Head of Collective Launch Service Procurement

Head of Collective Launch Service Procurement

**Job Requisition ID**:19720

**Date Posted**:8 July 2025

**Closing Date**:29 July 2025 23:59 CET/CEST

**Publication**:Internal & External

**Type of Contract**:Permanent

**Directorate**:Space Transportation

**Workplace**:Paris, FR

**Grade**:A5 - A5

**Location**
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

**Description**
Head of Collective Launch Service Procurement, Space Transportation Strategy and Institutional Launches, Directorate of Space Transportation (D/STS).
Under the authority of the Head of Space Transportation Strategy and Institutional Launches, you will be responsible for managing a team of experts in charge of supporting missions requiring launch service procurement and continuously assessing the launch service demand of institutional and commercial users.**Duties**
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:
- assessing the evolution of the worldwide space transportation demand accessible to European launch service providers;
- closely monitoring launch service mission needs, in particular for European institutional missions and, to this end, regularly interacting with the main European institutional launch service customers;
- leading the Agency’s Collective Launch Service Procurement function, providing missions with an end-to-end service on all launch service aspects, from mission design definition up to launch, managing a team of experts, with technical and cost expertise support from other services of the Directorate and in coordination with the Contracts Service and, in this function, acting, at least until signature of a dedicated launch service contract, as the focal point for the provision of technical expertise on launch system-related matters, including mission feasibility analysis, launch system-to-mission compatibility, early identification of launch system adaptation and non-standard launch service needs, support to the users in the implementation of the launch services and launch service risk assessment;
- chairing tender evaluation boards for launch service procurements;
- identifying the technical and contractual evolutions necessary to enhance the efficiency and adequacy of operational European launch services;
- supporting the Directorate’s overall coordination with European launch service providers and monitoring the proper implementation of the ESA launch service procurement policy in force;
- supporting the establishment of the Ariane and Vega exploitation arrangements with Arianespace and Avio, respectively, as well as monitoring and assessing their implementation;
- supporting the procurement of launch services under the European Launcher Challenge and Boost programmes as required.
You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.**Technical competencies**
Solid experience in the following fields is required:
Management of complex projects entailing several direct interfaces, both in their early definition phase (phase O/A) and in their implementation phase (phases C/D and E)Conduct of mission analysis with a view to assessing the mission’s compatibility with a given launch systemLaunch service market demand and its forecast trends in the short to medium termKnowledge of small
- and/or micro-satellite projects, including CubeSats, as well as experience in the preparation and conduct of launch campaigns, preferably concerning both launcher and mission aspects, is an asset.**Behavioural competencies**
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward ThinkingFor more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.**Education**
A master's degree in an engineering discipline is required for this post.**Additional requirements**
- Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
- The ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within Strategy and Institutional Launches and to relate team objectives to the overall, 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, both oral and written;
- A proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
- Excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
- The ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
- The ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.
People management experience is required, international experience is an asset, including outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas