Head of the Vega and Space Rider Programmes Department, reporting directly to the Director of Space Transportation.

As Head of the Vega and Space Rider Programmes Department, you will be a member of the Directorate’s management team and will participate in decision-making for all major activities covered by the Directorate.

You will be responsible for the overall implementation of the Vega and Space Rider programmes, including the Vega-C Competitiveness Improvement and Product Adaptation programmes and the Vega Evolution development programme. You will also be responsible for activities relating to the preparation and implementation of Vega exploitation.

You will manage, on the basis of a rotation with the Ariane Programme Department (STS-A) within the Directorate of Space Transportation (D/STS), the team in charge of P120C-P160C development and synergies between Ariane 6 and Vega-C.

You will implement the technical assistance activities for the implementation of the Italian PNRR activities relating to STS.

Duties

Your duties will include:

• developing and motivating the members of the Department by assessing performance, encouraging learning and development, delegating responsibilities and providing regular and constructive feedback;
• preparing and implementing the development activities relating to Vega and Space Rider, including the Vega-C Competitiveness Improvement programme, the Product Adaptation programme and the Vega Evolution development;
• preparing and implementing the Vega-C LEAP programme for infrastructure and test benches and implementing the ESA responsibilities relating to Vega and Vega-C transition and stabilised exploitation, as defined in the LEA and the associated implementing protocol;
• managing, on the basis of a rotation with STS-A, a joint team in charge of the development of the P120C/P160C and the related exploitation activities and ensuring technical and programmatic synergies of common elements between Ariane 6 and Vega-C;
• implementing the preparation and implementation of Vega future evolution preparation and defining the requirements for related future technologies;
• managing the necessary launch system adaptations - other than adaptation of ESA-owned assets and the Launch Range - and leading all Vega mission-related launch service activities following launch service contract signature;
• implementing the technical assistance activities for the implementation of the Italian PNRR activities relating to STS;
• ensuring coordination with the departments responsible for infrastructure programmes and for future space transportation programmes, as well as with the ESA programmes relating to in-orbit services;
• interfacing with industry and Member States on technical and programmatic matters with Member States as required.

You will be assisted by project managers, as well as by the Project Control and Management and System Support functions.

In carrying out your duties, you will liaise closely with other departments and offices within the Directorate and will draw on the support of other 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

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

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in an engineering domain is required for this post together with 15 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

You should have:

• experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
• the ability to provide strategic direction to individuals and teams and relate team objectives to the overall and evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context and to support others, such as team members, senior management and other stakeholders, in this process;
• previous experience of change management in a large organisation;
• the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation;
• demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written;
• a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
• excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• the ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity.

People management experience is required, international experience is an asset, including outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.
Mobility is inherent to management functions and this position may be subject to rotation.
Therefore, mobility opportunities may be offered to you as part of your career evolution at ESA, starting after approximately five years in this role.