Head of the EU Relations Office

Description

Head of the EU Relations Office in the Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.
You will report to the Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters and will be responsible for proposing, coordinating and supporting ESA’s policy vis-a-vis the European Union. The Head of the EU Relations Office will also have direct access to the Director General.

Duties

The Head of the EU Relations Office is also Head of the ESA Brussels Office.
Your tasks and responsibilities, to be conducted in accordance with the guidance provided by the Director General, will include:

• providing a liaison function with the European Union (EU), its institutions, advisory bodies, associated organisations and agencies and their services, as well as other relevant related stakeholders;
• representing ESA and acting as the main channel of communication vis-a-vis the EU;
• building up and maintaining an effective “space network” in Brussels to identify common positions and promote them;
• formulating, as part of the Agency’s overall corporate strategy, the policy and actions vis-a-vis the European Union and its institutions;
• participating in and providing the secretariat of the ESA-EU Matters Committee (EMC), which coordinates the ESA programme activities carried out with or on behalf of the EU;
• monitoring the evolution of the activities of the EU institutions and providing the Agency with appropriate information and related reports;
• advising on recommended Agency actions stemming from the consequences of the evolution of EU institutions and their activities in the space sector;
• supporting the efficient implementation of the agreements concluded between ESA and the EU by proposing concrete solutions to any problems identified;
• establishing and implementing a plan to proactively promote ESA’s policies, initiatives, and programmes within the EU institutions;
• promoting ESA in media and events related to space in the framework of EU activities, in close coordination with the Agency’s Communication Department;
• promoting knowledge of EU institutions within ESA and providing support to all ESA directorates in EU matters;
• liaising actively with ESA staff seconded to EU institutions and agencies, including the Joint Offices;
• representing ESA, in close coordination with the Head of ESEC, vis-a-vis the Belgian authorities, liaising with Belgian administrative offices involved in space and ensuring adherence to the provisions of the Host Agreement with Belgium.

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

Technical competencies

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

At least a master’s degree is required for this post.

Additional requirements

You should, in addition, have:

• a strong ability to think at strategic level;
• proven experience in networking within EU institutions;
• experience of interaction within EU institutions and national authorities/entities;
• in-depth experience of the Space Policy of the EU and national institutions;
• excellent relationship management and communication skills and experience of networking with people at all levels;
• the ability to represent the Agency’s interest’s vis-a-vis external interfaces including interaction with local authorities and industrial partners.

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