Junior Professional in Strategic Coordination, Digital Transformation and Governance
Paris, FR
This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.
Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale. At the end of the fourth year and if you are offered an indefinite contract at the end of your Junior Professional assignment, you will be upgraded to the A2 grade.
Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France or other site, as required.
Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.
Description
As a Junior Professional in Strategic Coordination, Digital Transformation and Governance, you will be a member of the Cabinet of the ESA Director General. The Cabinet drives, guides and organises decision-making at ESA. It advises the Director General, provides strategic coordination across the Agency, manages relations with Member States, and ensures the preparation and conduct of the ESA Council and its subordinate bodies. In addition, the Cabinet plays a key role in shaping ESA’s institutional positioning, managing high-level internal and external communication channels, overseeing protocol and high-level events, and supporting continuous organisational improvement.
Duties
In an evolving geopolitical and institutional context, ESA requires strengthened capabilities in strategic positioning, digital transformation, governance processes and institutional relations.
The Junior Professional role is designed as a targeted competence-building position to support these priorities while developing future expertise for ESA in core institutional domains.
As a Junior Professional, you will contribute to four strategic workstreams with clear competence development objectives:
1. Strategic positioning and institutional content management
- contribute to defining and structuring the Cabinet’s role, services and value proposition within ESA and towards external stakeholders;
- support the management and development of Cabinet-owned communication channels (intranet and internet);
- develop structured approaches to targeted content creation for various stakeholder groups, such as Member States, internal services and external partners;
- build competence in strategic content development, editorial planning and content management tools.
Competence development focus:
Strategic communication, institutional positioning, digital content management, stakeholder-oriented messaging.
2. AI-based tools and process optimisation
- contribute to the identification, development and deployment of AI-supported tools to support Cabinet and ESA processes;
- support initiatives for process standardisation and optimisation across coordination workflows;
- participate in the integration of AI tools into day-to-day working methods and decision support processes.
Competence development focus:
AI tool application, process design, digital transformation, innovation in institutional workflows
3. Council and governance coordination
- support the organisation, preparation and follow-up of the ESA Council and subordinate bodies, including interministerial meetings;
- contribute to the continuous improvement of governance processes and practices;
- assist with coordination with Member State delegations and internal stakeholders.
Competence development focus:
ESA Convention and governance rules, Council procedures, Member State relations, institutional coordination
4. Protocol services and high-level event management
- support the handling of protocol activities and VIP visits, including launch events;
- contribute to the planning and execution of high-level events, ensuring alignment with institutional standards;
- assist with stakeholder coordination among internal and external actors.
Competence development focus:
ESA protocol rules, project management, stakeholder management, high-level event coordination
Development Programme
In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that may take the form of either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside ESA, or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to enhance your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.
In addition to the standard Junior Professional Programme, this role will include structured competence development pathways aligned with the four workstreams described above, including:
- exposure to strategic coordination at Director General level;
- hands-on experience in AI-driven process modernisation;
- direct involvement in Council governance and Member State interactions;
- practical experience in protocol and high-level event management.
Potential rotations or secondments may include:
- external Relations/Communication functions;
- Member State delegations or EU-related bodies;
- digital transformation or process innovation teams.
This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.
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 political science or international relations, with a focus on European politics, is required for this post with up to three years of professional experience.
Additional requirements
The following are key requirements for the position:
- ability to analyse policy discourse, interpret political language, map Member State positions and sensitivities, and detect shifts in strategic narratives;
- awareness of institutional stakeholders and negotiation dynamics, with the capacity to support alignment and sustained political support through targeted communication;
- ability to understand ESA programmes and technical content, translate complex space initiatives into clear messages and develop structured, audience-oriented content using digital tools;
- competence in process analysis and optimisation, familiarity with AI/digital innovation, and the ability to support projects and events involving multiple stakeholders.
An awareness of ESA–EU interactions is an asset.
In addition, the following are required:
- initial professional experience in an international or institutional environment, with the ability to operate effectively in a complex institutional environment;
- strong interest in European and international governance and public sector processes;
- demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments.
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
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.
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.