Description

The ESA programme related to EU Secure Connectivity, hereinafter referred to as “Secure Connectivity”, is intended to support the effective development and validation of the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure and the services provided by it, as well as the validation and demonstration of services based on the commercial infrastructure developed by the contractor(s) delivering the EU Secure Connectivity governmental infrastructure. 

The EU IRIS² system is designed as an innovative multi-mission, multi-layer system of systems, operated through a common secure ground segment. Following the consolidation of the contractual baselines of the EU IRIS² Programme and the ESA Programme, the activities under Element 3 will, among other things, prepare the evolution of the EU IRIS² system by defining the enhancements of the services and functionalities of the EU IRIS² system that will allow it to serve as a system-of-systems communication backbone for future European governmental initiatives and needs.
 
Reporting to the ESA Secure Connectivity Programme Delivery and Future Projects Manager, you will be responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of all preparatory evolution activities of the Secure Connectivity Programme and the coordination of the internal and external stakeholders to ensure overall programme execution in compliance with ESA programme commitments.

You will serve as the ESA primary point of accountability for the preparation of the future expansion and evolutions of the IRIS² system with respect to the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• leading the definition of the evolution roadmaps, taking into account ESA’s strategy and the IRIS² programme strategies as defined by the Commission, including services not already addressed under the current IRIS² contracts, for example services supporting a system of systems;
• overseeing feasibility studies, trade-off analyses and concept maturation activities, taking into account current gaps, technology opportunities and obsolescence management, among other things;
• defining the procurement approach and performing the procurement of the evolution studies in alignment with the cycle of ESA Council meetings at ministerial level in compliance with the ESA programme commitments and in compliance with the IRIS² Concession Agreement or other applicable governance frameworks;
• following up the industrial parallel system-level Phase A/B1/B2 studies up to the system-level preliminary design review (PDR), which will take the inputs of the PDR for the EU IRIS² system as an initial system reference;.
• managing a multidisciplinary ESA team (Communications, Earth Observation and Navigation) in the definition of the necessary evolution of IRIS² as a trusted transport layer for other European systems;
• coordinating programme management interfaces with the European Commission and other relevant internal and external stakeholders, as defined in the relevant agreements;
• evaluating, rationalising and maturing prospective mission evolution scenarios for implementation in alignment with the Commission, ESA Member State delegations and industry, and recommending them for leadership decisions;
• coordinating the implementation of associated developments, ensuring execution alignment with approved plans, budgets, and schedules;
• maintaining ultimate responsibility for the accuracy, quality and timeliness of the deliverables;
• identifying risks and ensuring timely implementation of the mitigation actions to ensure successful execution of the preparatory evolution activities on time and budget. This includes ensuring that mitigation actions are implemented in a timely manner by ESA, industry or the Commission as relevant;
• ensuring the consistent application of existing security management and tools, project management, and product assurance and safety processes to ensure compliance with IRIS² procurement policies and procedures;
• providing regular status updates to managers and stakeholders at ESA subordinate bodies;
• establishing and maintaining the preparatory evolution activities project plan.

You will work in close coordination with other project disciplines, including the System Office, the Ground and Operations Office, the Space Segment Office, the Security Office and the Product Assurance and Safety Team, as well as with the ESA Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to the 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.  Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional four (4) years of relevant professional experience can be considered.

Additional requirements

Experience of interacting with European space industry and the European Commission at a senior level, including experience in negotiations. 
Experience of working on projects with a security dimension.

Direct experience of working with a commercial telecommunications company will be a distinct advantage.
Experience in public-private partnership projects would be an asset.
Public speaking experience and the ability to conceptualise complex ideas would be beneficial.