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
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
We have an opportunity for a Head of the Science Contracts Service in the Science and Exploration Procurement Division in the Procurement Department, Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness.
You will report directly to the Head of the Science and Exploration Procurement Division.
You will be responsible for the management of the workforce within the Service.
Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- preparing and implementing procurements through invitations to tender, requests for quotation, and any other procurement instruments as applicable, and placing the resulting contracts;
- reviewing and correcting the invitations to tender, requests for quotation, and any other procurement instruments as applicable, and the resulting contracts prepared by the Contracts Officers within the procurement service;
- contributing to decision-making processes in close collaboration with higher management for all matters of procurement or contractual relevance;
- contributing to the consolidation and monitoring of procurement plans for the procurement activities of initiating, including discussions on industrial policy considerations;
- contributing to the drafting of procurement proposals and contract proposals for submission to the Adjudication Committee and Industrial Policy Committee, and other bodies where applicable;
- ensuring that the procurement service observes strict compliance with the applicable legal framework (including the implementation of obligations stemming from cooperation agreements);
- providing support to the Head of Division for any procurement-related issue with respect to programmes managed by the initiating services, including those in cooperation;
- providing support to departmental working groups and more generally supporting the improvement initiative within the Department;
- participating in monitoring the execution of the contracts (both those assigned to you and to the Team) with respect to all administrative, contractual, legal and industrial problems arising from the procurements concerned.
You will manage a team composed mainly of Contracts Officers and administrative support, who belong to the Science Contracts Service at ESTEC and ESAC, by supervising the quality and timeliness of the output and the distribution of activities among the team members to ensure balanced support to the different project managers/Technical Officers.
As Head of Service, your managerial duties will include:
- taking responsibility for driving performance and team results;
- providing direction, including planning and distribution of team membersโ activities;
- reviewing individual performance against set objectives through the annual performance assessment exercise and by providing timely and regular constructive feedback;
- creating a motivating work environment by promoting effective team-working and fostering cooperation;
- developing and motivating team members with their ongoing professional aspirations by giving advice, encouraging learning and by delegating responsibilities;
- identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.
Technical competencies Experience in procurement processes and contract management within an international contextExperience in the setting up, negotiation and implementation of large contractsProper formulation of various contractual and legal documentsKnowledge of ESA's legal environment, institutional and regulatory framework, policies and programmesAnalytical skills
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingEducation
A master's degree in law or similar field is required.
Additional requirements
- Experience or potential to manage and motivate a team
- Good communication skills (both oral and written)
- Strong negotiation skills
- Ability to understand and become engaged in issues of a technical and management nature
- Ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues, work out creative solutions and relate situations to their context
- Ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and integrity as well to support others in the process
You should have at least 10 years of professional experience within either a public administration, an international organisation, a specialised law firm or in industry.
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.