Young Graduate Trainee in HR Rules and Policies

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Internal Services

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 F1 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location

ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Our team and mission

As part of the Human Resources Department, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities fostering a diverse and multicultural workplace. Our department mission is to provide an effective HR management for ESA, by developing and implementing relevant policies, projects and services and acting as change agent.

As an intergovernmental organisation, ESA has legal autonomy in establishing and interpreting its employment conditions and HR policies as well as enjoying the associated autonomous dispute resolution system. At the same time, HR needs to respond to expectations of the Agency’s stakeholders, be it the ESA Member States or the ESA Staff Association. Our team helps support the Agency in this mission.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

The selected candidate will support our team with legal expertise, integrity and creativity.

The team will make sure that you will work on a considerable variety of administrative and employment law issues related to the international civil service, social security, pensions and other general HR matters. You will be closely involved in the day-to-day business, attend meetings, conduct research and draft legal documents.

As a Young Graduate Trainee, under the authority of the Head of the Central Support Unit, you will:

• Support the drafting, updating and interpretation of the Staff Regulations, Rules and Instructions, as well as Pension Rules and other policy documents in line with the relevant policy decisions;
• Assist in the preparation of legal submissions in the context of dispute resolution proceedings;
• Assist in the day-to-day handling of administrative requests;
• Provide support to HR colleagues on questions concerning Personal Data Protection;
• Conduct research on HR policies and the law of the international and national civil service;
• Carrying out studies and other tasks associated with the activities of the Division, as required, in particular in the field of social security and pensions.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of relevant technical domains

Relevant experience gained during internships/project work

Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities

Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

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 in law. A specialisation or prior knowledge of public administrative law, labour law and/or public international law is an asset for this position.

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.

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 motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.

Other information

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

For further information on the Young Graduate Programme please visit: Young Graduate Programme and FAQ Young Graduate Programme

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 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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).

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 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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.