Junior Professional in Commercialisation (2 posts)

Description

While geopolitics was the leading motivation for space exploration and development in the 60s, today the space sector is being disrupted by real market opportunities generated especially from space-based services contributing to our daily lives. Competitiveness and commercial development are driving the NewSpace revolution, which has lowered the entrance barrier to space and increased the pace of innovation. Understanding that a vigorous paradigm shift is needed, the ESA Director General has published his vision with ESA Agenda 2025 : “Boosting commercialisation for a green and digital Europe” is among the five priorities along 3 lines of actions: Speed, Capital and Talent. As a consequence, a new ESA Department for Commercialisation has been set up with clear and bold objectives: 
•    To stimulate European entrepreneurship and provide a framework that enables and fosters commercial, private sector space activities, and the growth of new businesses;
•    To establish partnerships with the private investor community to grow the volume and flow of investments of risk capital (e.g. venture funds, private equities, banks,…) to the European space industry;
•    To set up innovative processes that favour and accelerate the commercial potential of European-developed products or equipment – including in export markets, as well as the inclusion of commercial products/services into ESA programmes;
•    To stimulate the creation of new markets (e.g. in-orbit servicing, in-space edge computing, etc.) by developing a commercialisation strategy for ambitious new ESA and industry-driven programmes, bringing together public and private investors as well as anchor customers.
 

Duties

As part of the team and through your contribution to the Department for Commercialisation’s activities and objectives, you will have the opportunity to develop your competences in domains such as:

•    assessment of commercial potential of the industry proposal;
•    performing business case analyses (including a market assessment study);
•    development of partnership with investor communities;
•    engagement with non-space industrial verticals;
•    Department communication;
•    coordination of commercial initiatives across the Agency.

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 exposure to different business areas of ESA and participation in technical and key skills training courses. 

On top of this, you will have additional training to build up specific skills and knowledge as well as all the support you need to pursue your career in ESA.

As part of this assignment and with a view to boosting your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency and European space sector you will be offered the possibility to be seconded to a private capital fund or to have rotational assignments in other ESA departments working on commercialisation.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A Master's-level degree in Business or Economics.

Additional requirements

You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant technical domain, after completion of your Master's degree.

Participation in one of ESA ‘s entry-level programmes, i.e. Young Graduate Trainee, National Trainee, or Research Fellow Programmes, will be recognised as eligible experience.

Specificities

The ESA Junior Professional Programme has a forward-looking perspective. Subject to confirmed good performance, both technically and behaviourally, it is the intention to offer you a permanent contract at the end of the three years. As such, this initiative represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development. The programme is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills in order to ensure an optimal match, and to allow you to fulfil your role as effectively as possible. 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.

Recruitment will take place at the A1 grade. You can expect to be upgraded to A2 at the end of the fourth year, if you are offered a permanent position at the end of your Junior Professional assignment.