Head of Propulsion Test Facilities and Services

France

Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
Location: France
Grade: Junior level - A2 - Grade band
Occupational Groups:
- Architecture, Building and Property Management
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Vacancy in the Directorate of Space Transportation.

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 A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description

Head of Propulsion Test Facilities and Services in the Infrastructure and Value Chain Department, Directorate of Space Transportation.

A number of propulsion test facilities have been designed and built in the framework of ESA’s space transportation programmes, to meet both development and production needs. They are operated by either private industrial actors or public entities (e.g. DLR, CNES). You will be the focal point in the STS Directorate for technical and programmatic questions related to engine testing facilities, including maintenance and adaptations of ESA-owned engine test facilities through related contracts with the different operators, cost assessment and contract negotiation.

Duties

You will report to the Head of the Infrastructure and Value Chain Department, and your detailed duties will include:

Ensuring the maintenance in operational conditions of ESA-owned engine test facilities operated by industry and the public sector, and setting up and managing the corresponding contracts with the different operators;
Proposing, in cooperation with the programme managers concerned, evolutions of these facilities in order to enable the most efficient implementation of STS programmes;
Proposing appropriate adaptations for the optimisation and modernisation of all facilities at European level, with the objective of improving their attractiveness, decreasing their carbon footprint, and greening and digitalising testing processes;
Proposing and defining suitable policies and governance schemes for the effective, coherent use of the facilities and associated services at European level, with the objective of maximising their use;
Supporting the preparation of the programme proposals, preparing related documents, and implementing the relevant decisions taken by participating States and/or the Director General;
Defining the objectives of negotiations related to procurements under your responsibility, and managing budgets and risks associated with them;
Approving maintenance and operations cost objectives of new and modified ESA-owned assets to be developed under STS programmes, and verifying achievement of those cost objectives upon ESA’s formal acceptance of the assets;
Defining the resources for activities coming within this responsibility, including support by ESA Directorates and third parties.

Technical competencies

Demonstrated experience in the management and development of test facilities, and in testing processes

Knowledge of complex projects management, and of production / testing / operations in an industrial setting including safety constraints

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You should have a master's degree or a PhD in an engineering discipline with experience in production, testing and the industrial space sector.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

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 welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support in the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also assist during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us email contact.human.resources@esa.int.

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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 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 or balanced Member States*. (https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/NationalityTargets.pdf)

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment.

Recruitment will normally be at the first grade in the band (A2); however, if the candidate selected has little or no experience, the position may be filled at A1 level.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

This vacancy is now closed.
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