ESA Graduate Trainee in Strategic Trade Controls Policy
Frascati, IT
Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
Our team and mission
The ESA Strategic Trade Controls Compliance team work with ESA’s compliance with export control and sanctions regulations to enable our access to critical technologies needed for our space missions, under the supervision of the Head of the ESA Security Office. Strategic Trade Controls is a cross-disciplinary topic, based on law, and also involving elements of technology and security.
Strategic Trade Controls (STC) include export control regulations that control the export – or transfer – of goods, software, technology items and the provision of certain services, with a potential military end-use for reasons of non-proliferation, arms controls, human rights, and foreign and security policy. They also include sanctions on selected dual use, military and civilian technologies as well as financial transactions put in place at the level of the United Nations, the European Union or at national level.
The ESA Member States are party to, or adhere to, non-binding non-proliferation regimes, e.g., The Wassenaar Arrangement On Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (“The Wassenaar Arrangement”), The Missile Technology Control Regime (“MTCR”) or the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (“NSG”), in addition to having international legal obligations with respect to export controls under UN Security Council (UNSCR) Resolution 1540 and UNSCR-based sanctions. STCs are translated into public law in the Member States or in partner countries of ESA. ESA’s compliance is a pre-condition for its access to controlled goods, software and technology required for its activities and programmes.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
As an ESA Graduate Trainee, the objective of your traineeship will be to understand the significance of compliance with export control and sanctions regulations to the unimpeded operations of a space project or a space programme.
Depending upon your professional background, you will be asked to contribute to:
- Analyse updates and modifications to export control and sanctions regulations in the ESA Member States, the US and China e.g. with respect to regulatory provisions, technology and product lists, or security measures
- Contribute to risk assessments for ESA’s activities and programmes
- Contribute to briefings and training material on STCs
- Prepare memos and articles on STCs
Technical competencies
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
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’ s degree in a social sciences, law, business or a scientific or technical discipline.
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.
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
Applicants must be eligible to access technology and hardware which is subject to European and US export control regulations by their national security administrations.
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.
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 can only be 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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
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.