Job Description

ERS-EO Programme Manager

Job Requisition ID: 20395

Date Posted: 31 March 2026

Closing Date: 28 April 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band: A5 - A5

This post is classified A5 on the Coordinated Organisations' salary scale with upgrade to A6 once EOGS will be confirmed via the approval of the European Competitiveness Fund by the EU Council confirming the central role of ESA in the implementation of EOGS.

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

European Resilience from Space – Earth Observation (ERS-EO) Programme Manager.
You will report to the Head of the Earth Observation Projects Department and will be responsible for the implementation of the ERS-EO programme and all its components (EOGS preparation, clusters and space resilience nodes) as well as the national projects (third-party agreements with Italy, Greece, Spain and Poland). You will liaise closely with the Copernicus Space Office, the Ground Segment Department (ground segment architecture and space resilience node), the Science, Applications and Climate Department (development of security applications) and the Future Systems Department (preparation of EOGS space missions) to ensure that a coherent and advanced system can be achieved.
The implementation of the ERS-EO components and national projects will be carried out by a multifunctional team (working on areas such as contracts, project control, security or engineering) and a number of Project Managers who will report to you hierarchically or functionally (ground segment).

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

ensuring that the projects under your responsibility are completed in line with the schedule, specifications and budget;
optimising the coherence of the ERS-EO components with the high-level user needs established at the outset of the programme;
optimising the costs of the projects within the constraints set (performances, schedule and geo-return);
supporting the evolution of the ERS-EO programme towards the EOGS, ensuring that its operational nature is reflected in the design in order to achieve robust, cost-efficient and timely delivery of products from the space missions to the EOGS secure platform;
interfacing with a number of national and European partners (such as the European Commission, EUSPA, SatCen, national Ministries of Defence and national space agencies) for the purpose of implementing your projects.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Multidisciplinary and comprehensive knowledge and experience of satellite design, development, verification/testing, launch and in-orbit validation

Proven experience of managing space project development

Knowledge of matters relating to industrial costs and schedules

Complex project risk management processes

Familiarity with procurement

Knowledge of EO space mission operations and operations planning

Knowledge of specific characteristics of military and dual use space systems

Behavioural competencies

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

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

Education

A master's degree in engineering or a scientific discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You should have:

the ability to summarise complex information;
knowledge of the handling of restricted or classified information;
the ability to work effectively in an international team environment;
proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the programme and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
a proven track record of representing the Agency's interests to external interfaces;
excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
the ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management and other stakeholders) in this process.

People management experience is required and international experience would be an asset, including outside your home country, as would experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.
Mobility is inherent in management functions and this position may be subject to rotation.
Mobility opportunities may therefore be offered to you as part of your career evolution at ESA, starting after approximately five years in this role.

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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations and eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.
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 are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the 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.