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ESA Academy Administrator - Space to Mind

Redu

  • Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
  • Location: Redu
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Outer space and satellite technology
  • Closing Date: Closed

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

ESA Academy Administrator - Space to Mind

Job Req ID:  17443
Closing Date:  23 March 2023 23:59 CET/CEST
Establishment:  ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Directorate:  Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality
Publication:  Internal & External
Vacancy Type:  Fixed-Term
Date Posted:  1 March 2023

Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

 

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 is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of 4 years and is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

 

Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany with workplace ESEC, Redu, Belgium.

Description

If selected for this position, under the direct authority of the Head of the ESA Academy your overarching responsibility will be the coordination and evolution of the Space to Mind activity set of the ESA Academy, part of the ESA Education programme in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

 

The ESA Academy, part of the ESA Education Office, is the Agency’s overarching programme offering space projects and training opportunities to university students and early-career professionals. Through tailored transfer of know-how, as well as interaction with space professionals, the ESA Academy takes participants on a learning path that complements their academic education and better prepares them for a space-related career. It features three activity sets working in synergy with each other:

Space to Mind: An extended and diversified portfolio of training sessions resulting in very useful, practical qualifications provided by professional experts, both onsite and online, and covering a large range of topics to complement academic curricula and better prepare participants, including participants from non-space and non-STEM backgrounds and early-career professionals, for a space-related career.

 

Mind to Matter: Projects using ground- and space-based experiment platforms, including CubeSats, to complement knowledge and offer hands-on experience in an international context through project-based learning while adding new elements such as product development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and downstream applications.

 

Space to Engage: Structured collaboration models both within ESA and externally with academia, industry and institutions to make a shared contribution to the preparation of future talent in terms of knowledge, skills and competences through joint events and training courses, collaboration on projects, ESA support for scholarships, conferences and internships in industry, and shared inspirational activities.

 

The ESA Education Office works in close cooperation with experts from ESA, industry, academia and other research organisations. Several training facilities are hosted at the ESA Education Training Centre at ESA-ESEC.

Duties

In line with ESA’s education policy and objectives and in close cooperation with the other Education Office areas, your specific duties will include:

  • •managing and coordinating the Space to Mind activity set as an evolution of the Training and Learning programme, including scheduling of the annual training sessions, organising the related logistics and preparing and managing the dedicated budget;
  • organising the design, development, delivery and post-processing of the training sessions onsite at the ESA Education Training Centre and online; 
  • managing the evolution from the ESA Academy Training and Learning programme to the Space to Mind programme, aiming to continue offering state-of-the-art training opportunities in the space domain, in particular by:
    • enabling the expansion of the target audience to include online learners, students from non-STEM and non-space backgrounds, technicians and early-career professionals;
    • broadening the portfolio of training sessions;
    • increasing the number of training deliveries;
    • developing new learning activities with an interdisciplinary focus, such as hackathons and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary space weeks;
    • establishing and bringing into use the e-learning portfolio;
  • managing the didactics, coordination and logistical services contracted in support of the Space to Mind programme and recruiting and managing the ESA early-career professionals and trainees supporting the programme;
  • managing the development and maintenance of the infrastructure (facilities and IT infrastructure) to host the Space to Mind programme;
  • in close coordination with European academic and non-academic institutions, in liaison with the relevant ESA departments and in partnership with the European space industry and other parties, expanding the portfolio of training sessions to other areas of expertise;
  • managing partnerships with internal and external partners in support of training design, development and delivery, including in domains complementary to ESA’s fields of expertise;
  • transferring expertise to participating students and professionals by lecturing in your field of expertise;
  • maintaining a thorough awareness and knowledge of the education systems, evolution and trends at tertiary education level in ESA Member States, Cooperating States and Associate Member States;
  • responding to direct contacts and requests from stakeholders in your field of responsibility;
  • identifying opportunities for new developments, partnerships and relationships (internal and external to ESA) beneficial to the achievement of the ESA Academy’s programmatic objectives and managing such partnerships as applicable and as requested;
  • contributing to developing the ESA Education programme and strategy and stimulating cooperation with Member States, Cooperating States and Associate Member States at tertiary education level;
  • actively contributing to the Office’s awareness-raising, communication and outreach activities;
  • supporting other educational activities offered by the ESA Education Office.

Technical competencies

Broad understanding of the academic landscape and space sector in Europe;
Knowledge and understanding of the ESA space programmes, policy and institutional environment
Strong background in space science, space engineering or space business management
Proven experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with governmental and public authorities
Proficiency in writing reports and giving effective presentations to senior stakeholders in English

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master's degree in an engineering, scientific or business domain is required.

Additional requirements

You should have:

  • a minimum of five years of substantial and practical experience in the management of international or educational projects at tertiary education level, including sound experience of working in an international context and/or interfacing with stakeholders.
  • experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships within a team, as well as across teams, in an international environment and the ability to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders both within and external to ESA. You should be an effective communicator with strong diplomatic skills and the ability to effectively handle sensitive information.
  • strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills and the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing, manage challenging situations proactively and constructively, and be customer-focused.
  • the ability to work in a self-directed manner and the potential to coordinate individuals or a team in a project setting.

 

Knowledge of ESA procurement processes is an asset. 

Experience in coordinating events is an asset. 

Other information

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

 For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offerand FAQ  


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 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 at 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, Slovakia 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 Member States*.

 

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 conducted by an external background screening service. 

 

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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