Our team and mission

ESA maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Its mission is to 'Empower Europe to lead space science'. The Department for Science and Operations hosts the scientists and engineers that oversee the space missions, from study to end of operations. It develops the science operation systems for the missions and operates the missions in space, as well as archiving and curating their data during operations and beyond. Our main objective is to maximise the scientific output of the missions for the benefit of humankind.

Staff scientists follow these missions from ‘cradle to grave’ and are responsible for ensuring that the maximum scientific return is achieved within programmatic constraints. The team includes communication and outreach specialists, working on key events and science related to ESA’s Space Science missions for the general public and science communities.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

The sci.esa.int website is one of the main communication tools used by ESA’s Directorate of Science to reach the parts of the scientific community that are not yet using the Directorate’s missions, and to develop ambassadorship among the scientific community and the astronomy-interested, tech-savvy public. One of its goals is to provide clear information about and first-level access to data from ESA’s Science missions, appealing to the members of general scientific community who are not yet deeply involved in individual missions, along with the tech-savvy public and media who already have an interest in space science. It also aims to illustrate the role, relevance and international nature of space science and ESA Science missions and programmes to policymakers and scientists, as well as to existing and potential value adders.

The website is set to undergo a major re-design from a news-driven to a knowledge-driven structure, and to transition to a modern search engine-centric approach and dynamic navigation consistent with modern approaches to websites of this size.

As a Young Graduate Trainee, you will lead the effort to assess and consolidate the needs of various internal stakeholders who have used the website in the past in different capacities (including individual missions but also whole sections or departments) to devise a new website architecture and develop a roadmap for the changes to be implemented.

You will work closely with the liaison scientist with input from the technical team that developed the current website and are presently running the backend solution based on the CMS Liferay Portal. You work will consist in collecting, understanding and summarising the requirements, in constant interaction with the stakeholders involved.

Your activities will enable you to:

• develop your profile as a project architect for web development;
• understand the structure of an international organisation;
• learn about communication requirements for specialised audiences and develop expertise in implementing such communication in a web project;
• gain experience in stakeholder management;
• gain or expand your knowledge about exciting topics in space science.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

You should have just completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline.

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.

Previous experience with web development projects is highly desirable. A degree in space science is not a requirement, but general interest in the areas that the Directorate of Science is working on would be an asset.

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.

During the interview, your motivation and overall professional career goals will also be explored. 

Experience in working with large and diverse stakeholder groups would be an asset, as would be additional experience or an educational background in project and change management.