Head of the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office

Job Requisition ID: 18962

Date Posted: 24 October 2024

Application Deadline: 14 November 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Contract: Permanent

Directorate: Director General's Services

Workplace: Paris, FR

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description
Head of the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office, Communication Department, Director General's Services.

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Communication Department, you will be responsible for managing a team to ensure the coordination, harmonisation, development and implementation of corporate and leadership content and messaging flow.
As such, you will ensure that proper coordination and information workflow is set up between the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office, the Outreach Division and the Products and Channels Division.

In addition, you will support the Head of the Communication Department with the definition of the ESA Communication Strategy and the devising of the Annual Communication Plan by synthesising the Agency’s strategy and storylines into communication activities and campaigns, while ensuring the necessary level of consistency in the corporate messaging.

Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Managing the corporate and leadership content and messaging flow by:
  • acting as a focal point for the Director General’s Services, in particular for the Director General’s Cabinet;
  • coordinating a network of Communication Programme Officers (CPOs are staff dedicated to the communication activities of a specific programme, such as Science or Earth Observation) to ensure – in close liaison with all Directorates – communication activities related to the preparation of present and future programmes;
  • identifying, in close coordination with the Director General’s Cabinet, strategic events, international exhibitions and fairs, and the required level of ESA’s presence at these events.
• Coordinating corporate media relations and social media activities, including for the Director General, by:
  • overseeing the involvement of the Director General in an updated and consolidated agenda based on an analysis and prioritisation of all existing ESA communication interests, as well as the resulting communication opportunities and threats for ESA in terms of media activities, in particular in a potential crisis or contingency situation;
  • ensuring the consistency of corporate messaging through coordination with the ESA Member States Outreach Office for proper implementation in media relations activities and digital communication channels targeted at all ESA establishments and Member States, as well as in coordination with the Digital and Print Products and Channels Office for ESA corporate social media channels.
• Supporting the definition and implementation of the ESA Communication Strategy by:
  • synthesising the Agency’s strategy and storylines into communication activities and campaigns, while ensuring the necessary level of corporate messaging consistency;
  • liaising with both the Department’s Outreach Division and the Products and Channels Division to ensure the relevant implementation of corporate content and narrative across activities and products;
  • devising the Annual Communication Plan;
  • coordinating crisis or contingency plans and related necessary actions.

Technical competencies
Understanding of the Member States and the relevant stakeholders' communication networks.
Good understanding of the European context, other organisations and the key challenges faced.
Excellent communication skills.
Experience of corporate and institutional communication is required.
Understanding of the Agency's core business and structures and its relationship with other space agencies.

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
A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements
The capacity to work well under pressure and to meet tight deadlines with the flexibility to adapt to new and unforeseen demands.
The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and to be customer focused, plus the availability to work on standby in specific emergencies.
Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills, as well as strong result orientation.
Knowledge of the ESA Communication Department’s mandate and workflow would be considered an asset.

• The potential to manage individuals or a team.
• The ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills.
• The ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback.
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills.
• Strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing.
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer focused.
• People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

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, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

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

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.

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 can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented 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.