Head of the Strategic Foresight and Planning Office

Vacancy in the Director General's Services.

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 A5 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description

Head of the Strategic Foresight and Planning Office, Strategy Department, Director General’s Services.

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Strategy Department (DG-5), you will be responsible for developing, deploying and running Agency-level foresight and strategic planning.

Duties

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Strategy Department (DG-5), the Head of the Strategic Foresight and Planning Office will support the definition of the overall Agency-level strategy. You will liaise with the Agency’s senior management to proactively devise an ESA-wide strategy based on strategic intelligence, strategic foresight and strategic planning activities. You will ensure this ESA-wide strategy is defined in accordance with the ESA strategy plans at directorate level.
As Head of the Strategic Foresight and Planning Office, you will be responsible for:

• organising and ensuring the availability of futures intelligence, examining the internal and external factors that may impact ESA;
• developing strategic foresight capacity adapted to ESA and the space sector;
• deploying, implementing and delivering strategic foresight projects, aiming to identify the implications of different futures for ESA’s programmes and policies, help challenge ESA’s current plans and expectations, and build resilience at both programme and Agency level;
• supporting the development of ESA’s strategic plan by identifying strategic challenges and opportunities as well as strategic options, and working with the ESA Director General, directorates, the Director General’s Services and Member States to develop relevant goals and actions, in accordance with mid- and short-term priorities at Agency and directorate level.

  You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

  Technical competencies Knowledge of the ESA institutional framework, structures, programmes and policies, and of the European and international space sectorUnderstanding of the Agency's relationship with other space agencies, European institutions and other key partner organisations and institutionsExperience in developing and implementing strategic foresight projects in the space sectorThe ability to develop and implement methods, processes and tools relevant for strategic foresight and planning, and to initiate/manage interdisciplinary studies

  Behavioural competencies

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

  Education

  You should have at least a master’s degree in a scientific/engineering discipline, and/or in political science.

  Additional requirements

  A multidisciplinary background and a wide range of experience are required, including in space programmes and policy development, as well as in working in various cultural settings.
  A proven capacity to interact with different stakeholders, senior management and high-level external representatives.
  You should also have:

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  • proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
  • the ability to provide strategic direction to individuals and teams, and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
  • the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
  • demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
  • a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces; excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
  • the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
  • the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

    People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

    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 at 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 Agency’s 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.

    *Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.