ESA Graduate Trainee in Digital Project Oversight Analyst

Our team and mission

We are a small, dedicated team working under the direct authority of the Inspector General, with a clear purpose: to make project and programme management across the Agency consistent, transparent, and future-ready. As the custodians of the Programme and Project Management Requirements, we ensure that these standards evolve with the Agency’s needs and are applied seamlessly across all directorates.
Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to provide the framework, tools, and insights that enable projects to succeed. This means defining and maintaining the rules and processes that guide project management, taking ownership of the master data that underpins them, and creating meaningful metrics and dashboards to monitor performance. We focus on early detection of deviations from baselines, so that corrective actions can be taken before issues escalate.
Digital transformation is at the heart of what we do. We lead the implementation of the Agency’s business management system and define the IT requirements that will digitalize project management and controlling processes. Beyond systems and data, we also drive continuous improvement through Directorate Peer Reviews, carried out on a three-year cycle, and by monitoring progress on programmatic activities. And because knowledge is key, we work closely with HR to develop training modules on project management and control, encouraging cross-fertilization of best practices across the Agency.
This opportunity sits in a dynamic environment where governance meets innovation. You’ll be part of a team that combines strategic oversight with hands-on digital solutions, shaping how projects are managed and controlled across the Agency. It’s a chance to contribute to a culture of excellence, collaboration, and forward-thinking.

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

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As a Digital Project Oversight Analyst, you will join a dynamic team at the heart of the Agency’s governance on Programme and Project Management. Your role focuses on bringing a data-driven approach to project oversight, ensuring that processes, tools, and performance metrics support informed decision-making and continuous improvement across all directorates.

What you will do
You will contribute to the design and maintenance of digital solutions that support project management and control processes. This includes working on the Agency’s business management system, helping define IT requirements for digitalization, and supporting the development of dashboards and KPIs for real-time performance monitoring. You will also assist in managing master data and ensuring its integrity, while collaborating on initiatives that harmonize project management practices across the Agency. Beyond systems and data, you will be involved in activities that promote knowledge sharing, such as supporting peer reviews and contributing to training modules.

Learning Objectives
During this traineeship, you will:

• Gain hands-on experience in digital approach for project management, including tools, processes, and IT requirements.
• Learn how data governance and analytics drive oversight and decision-making in complex organizations.
• Develop skills in performance monitoring, KPI definition, and dashboard design for early detection of risks.
• Understand the principles of programme and project management governance and how they are applied across large-scale, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Build collaborative skills by working with experts across directorates and contributing to cross-functional initiatives.

This is an opportunity to combine technical curiosity with strategic thinking, in an environment that values innovation, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in at least one of this areas: Engineering, Data Science, Business Analytics.

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 of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.