Esa Graduate Trainee in Strategic Foresight

ESA Graduate Trainee in Strategic Foresight & Planning

**Job Requisition ID**:20267

**Date Posted**:1 February 2026

**Closing Date**:28 February 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

**Publication**:External Only

**Type of Appointment**:ESA Graduate Trainee

**Directorate**:Director General's Services

**Workplace**:Paris, FR

**Grade Band**:F1 - F1

**Location**
- ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

**Our team and mission**
The Strategic Foresight & Planning Office helps shape the future of the Agency by exploring beyond current expectations and imagining a range of plausible futures. We provide the Director General, Programme Directorates, and the broader Agency with insights and tools to craft a compelling vision, strengthen resilience, and drive meaningful change.By leveraging advanced foresight methodologies, we analyse trends across society, geopolitics, economics, technology, environment, law, and cultural values. Our work anticipates disruptions, uncovers emerging opportunities, and highlights risks, enabling the Agency to navigate uncertainty and make informed, future-ready decisions.

**Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship**
As an ESA Graduate Trainee in the Strategic Foresight & Planning Office, you will contribute to a diverse range of activities aimed at exploring and shaping the future. These activities include:

- **Horizon Scanning**: Identifying emerging trends, critical uncertainties, and disruptions across various domains, from geopolitics and technology to society and the environment.
- **Scenario Planning**: Developing plausible futures and strategic pathways to enhance the Agency’s long-term resilience and decision-making.
- **Interdisciplinary Studies**: Analysing complex challenges and opportunities across sectors such as space exploration, innovation, climate action, security, and sustainable development.
- **Stakeholder Engagement**: Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to share insights, refine strategic options, and foster a culture of foresight across the Agency.
- **Tailored Foresight Support**: Providing targeted foresight insights for key projects, across all space domains or transverse topics such as future of work, AI, governance...

Your contributions will directly support ESA’s global preparedness and its strategic projects, helping ensure the Agency remains future-ready in an ever-changing world.**Technical competencies**
Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domainsRelevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activitiesGeneral knowledge of the space sector and relevant activitiesKnowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects**Behavioural competencies**
Result OrientationOperational EfficiencyFostering CooperationRelationship ManagementContinuous ImprovementForward ThinkingFor more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook**Education**
You should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree. A broad range of discipline will be considered, as we value all disciplines, notably: Futures Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Geopolitics, Economics, Environmental & sustainability Science, Science and Technology Studies (STS) or Innovation Studies, Social Sciences or Anthropology.

**Additional requirements**
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.You should also have:

- Strong analytical, research and writing skills are required. Flexibility and adaptability to work on diverse and evolving topics are essential.
- Strong creative and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions and identify emerging opportunities are desirable.
- Familiarity with foresight methodologies (e.g., scenario planning, horizon scanning, Delphi method) or related tools is an advantage.

**Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness**Important Information and Disclaimer**
- 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**- 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.
- Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

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