Legal Officer

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Closing Date: 15 October 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate: Strategy, Legal and External Matters

This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years.

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description

Legal Officer in the Institutional Law Division of the Legal Services Department in the Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Institutional Law Division, you will be part of a team of highly motivated and skilled lawyers in an inspirational, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

Our expertise spans a variety of legal disciplines including public international law, European law, the national law of ESA's Member States, the law of international civil servants, litigation and arbitration, intellectual property law and export control regulations.

The European Space Agency is an international organisation and the European gateway to space. Together with its Member States, the Agency pushes the boundaries of discovery and exploration and provides space applications for the benefit of citizens on Earth. ESA's Legal Services Department provides a broad range of legal services and advice to support the implementation of ESA's activities and programmes.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• providing legal advice, conducting legal analysis and preparing notes and briefs on matters related to public international law and to relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates, including on security matters;
• drafting and preparing the legal instruments and working documents necessary for the conduct of the Agency’s activities and programmes;
• drafting and negotiating legal agreements;
• providing legal advice on the formulation and application of the Agency’s regulations and rules, as well as on the implementation of such rules, regulations and policies in the Agency’s day-to-day actions;
• providing legal assistance and advice by closely interacting with the Agency’s decision makers;
• attending and providing legal support to internal Agency committees and boards, as relevant to the above functions;
• performing other related duties, as requested.

Understanding of the Agency's rules and regulations

Proven experience and ability to adapt quickly across various legal fields

Knowledge of the legal environment in which an international organisation operates

Knowledge of public international law, EU law and/or relevant national laws

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

A master's degree in law, public international law or administrative law is required for this post together with at least 2 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in an international context within an international organisation, public administration or private practice.

Qualification for admission to the Bar in a national jurisdiction is an asset.

Additional requirements

• Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Ability to draft and review legal submissions on complex issues
• Ability to conduct thorough legal research independently
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment

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
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

D