Policy Officer
Paris, FR
Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
Description
Policy Officer in the Director General Support and Relations with Member States Section, Director General and Council Support and Relations with Member States Division, Director General’s Cabinet, Director General’s Services.
Duties
Within the Director General and Council Support and Relations with Member States Division, you will be responsible for:
- the overall orchestration of institutional relations between ESA and your assigned Member States within a structured Member State partnership management framework, acting as the primary interface and strategic partner relationship manager for the assigned Member States, including:
- acting as the first point of contact within ESA;
- ensuring proactive engagement and structured dialogue;
- positioning Member States as strategic partners;
- coordinating and delivering timely responses to requests for information, analyses and policy support;
- providing tailored briefings, strategic assessments and institutional guidance aligned with Member State priorities and ESA’s strategic objectives;
- strategic advocacy and stakeholder engagement with the relevant national authorities and institutional representatives;
- Member State monitoring and reporting, including continuous assessment of political developments, economic conditions, national space policies, strategies and related plans;
- analysis of programme participation and financial trends, including contributions to ESA programmes, evolution of geo-return and Member State involvement across programmes, in support of decision-making processes and the identification and development of new policies and strategic initiatives;
- provision of strategic intelligence, analysis and dedicated assessments to support the Director General’s and ESA senior management’s operational activities and high-level engagements with Member States, including:
- preparation of briefing notes and background documentation with ESA-wide coordination, as required;
- drafting of correspondence, speeches, presentations, reports and contributions to publications;
- coordination and follow-up of internal preparatory meetings and related actions.
You will contribute to:
- the implementation of Council- and Board-related activities, including preparatory and follow-up actions;
- the running of protocol activities and guest operations in coordination with relevant services;
- the completion of ad hoc analyses, studies and strategic assignments, as requested by management.
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 and professional experience
A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience.
Additional requirements
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written;
- Highly developed diplomatic awareness and political sensitivity;
- Proven ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all hierarchical and institutional levels;
- Capacity to work effectively in a team environment and under pressure;
- Sound judgment, tact and discretion;
- Diplomatic experience, preferably within a Cabinet or comparable high-level institutional setting, would be considered an asset;
- Proficiency in English and French, the Agency’s working languages;
- Knowledge of additional Member State languages would be considered an asset.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
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 via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
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 master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.
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.