, SJU, etc).
• Take on a leading role and increase efforts to sustain an efficient collaboration amongst members of the SESAR3 Member Coordination Forum.
• Communicate effectively on the Agency’s capabilities, competencies, services, products and successes.
• Carry out any other task in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Completed university studies of 4 years in a relevant domain (Engineering, etc.).
• Internal candidates should go to page check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
• Six Sigma or similar certification would be an asset.
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant working experience including 10 years in management or strategic activities.
• Experience in leading large multinational programmes.
• Experience in business strategy development and business performance management.
• Experience in managing an annual budget at least in the order of the budget of the present SESAR Contribution Programme, being accountable for its successful financial execution and delivery.
• Proficient in programme management methods and tools in the engineering domain.
• Ability to assess and anticipate market evolutions, identify business opportunities and adapt to changing demands and requirements to reinforce an agile environment.
• Knowledge of EU R&D programmes and corresponding funding mechanisms.
• Knowledge of Aviation & ATM systems.
• Knowledge of EU Aviation legislation (e.g. SES) would be an advantage.
• Ability to cope with high pressure situations; tight schedules, demanding expectations, stringent cost-efficiency targets, etc.
• Negotiation skills in a context of overall shortages of resources and of conflicting requests and demands.
• Experience or knowledge in concept validation, techniques and simulations would be an asset.
• Communication: You adapt your communication to different situations and audiences.
• Networking: You design networks with a view to developing strategic connections.
• Leading: You demonstrate direction by making strategic choices.
• Strategic focus: You develop business/service strategy in line with the Agency’s strategy.
• Decision-making: You assess the impact of actions and decisions.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1. The selected candidate will be required to become at least a basic user of French at level A1 before the end of the probation period. Knowledge of French at recruitment would be an asset.
  The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• The selected candidate will be offered a contract of 5 Year (s) pursuant to the provisions of the Staff Regulations governing officials at EUROCONTROL. The contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 9 years or converted into an undetermined contract. Before being established in the post, the selected candidate will be requested to provide certified copies of their degrees and successfully serve a probationary period of 9 months.
• Internal candidates
  • If selected, the person will keep their current type of appointment duration (undetermined or determined).
  • The internal staff member with a determined contract will be offered, in principle, an appointment for 5 Year(s) with a maximum total duration of 9 years.
  • This post entails management activities. Established staff members will therefore have to serve a confirmation period of 9 months. This period may be shortened to 6 months if the successful candidate is appointed following a competition preceded by a previous temporary assignment to the post for which s/he was selected. The Director General may also decide not to make subject to this provision if that official has previously been assigned, for a period of 2 years or more, to a post similar to that for which he has been selected and which entailed the same level of management responsibilities.
• The successful candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.
• In case of reserve list: Suitable candidates, however not selected to fill the post, will be placed on a reserve list for similar functions. The period of validity of reserve list is 1 year from the closing date of applications.
• Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
• EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
• Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.