Return to jobs
Join the ESA leadership team as the Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs and contribute to shaping Europe's space capabilities.
Overview
Salary
No salary declared 😔
Location
Paris, FR
Expires
Expires at anytime
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's platform to exploring and leveraging the potential of space. The organisation commands an impressive annual budget of €8.3 billion and has a community of 6,000 dedicated staff and contractors, all working to unlock the immense benefits of space for European citizens and the global populace.
Role Summary:
- Reporting directly to the Director General and making essential contributions to broader ESA management.
- Supporting the Director General in their responsibilities to meet ESA's objectives.
- Leading the preparation of Space Council meetings and supporting the Director General in ministerial council meetings.
- Coordinating ESA's policy regarding EU institutions and non-member states.
- Providing legal services to the ESA Director General and Member States.
- Overseeing the implementation of the overall ESA strategy and supervising the action plan.
Role Requirements:
- A master's degree in law, economics, or business administration.
- At least 10 years of experience in similar senior management positions with substantial budget and human resource responsibilities.
- Proven expertise in space legal and strategy matters as well as external relations in an international setting.
Application Process Details:
- Applicants must be eligible for security clearance by their national security administrations.
- Successful candidates will be subjected to basic screening before appointment.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA's annual budget for 2026 is €8.3 billion, with a workforce of around 6,000, comprising staff and contractors.
The role: As the Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs, you will report to the Director General and contribute to ESA-wide management as a member of the ESA Executive Board. You will support the Director General in their responsibilities in the pursuit of ESA's overall objectives, fostering efficiency, and ensuring compliance with the applicable regulatory framework. Your responsibilities include leading the preparation of Space Council meetings, supporting the Director General in ESA Council meetings at ministerial level, and overseeing the definition and implementation of the overall ESA strategy. Additionally, you will provide legal services to the ESA Director General and Member States, coordinate ESA's policy vis-à-vis EU institutions and non-Member States, and supervise the action plan to be followed.
Job requirements: Applicants should have at least a master's in law, economics, or business administration. More than 10 years’ experience in similar senior management positions at executive level and in the management of teams and programmes of significant size in terms of budget and human resources is required. In-depth knowledge of and experience in space legal and strategy matters as well as external relations acquired in an international setting is essential.
Benefits: You will actively work to ensure the well-being, motivation, training, and career progression of your Directorate workforce, incentivising a spirit of initiative, transparency, information flow, and coordination with other directorates.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness: ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics.
Important Information and Disclaimer: Applicants must be eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations. Successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment.
