Vacancy in the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness.
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.
This post is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisationsโ salary scale.
Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
Description
Contracts Officer reporting to the Earth Observation Ground Segment and Applications Contracts Service Head in the Operations and Ground Segment Contracts Division, Contracts Department, Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness.
We have an opportunity for a Contracts Officer in the Contracts Department of the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness. The Contracts Department is responsible for all procurement-related aspects, including invitations to tender (ITTs), requests for quotation (RFQs), contracts and purchase orders, in line with the Agency's industrial policy.
This opportunity will be in the Earth Observation Ground Segment and Applications Contracts Service within the Operations and Ground Segment Contracts Division.
As an ESA Contracts Officer, you will support the Technical Officers and Project/Programme/Mission Managers in covering all procurement and contractual aspects of ESA Earth Observation ground segment and applications activities and projects, including general procurement activities and projects at ESRIN (for example activities and projects in the facility management and communication domains). You will also be responsible for ensuring that the procurement activities are executed in compliance with the legal and industrial policy requirements set out in ESA's Procurement Regulations.
You will be part of the team of the project or activity you will be advising, but with an independent hierarchical reporting line to the Head of the Contracts Service. This secures the appropriate level of independence in terms of impartiality, transparency and compliance with the procurement/tendering and contracting processes.
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- ensuring full compliance of all procurement activities assigned to you with ESA's rules, regulations, policies and strategies;
- effectively implementing the internal control, proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement/tendering and contracting process;
- ensuring the timely and efficient preparation of the various elements of the procurement and contract documentation;
- providing guidelines for applying the relevant and up-to-date legal and industrial policy measures throughout the procurement/tendering and contracting process;
- organising and coordinating all stages of procurement, including issuing the invitations to tender, ensuring proposals are received and verifying their admissibility, evaluating them and negotiating the resulting contract with the selected contractor(s);
- promoting the awareness and understanding of ESA's procurement/tendering and contracting processes to the relevant stakeholders;
- monitoring the performance of the contracts, including the negotiation of all amendments;
- dealing with any administrative, contractual, legal and industrial issues that may arise, including issues involving regular and direct interaction with industrial counterparts;
- building a relationship of trust with the Project and Mission Managers/Technical Officers and their respective teams, advising them on all procurement-related matters.
Technical competencies Good knowledge and experience in contract, procurement or international business law gained in law firms, industry or public administrationGood understanding of intellectual property issuesAbility to critically assess technical tender documentation and to draft tailored contract conditionsKnowledge of European and/or international business (institutional, commercial and/or industrial), preferably in the space sectorGood understanding of economic and financial aspects of contracts
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingEducation
A masterโs degree in law is required for this post.
Additional requirements
- Excellent communication skills, in verbal and written form;
- Customer orientation with sound judgement in solving problems;
- Ability to interact with multiple international actors and to work collaboratively in a team to achieve organisational goals;
- Excellent planning and organisation skills and the ability to manage several tasks efficiently in parallel;
- Strong capacity to adapt to a fast-paced environment
- Knowledge of French and English as well as the ability to understand and formulate contractual/legal texts in both languages
- Ability to understand issues of a technical and management nature;
- Discretion and integrity.
Proficiency in Italian
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offer and FAQ
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.
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
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 email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Please note that applications are only 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*.
In accordance with the European Space Agencyโs security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the masterโs degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.