Our team and mission

The ESA Public International Law Division
ESA’s Legal Services Department provides a broad range of legal services and advice to support the implementation of ESA’s activities and programmes. The Public International Law Division is one of the divisions in the Department, and it provides services inter alia in the fields of public international law, ESA programmes and international relations including the creation, interpretation and application of international legal instruments. The Division also advises on space law and represents the Agency at the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will support a team of highly motivated and skilled lawyers in an inspirational, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

The European Centre for Space Law (ECSL)
The ECSL was established in 1989 under the auspices of ESA and with the support of several pioneers in this field. Its main objective is to build up and spread, within Europe and elsewhere, an understanding of the legal framework relevant to space activities. ECSL does this by fostering the exchange of information among interested stakeholders and by helping to improve and promote the teaching of space law. Current members of the ECSL include professionals working in a wide range of areas within the space sector, institutional members, lawyers, professors and students. www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_-_European_Centre_for_Space_Law

ESA is looking to recruit a Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) who will support the Public International Law Division to serve as, first and foremost, the Executive Officer of the ECSL.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will:
(1) serve as the Executive Officer of the ECSL, and
(2) provide support to the ESA Public International Law Division predominantly in space law.

Your responsibilities will include:
• Proactively continuing to develop the ECSL, such as enhancing its visibility, identifying new opportunities for growth and cooperation, and suggesting process, policy and impact improvements;
• Organise and administer, with a high degree of proactivity and independence, ECSL events and meetings, including the board and member meetings, European Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court competition, Practitioners’ Forum, Young Lawyers’ Symposium, IISL-ECSL Symposium, Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, Executive Course, ECSL Essay Competition and any other conferences or meetings;
• Proactively interfacing with the space law communities in Europe and beyond, monitoring and reporting on latest trends of relevance for the mission of the ECSL, and nurturing the ECSL network
• Dealing with financial and administrative aspects as part of the daily management of ECSL, including budget administration (planning and reporting on costs), in conformity with the established rules of the Agency, and the collection and updating of membership dues;
• Boosting ECSL’s outreach by creating up-to-date and relevant content for the ECSL website, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, in line with the ESA and ECSL brand identity;
• Maintaining close and trustful relations with the ECSL National Point of Contact (NPOC) network and its members, as well as updating and maintaining the ECSL member database.

As a YGT offering legal support more broadly to the Public International Law Division, responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out legal research and analyses into selected aspects of space law, international law and any other areas of law requested depending on the needs of the Division and the Department, as well as assisting with research projects;
• Participating in meetings and research projects as requested;
• Assisting in updating the Division and Department on relevant legal, policy and market developments in the context of space law, space governance, standardization and regulation.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in law or political science, including a specialisation in public international law.

Additional requirements

You should have excellent knowledge of space law and space policy, demonstrated through both study and experience.

Given that the function of the ECSL Executive Officer includes a variety of organisational, administrative and representational responsibilities vis-à-vis a large external community of industry representatives, government officials and delegations, multiple related experiences are considered an asset (e.g. previous work experience, internships, extra-curricular activities).

You should demonstrate a strong knowledge of ESA’s activities and its connection to other actors in the European space sector, and enthusiasm for space law teaching and public outreach.

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.

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.

During the interview motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.