Head of the ESA Frequency Management Office

Description

Head of the ESA Frequency Management Office, ESA Frequency Management Office, Space Safety Programme Office, Directorate of Operations.

The ESA Frequency Management Office is responsible for the frequency management of all ESA missions from the initial planning phase to routine mission operations up to the the end of the mission.

Duties

You will be assigned as Head of the ESA Frequency Management Office (FMO), reporting hierarchically to the Head of the Space Safety Programme Office. You will be responsible for the Agency’s frequency management activities, functionally supported by a team of frequency management officers and by a number of staff from external companies, and will interact with experts from other directorates in accordance with the missions they represent.

Your main duties will include: 

• managing the FMO's staff and resources including ESA Graduate Trainees and the industrial contractors supporting the Office, acquiring an appropriate quantity of resources in the long term while maintaining a legally sound split between service and core tasks;
• formulating the Agency's frequency management policy and ensuring its implementation in accordance with the provisions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); 
• interfacing with the ESA satellite projects in the various ESA directorates for the purpose of assigning the frequencies required for their missions in accordance with the ESA Procedural Requirements for Frequency Assignment (ESSB-ST-E-006); 
• helping all directorates to understand the ITU Radio Regulations and their applicability to specific ESA missions;
• representing the Agency at World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) and other related ITU and Conférence européenne des administrations des postes et des télécommunications (CEPT) events where changes to the Radio Regulations are discussed and agreed; 
• interfacing with the Frequency administrations of ESA stations' host countries concerning relevant bilateral agreements and to obtain the necessary frequency licences maintained in the ESA licence registry;
• providing a permanent secretariat for the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) and ensuring all necessary interfaces with the ITU and other related organisations and bodies, such as the Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG); 
• resolving issues relating to coordination between ESA satellites and the satellites of other governmental or commercial organisations;
• supporting radio frequency standardisation activity at Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and ESA level;
• forming part of the Space Safety Office Heads-of-Office Team and contributing to its efforts, including potential interaction with the Space Safety Programme.

In performing these tasks, the ESA Frequency Management Office is supported by individual contact points for frequency management matters in the various ESA directorates.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

A master's degree in engineering or physics is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Experience in analysis and simulation of complex systems.
Good communication skills, particularly in a multi-cultural context, as well as team-work and discipline.
Systems understanding and strategic thinking.

You should also have:

• the potential to manage individuals or a team; 
• the ability to organise individual and team 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 is an asset, as is international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.