Project Management Office Team Leader

ABOUT EUSPA AND THE HIRING DEPARTMENT

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is an EU Agency that provides safe and secure European satellite navigation services and supports other European projects, such as Galileo, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), Copernicus, and the Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) data and services, and the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST). Through these projects, EUSPA enhances European autonomy in space technologies, fosters innovation and creativity, supports European transport net and agriculture, all while contributing to the sustainable growth as well as the security and safety of the European Union. For more information on the EUSPA and the EU Space Programme, click here.

The Project Management Office and Quality (PMQ) Department is part of the functional matrix organization of the Agency and provides the standards, methodologies and tools for the implementation of all EUSPA operational programs and development activities. PMQ comprises teams with experts in classical Project Management Office (PMO) disciplines, Product and Quality Assurance knowledge areas as well as provides Cost Engineering expertise to both core tasks and tasks entrusted to the Agency.

The PMO team performs tasks and provides expertise transversally to all programmes of the Agency, in budget and contract management, risks and opportunities management, schedule management, internal and external reporting, and contributes to procurements, grants and prices actions and activities.

The position requires permanent relocation to the Agency’s headquarters in the heart of Europe – Prague – a location with excellent connections to numerous major European cities. The capital of the Czech Republic, in the banks of the Vltava River, is famous for its cultural life, renowned musical life, historic buildings, magical bridges, and recognised museums and monuments.

EUSPA offers a diverse multicultural workplace that welcomes all applicants without distinction on any grounds of gender, race, ethnic or social origin, nationality, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, birth, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or other family situation. EUSPA wishes to employ competent talents and be representative of the diversity of the EU citizens and is committed to provide the best working conditions and benefits to its staff.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a Project Management Office Team Leader to join the PMQ Department. The job holder will lead the team delivering project management office services to all programmes of the Agency, in close cooperation with other teams.

The jobholder will have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Project Management Office team, promoting growth, transversal collaboration and engagement of staff;

• Coordinate the external services provided to the Agency in the area of Project Management Office;

• Ensure the well-functioning of programmes/projects in all components and across all sites of the Agency, including the build-up of transversal processes and practices and their implementation;

• Develop and maintain the project management and control processes, practices and tools required to manage the EU Space Programme components entrusted to EUSPA;

• Consolidate the PMO function in EUSPA procurements in terms of budgeting, milestone payment plan, procurement tracking, schedule, risks and opportunities, and documentation management;

• Ensure effective budget overview and efficient consultation of the different component databases;

• Perform assigned PMO operational control tasks in line with priorities of the department;

• Support interactions with both internal and external stakeholders (European Commission, European Space Agency (ESA) and industry) in the areas of the PMO responsibilities; 

• Ensure industry’s compliance with the requirements for management, cost, schedule, risk-reporting, and assets management;

• Produce and track project management office metrics as contractual provisions applicable to externalised activities, including participation in tender preparations and evaluations;

• Produce reports to the European Commission and Member States on the tasks entrusted to EUSPA and on the resources engaged in their implementation;

• Provide ad-hoc training on PMO subject-matter to relevant internal stakeholders as per business needs;

• Liaise with other departments, notably in the area of Administration and Operations, to ensure the execution of related corporate tasks, such as planning, reporting, administration, financial & budget management, risk management;

• Support the Head of Department as required.

The post may require occasional travel to other EUSPA sites and/or to the European Commission offices as required to perform the job holder tasks.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Professional experience and expertise

1. Experience in leading teams;

2. Experience in contract management and administration, in particular in leading and applying contract management practices;

3. Experience in managing budget, schedule and risks management frameworks;

4. Experience in managing multi-million procurement contracts (including conducting negotiations, evaluating tenders, reviewing Data Packs);

5. Experience with process automation tools (e.g. RPA) and project management methodologies (e.g. PMI, Prince2), preferably including project management certification;

6. Knowledge (by training or experience) of management and quality frameworks and standards (ECSS, ISO, ITIL) in high-tech industry;

7. Experience in financial, procurement and contract management;

8. Excellent command of both written and spoken English;

Required competencies

9. Motivation for the post;

10. Effective communication;

11. Ability to lead, inspire and motivate team members;

12. Ability to deliver high-quality results under pressure;

13. Analytical thinking and problem-solving;

14. Ethical practice (sense of confidentiality and professional integrity).