Vacancy in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
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 Organisationsโ salary scale.
Location
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom
Description
Reporting to the Head of the Telecom Technologies, Product and Systems Department, you will be responsible for all the activities relating to the Moonlight programme and ensuring full compliance with the programme commitments, including cooperation agreements with NASA and other partners.
You will manage a cross-directorate joint core team combining expertise from the Directorates of Secure Connectivity and Communications, Navigation, and Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes and supported by engineers from the Directorates of Technology, Engineering and Quality and Operations.
Duties
- Ensuring the implementation of the Moonlight programme in line with its declared objectives, schedule and cost, as well as its cost-at-completion and annual budget forecasts;
- Managing and coordinating the relevant industrial activities, whereby the Space Segment and Ground Control Segment are delegated under the responsibility of the Telecom Satellite Programmes Department (CSC-P);
- Initiating and managing the corresponding industrial contracts, taking account of industrial return requirements as well as the objective of developing a wide range of commercialised lunar services offered by European industry;
- Implementing and enforcing risk management processes for all managed programme components;
- Managing the end-to-end implementation of the project activities encompassing LCNS services and system design and development, manufacturing, integration, testing, deployment, on-ground verification and in-orbit validation;
- Managing and coordinating the project reviews with the industrial partner to ensure that the LCNS service and system development fully meets the programmeโs specific requirements and needs;
- Implementing and enforcing the applicable security management, project management and product assurance and safety processes;
- Implementing and enforcing lessons-learned processes;
- Managing and coordinating the definition and implementation of all relevant international cooperation activities relating to lunar exploration and to the project, in particular with NASA, for example for Artemis, and JAXA;
- Mananging interfaces, such as LunaNet interoperability and the joint concept of operations, with NASA and other international partners to secure project delivery within performance, schedule and cost;
- Coordinating closely with lunar missions under the responsibility of the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes, such as Lunar Pathfinder, Argonaut/EL3 and Smallsat/Cubesat;
- Reporting regularly to and supporting the senior representatives of the Directorates of Secure Connectivity and Communications, Navigation and Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes in the Moonlight Joint Management Team (JMT);
- Reporting regularly on technical, programmatic and financial status to hierarchical management, programme boards and national delegations;
- Managing the ESA team, ensuring that project participants have access to relevant programme information and are supported by appropriate tools and procedures so that they can perform tasks efficiently in accordance with the Directorateโs quality management system;
- Contributing to internal and external communication on the Directorateโs programmes and projects under the responsibility of CSC-SM.
Technical competencies Management and delivery of end-to-end system development projects within cost and scheduleExperience with telecommunications operators and partnership projectsKnowledge of satellite telecommunications and navigation Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processesComplex project risk management processesKnowledge of industrial costs and schedule aspectsKnowledge of lunar institutional programmes relating to Moonlight
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingEducation
A master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required.
Additional requirements
Experience in managing complex space programmes up to launch and in-orbit testing, preferably in the telecommunications domain, is desirable.
Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company and operator will be a distinct advantage. Experience of standardisation, as well as Public-Private Partnership projects, would be an asset.
You should, in addition, have:
- proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team in a project environment;
- the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the project 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 Agencyโs interests to external interfaces;
- excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
- the ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
- the ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as to support others, such as team members, upper management and other stakeholders, in this process.
People management experience is an asset, as is 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 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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.