Young Graduate Trainee in Human and Robotic Exploration Programme Management Support

Young Graduate Opportunity in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes

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

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration is a Programme Directorate within ESA. Using a combination of human and robotic capabilities, the directorate explores destinations in space where humans are already living and working, or will be in the future, the aims being scientific and technological research, economic development, international cooperation, and public inspiration.

ESA’s Terrae Novae Programme consolidates ESA’s exploration activities structured around four cornerstones: Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Beyond LEO, Moon Robotic Exploration and Mars Robotic Exploration. These include building the European Service Modules for the Artemis missions to the Moon, providing major building blocks of the Lunar Gateway space station, developing the first European Moon Landing vehicle, developing the Rosalind Franklin mars Rover and being NASA’s partner for the first Mars Sample Return mission.

The Programme Management Support Group, within ESA’s Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes, is responsible for assisting the Project, Programme and Directorate Management team in operational aspects such as resource planning and control (financial, industrial, workforce, schedule). The Programme Management Support office duties include supporting the preparation of Programme proposals, preparing planning scenarios, managing geographical return reporting, generating financial and performance reporting, and monitoring project budgets.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As a Young Graduate Trainee in the Programme Management Support office, you will have the opportunity to be involved in and learn about the Terrae Novae programme lifecycle including its industrial policy, funding cycle and, in this context, also shaping relevant process & reporting improvements for the Directorate. You will support the team’s activities, with a focus on:

• Supporting the drawing up of a consolidated industrial policy profile for each participating country in the Terrae Novae Programme based on strict monitoring of contracts awarded on previous programme periods, a survey of existing or growing industrial capacity and national interest. • Supporting various industrial policy related activities, including the preparation of the quarterly geo-return report for actual and forecast data. • Supporting the full life cycle of a programme, from contributing to preparation of the Terrae Novae Programme Proposal for its fourth period as well as support the closure of past programmes. • Performing process analysis and identify opportunities to improve the way we operate. Evaluate programme processes and pinpoint what works and what could be improved. • Performing data analysis for the Programme and Directorate, accessing a variety of data sources, perform analysis, identify trends and issues, improve reporting to transform this data into useful information for management and decision making. (Knowledge of the Microsoft Power platform and understanding of relational databases are desired) • Support software development initiatives for forecasting models for various business scenarios, including budgets and industrial distribution, (Knowledge of the Microsoft Power platform and understanding of relational databases are desired) • Supporting the Directorate’s Multi-Year Planning Exercise. • Developing a log of procurement activities for the Terrae Novae Programme.

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 degree in Engineering / Data Science.

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural 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

Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations.

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.