Head of the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office

Description

Head of the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office, Communication Department, Director General's Services.

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Communication Department, you will be responsible for managing a team to ensure the coordination, harmonisation, development and implementation of corporate and leadership content and messaging flow.
As such, you will ensure that proper coordination and information workflow is set up between the Corporate and Institutional Communication Office, the Outreach Division and the Products and Channels Division.

In addition, you will support the Head of the Communication Department with the definition of the ESA Communication Strategy and the devising of the Annual Communication Plan by synthesising the Agency’s strategy and storylines into communication activities and campaigns, while ensuring the necessary level of consistency in the corporate messaging.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Managing the corporate and leadership content and messaging flow by:
  • acting as a focal point for the Director General’s Services, in particular for the Director General’s Cabinet; 
  • coordinating a network of Communication Programme Officers (CPOs are staff dedicated to the communication activities of a specific programme, such as Science or Earth Observation) to ensure – in close liaison with all Directorates – communication activities related to the preparation of present and future programmes;
  • identifying, in close coordination with the Director General’s Cabinet, strategic events, international exhibitions and fairs, and the required level of ESA’s presence at these events.
• Coordinating corporate media relations and social media activities, including for the Director General, by:
  • overseeing the involvement of the Director General in an updated and consolidated agenda based on an analysis and prioritisation of all existing ESA communication interests, as well as the resulting communication opportunities and threats for ESA in terms of media activities, in particular in a potential crisis or contingency situation;
  • ensuring the consistency of corporate messaging through coordination with the ESA Member States Outreach Office for proper implementation in media relations activities and digital communication channels targeted at all ESA establishments and Member States, as well as in coordination with the Digital and Print Products and Channels Office for ESA corporate social media channels.
• Supporting the definition and implementation of the ESA Communication Strategy by:
  • synthesising the Agency’s strategy and storylines into communication activities and campaigns, while ensuring the necessary level of corporate messaging consistency;
  • liaising with both the Department’s Outreach Division and the Products and Channels Division to ensure the relevant implementation of corporate content and narrative across activities and products;
  • devising the Annual Communication Plan;
  • coordinating crisis or contingency plans and related necessary actions.

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

A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The capacity to work well under pressure and to meet tight deadlines with the flexibility to adapt to new and unforeseen demands.
The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and to be customer focused, plus the availability to work on standby in specific emergencies.
Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills, as well as strong result orientation. 
Knowledge of the ESA Communication Department’s mandate and workflow would be considered an asset.
 

• The potential to manage individuals or a team.
• The ability to organise their 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 would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.