Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Industrial Policy Officer in the SME Section, Industrial Policy and Auditing Department, Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness.

The SME Section is responsible for the implementation and evolution of the SME policy of the Agency and the implementation of the related SME Initiative programme. The SME policy aims to facilitate the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in ESA programmes to leverage the European industrial base and foster innovation. It supports the development of SMEs to ensure their sustainable integration in the activities of the Agency and the industrial supply chain. To this end, the SME Section performs a range of activities and maintains a number of tools, such as defining industrial policy measures and carrying out related analyses, industry consultations, training courses for SMEs, the SME Office and Helpdesk for industry, and more.

Duties

As Industrial Policy Officer, you will join the SME Section, reporting to the Head of Section. You will perform your duties in close coordination with other Services in the Directorate.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Supporting the Head of Section in the implementation of the SME policy, the SME Initiative programme and the related reporting activities.
Contributing to the definition of the evolution of the SME Policy, including helping assess related industrial policy and procurement measures and their impact on SME competitiveness and involvement in ESA activities.
Contributing to the assessment of planned procurement actions from the SME perspective and participating in TEBs when necessary.
Contributing to the monitoring and understanding of the SME industrial landscape in Europe, the SME business environment in the space industry and the space market, and the positioning of SMEs in the Agency’s activities, including performing statistical and qualitative surveys and analyses based on available industrial and procurement data sources.
Supporting industry consultations with SMEs and SME associations in terms of identifying topics, collecting feedback, reporting and defining resulting actions.
Contributing to the SME training and support activities of the Section by:
assisting in organising and delivering training courses and information sessions for SMEs, in presence or online through the Sections Learning Hub platform and in cooperation with other services of the Agency, where needed.
developing and maintaining learning materials and resources on the ESA Learning Hub.
defining and implementing Learning Hub evolution developments.
maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the ESA institutional framework and its policies and programmes to support space and non-space SMEs in understanding ESA's programmes, requirements and bidding processes, including operating the SME Helpdesk as the focal point for SME inquiries and handling the related coordination with relevant internal services in the Agency.

Supporting the activities of the Section for improving the networking and visibility of SMEs by:
supporting the organisation of networking events (such as the ISD), forums (including the annual SME Forum), and industry days.
assisting in managing the ESA industry matchmaking tool (esa-match) and its evolutions, as well as tracking and promoting its use among SMEs while contributing to further developments of the platform.
facilitating communication to and collaboration between SMEs and other stakeholders in the space sector by implementing the communication plan of the SME Office, including its various channels (SME web portal, SME Initiative newsletter, “X” channel, etc.).
organising and participating in communication and networking events with industry and delegations.

You will perform your tasks as part of the SME Office Team. The precise allocation of the above tasks will be carried out according to the annual work plan. Additional duties may also include supporting activities within your field of competence.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of the ESA institutional framework, policies and programmes

Knowledge of the European and international space sector (institutional, commercial and/or industrial)

Knowledge of ESA's internal operations and management frameworks

Strong analytical and reporting skills

Experience in corporate/legacy management tools and working methods

Experience in working in the space industry or with space-related projects

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 engineering, business, and/or public administration is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Planning skills in terms of self-organisation and for others
Strong team orientation
Ability to take ownership of tasks/show autonomy in identifying problems and tackling them end-to-end to achieve a positive outcome
Service orientation towards customer needs and ensuring customer satisfaction
Willingness to continue learning, taking an interest in new developments in the space sector, especially those related to industrial policy

Assets include the following:
Strong analytical skills enabling you to assess data, identify trends and make informed decisions
Familiarity with tools and software used in project management, data analysis, and communication (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, Power BI, etc.)
Experience and knowledge of project management and administration
Experience and knowledge of development and implementation of communication strategies
Experience and knowledge of organisation and development of training courses

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 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.

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

When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates.

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.

Industrial Policy Officer

Job description