Description

Earth Observation Data Service Manager in the Common Services Section, ESA Ground Segment and Data Management Division, Earth Observation Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

ESA is responsible for preparing the operations and subsequently operating the EO Science missions in flight (including Earth Explorer and Earth Watch) and the Heritage missions at the required level of performance in line with mission requirements.  Operational activities for EO data generation and management rely on a flexible and resilient industrial service-based architecture (the Earth Observation Framework for EO Science missions, EOF-EOS), including but not limited to:

• User Services (Service Desk) and Information Portal
• Data and Information Management, Discovery and Access services
• Data Archiving, Consolidation and (Re-)Processing services
• Data Preservation services.

ESA is also responsible for the operational provision of systematic, on-demand Earth Observation data acquired by Third-Party Missions (including institutional and commercial missions) to authorised users. Within this context and in the specific framework of the EU Copernicus Programme, ESA ensures the rapid and effective access of Copernicus Services to on-demand EO data provided by the Copernicus Contributing Missions (CCM) via a dedicated ESA-managed industrial service. 

If selected for this position, you will initially support the operational provisioning of on-demand CCM data with a particular focus on the interface with the Copernicus services and the continuous ability of the service to meet users’ expectations. 
In parallel, you will gradually assume Service Manager responsibilities for one or more additional EO data generation and management services. In this role, you will be responsible for the preparation, procurement, operations and evolution of the assigned service(s), in line with programme objectives and operational requirements.

Further information on the current operational set-up for the on-demand access to CCM data can be found at https://rapidresponsedesk.copernicus.eu

Duties

Reporting to the Head of Common Services Section, your duties will include:

In the context of on-demand CCM data provisioning service:

• Supporting the management of the industrial service to ensure service continuity, robustness and compliance with agreed performance levels;
• Maintaining effective technical and operational interfaces with the Copernicus services, proactively feeding users’ feedback into the data provisioning chain;
• Monitoring the data volumes consumption and assisting users in line with programmatic objectives;
• Supporting timely resolution of operational anomalies, including coordination of investigations, monitoring the implementation of mitigation measures, and communication with stakeholders;
• Contributing to the assessment, definition and implementation of innovative and scalable technological solutions and operational concepts in the domain of the on-demand EO data provisioning;
• Supporting industrial activities aimed at improving interoperability and efficiency along the end-to-end on-demand data provisioning chain.

In the context of the EO data generation and management services:

• Defining service requirements by collecting user needs from internal stakeholders, customers and the user community;
• Identifying gaps and preparing a plan for the implementation/evolution of the services under your responsibility, including procurement actions ensuring coherence and cost effectiveness;
• Managing service implementation, transfer to operations and operational provision in line with the applicable service level agreement(s), adopting a proper risk management approach and ensuring compliance with the ESA security framework and applicable policies;
• Providing regular reporting on technical, operational and financial matters;
• Generating and maintaining service-relevant management, technical and operational documentation;
• Contributing to the maintenance and evolution of the Earth Observation Framework;
• Assisting the Head of the Common Services Section in other tasks (e.g. audits, support for other projects within and outside the EOP-G Department), as required.

The above responsibilities may be reviewed and further detailed through the yearly objectives setting and assessment exercise.

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 in a relevant engineering subject is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. A PMP/ITIL certification is an asset.

Additional requirements

You should also:

• have the capability to work effectively and with a good degree of autonomy and flexibility in an international and interdisciplinary team;
• have a high level of motivation and dedication;
• demonstrate experience in designing architectures based on modern and scalable ICT cloud-based solutions responding to performance, security and data protection principles applied to operational services;
• have an overall system view, and a capacity to propose solutions within a broader, strategic perspective;
• demonstrate flexibility in dealing with an evolving EO landscape and its technical and operational challenges;

Knowledge of innovative technologies and operational approaches for scientific payload data processing is considered an asset.