LEO and Human Exploration Project Control Team Leader
Location ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany with a resident assignment to EAC, Cologne, Germany.
Description
Under the direct authority of the HRE Business Control and Management Support Group Leader, you, as LEO and Human Exploration Project Control Team Leader, will be responsible for the project control activities undertaken in support of the LEO Services (HRE-O) and Human Exploration (HRE-H) Groups within the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes.
You will support the LEO Services and Human Exploration Group Leaders in the management of their project activities related to cost, schedule, risk and their interfaces with international partners as well as with ESA internal activities.
Duties
You will lead the project controllers assigned to the LEO and Human Exploration Project Control Team to provide project management and control support for all the projects conducted by the LEO Services and Human Exploration Groups, ensuring delivery within schedule, cost and quality requirements. Your tasks will include the following:
- Preparing, developing and maintaining project cost at completion (CaC), including the annual cost;
- Coordinating procurement plans and workforce planning, as well as the associated reporting activities;
- Consolidating information on schedule, costs and risks to provide senior management with an integrated view of a project’s programmatic status;
- Coordinating project risk management and related risk reporting;
- Monitoring industry’s compliance with the established formal requirements for management, costs, schedule, risks, industrial return and reporting, including deviations from plans and trends;
- Maintaining project schedules and milestone trends;
- Monitoring financial commitments for compliance with budgetary provisions and financial regulations;
- Monitoring ESA internal expenditure, including recharges and support services;
- Coordinating financial, accounting and fixed-asset management activities of the projects, and ensuring IPSAS compliance;
- Ensuring and coordinating the Project Control Team’s participation in the procurement process by preparing and following up ESA tender actions, and subsequently participating in Tender Evaluation Boards and negotiations with industry;
- Participating in Change Control Boards and Change Review Boards;
- Tracking industrial return information for both reporting and forecasting purposes;
- Coordinating the preparation of project plans and supporting the related Independent Assessment and Project Reviews (IPRevs);
- Monitoring the Groups’ budgets and allocation to the projects and to group-level activities;
- Participating, on behalf of the HRE Business Control and Management Support Group, in Agency-wide working groups if and when required;
- Managing the team’s workforce and ensuring its professional competencies are enhanced;
- Assisting the HRE Business Control and Management Support Group Leader in operating (and where needed, introducing) uniform procedures for the management and control of all project matters within the LEO Services and Human Exploration Groups.
You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.
Technical competencies
Understanding of the relevant ESA procurement regulations
Cost and financial regulatory framework, including accounting standards and auditing
Understanding of space system architectures
Project and risk management
Budgeting, cost control and resources and activities planning
Strong analytical and reporting skills
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation Operational Efficiency Fostering Cooperation Relationship Management Continuous Improvement Forward Thinking
Education
A master's degree in engineering is required for this post, with further specialisation in business administration.
Additional requirements
- The potential to manage individuals or a team;
- The ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
- Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
- The ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
- Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
- Strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
- The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused.
People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.
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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
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 [email protected].
Important Information and Disclaimer In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.
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.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
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 can only be 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*.
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.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.