Description

Head of the Ground Stations Engineering Division in the Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department of the Directorate of Operations.

Duties

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation Department, the Head of the Ground Stations Engineering Division is member of the Department Management Team, and co-responsible for implementing the strategy of the department and related change process. In addition, he/she is responsible for space communication and tracking solutions design and engineering.
The Head of the Division responsibilities include:

• Space communication design, engineering of Radio Frequency and Optical Ground Stations for communication and tracking, including Space Debris and Near-Earth Objects Tracking. This responsibility is fulfilled in close collaboration with the space segment element and following European and international standards.
• Delivery of the relevant systems, provision of the associated evolution, maintenance, and user support in line with customer requirements. Leading their evolution to ensure sustainability and support of future needs, as well as maximising efficiencies as well as automation. Fostering maximum synergies and reuse of the latest infrastructure investments in particular the domain of Monitoring and Control and Multi Mission. He/she is responsible for the associated internal resources and industrial contracts, and co-chairs the domain governance at directorate level. Efficiency, result and customer orientation are key.
• Acting as the matrix provider in the Division’s domain of competence across ESA programmes.
• Leading the European space sector efforts in the Division’s domain of competence. Foster innovation, commercialisation and enlargement of the department’s footprint in ESA’s Member States.
• Leading spin-in of advanced technologies and methodologies in the Division’s domain of competence, particularly in key strategic areas like (non-exhaustive list) deep space, near-Earth, secure optical and quantum communication. Establish and manage the associated Centres of Excellence and Communities of Practise.
• Leading the R&D activities in the Division’s domain of competence, prototyping and in-orbit demonstration of new technologies and solutions, as well as enabling their adoption by institutional and/or commercial space missions and Programmes.
• Leading Standardisation and European Harmonisation efforts in the Division domain of responsibility, in particular in international fora like ECSS and CCSDS.
• Developing and evolving staff competences to meet current and future strategic needs.

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

Education

A Master’s degree in engineering or physics is required for this post.

Additional requirements

As a general requirement for any position at managerial level within ESA, candidates are expected to have:

• proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team
• the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Department and relate team objectives to the overall and 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
• familiarity with regular benchmarking to ensure a high degree of confidence in the products to be delivered.
• previous experience of managing managers and multiple teams, as well as experience outside of the candidate’s home country and in diverse functional areas is an asset.