Earth Observation Service Manager

Description

Earth Observation Data Service Manager in the Common Services Section, ESA Ground Segment and Data Management Division, Earth Observation Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

ESA is responsible for preparing and carrying out the operations of the flying EO Science missions (including Earth Explorer and Earth Watch) and the Heritage missions, ensuring the performance levels specified in the mission requirements are achieved. In so doing, it adopts the most suitable technical, operational and management approach to maximise the missions’ scientific impact and benefits for the user community. ESA is also responsible for granting access to authorised users to selected data collections from Third Party missions and for related ad hoc operational activities.

The operational activities for EO data generation and management rely on a flexible and resilient industrial service-based architecture. A single data generation and management environment (the Earth Observation Framework) aims at maximising operational efficiency through streamlined interfaces while taking into account the value and unique nature of each EO Science mission thanks to a range of elements developed ad hoc (notably in the processing and data quality domain).

The data generation and management services under the responsibility of the Common Services Section include the following:

• User services (Service Desk) and Information Portal;
• Data and information management, discovery and access services;
• Data archiving, consolidation and processing/reprocessing services;
• Data preservation services;
• Advanced services for collaborative EO product development and processing.

You will be responsible for the preparation, procurement, operations and evolution of one or more data generation and management services of the Earth Observation Framework.

Duties

You will report to the Head of Common Services Section and, after familiarising yourself with the services already deployed and the Earth Observation data offering, you will take ownership of the following duties in one or more of the technical domains of the Earth Observation Framework:

• Defining service requirements by collecting user needs from internal stakeholders and customers (Mission Managers/Ground Segment Managers/other Service Managers) and the scientific user community;
• Identifying gaps and preparing a plan for the implementation/evolution of the services under your responsibility, preparing the required procurement documentation in a timely manner and performing the corresponding actions, ensuring coherence and cost effectiveness;
• Managing the service implementation, transfer to operations and operational provision in line with the applicable Service Level Agreement(s), adopting a proper risk management approach and ensuring compliance with the ESA security framework and applicable policies;
• Providing regular reporting on technical, operational and financial matters for the services under your responsibility;
• Generating and maintaining service-relevant management, technical and operational documentation;
• Contributing to the maintenance and evolution of the Earth Observation Framework by:
  • monitoring and reporting on the end-to-end integration and performance of the service(s) under your responsibility;
  • proposing areas for improvement based on operational performance as well as user surveys, recommendations from European and international forums, and commercial initiatives;
  • defining and deploying innovative and scalable technological solutions, notably in the IT domain;
  • establishing and maintaining relationships within the EO data and services API and standards community, proactively participating in relevant international bodies (such as the OGC or ISO) to contribute to the definition, sharing and adoption of good practices and guidelines;
• Assisting the Head of the Common Services Section in other tasks (for example in performing audits or providing support to other projects within and outside the Department), as required.

The above responsibilities might be reviewed and further detailed through the annual objective setting and assessment exercise.

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 and professional experience

A Master's degree in a relevant engineering subject is required for this post together with 4 years of relevant professional experience. A PMP/ITIL certification is an asset.

Additional requirements

You should also:

• have the capability to work effectively and with a good degree of autonomy and flexibility in an international and interdisciplinary team;
• have a high level of motivation and dedication;
• demonstrate experience in designing architectures based on modern and scalable ICT cloud based solutions responding to performance, security and data protection principles applied to operational services;
• have an overall system view, and a capacity to propose solutions within a broader, strategic perspective;
• demonstrate flexibility in dealing with an evolving EO landscape and its technical and operational challenges.

Knowledge of innovative technologies and operational approaches for scientific payload data processing is considered an asset.