Head of NAVISP Programme Office

Job Requisition ID:  19122
Date Posted:  27 November 2024
Closing Date:  18 December 2024 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication:  Internal & External
Type of Contract Permanent
Directorate:  Navigation
Workplace: 

Noordwijk, NL

Grade Band A5 - A5

 

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Head of the NAVISP Programme Office in the Future Navigation Department, Directorate of Navigation. 
ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP) is a key enabler for innovation and competitiveness and a strategic tool at ESA to support and develop the overall European Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) landscape. PNT data plays an increasingly important role in our society in numerous areas, from increasing connectivity to automating processes. The main objective of NAVISP is to facilitate and support the generation of innovative propositions that go beyond the exclusive use of satellite navigation signals and data and include the development of competitive industrial capabilities and new, innovative technologies to complement, upgrade or replace current PNT technologies.

 

The NAVISP programme is structured into three Elements that complement each other and contribute to the above programme objectives: 

NAVISP Element 1, Innovation, aims to develop innovative concepts, techniques, technologies and systems relating to the PNT sector along the entire value chain. The activities under Element 1 are fully funded by ESA. 
NAVISP Element 2, Competitiveness, aims to maintain and improve the capabilities and competitiveness of industry in the participating States in the global market for satellite navigation and, more broadly, PNT technologies and services. As this Element of NAVISP aims to support industry initiatives, activities are co-funded between ESA and industry.
NAVISP Element 3, Support to Member States, aims to support national PNT strategies by providing support per country and possibly per domain for the development and promotion of products, applications and services based on GNSS and, more broadly, PNT systems to foster national and international cooperation. The activities under Element 3 are fully funded by ESA.
 

Duties

You will report to the Head of the Future Navigation Department and will be responsible for managing the activities of ESA’s NAVISP programme. Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

 

  • managing and implementing the NAVISP programme in accordance with its Declaration and Implementing Rules and associated interactions with ESA Delegations;
  • preparing the content of the programme proposals and associated workplans relating to the NAVISP programme in consultation with the relevant teams in the Directorate, the other relevant ESA sources of expertise and the other European stakeholders, in particular the European Commission, Member States, operators and user communities;
  • coordinating the NAVISP activities with the European Commission and EUSPA in order to ensure complementarity with other frameworks;
  • defining and measuring the KPIs for the NAVISP programme and its results, identifying and implementing any required corrective or improvement actions;
  • managing the implementation of the NAVISP activities in accordance with the programme rules, agreed plans and budgets and Directorate organisation;
  • implementing and enforcing the programme risk management, project management and P&QA processes as appropriate.

 

In the execution of these tasks, you will be supported by a team dedicated to the NAVISP Programme Office and by experts from the ESA Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

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

Technical competencies

Knowledge and experience in the technical domains covered by the position
Knowledge in the field of GNSS and in European industrial domains
Expertise in Positioning, Navigation and Timing
Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities
Experience in the use of (ESA) procurement tools
Experience in team management and coordination

Behavioural competencies

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


For more information, please refer to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.

Education

A master’s degree in engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

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;
  • a 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.

 

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

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

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 first be given to internal candidates and secondly 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.