Project Controller

Job Posting Organization:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975, ESA has grown to include 22 member states and employs over 2,200 staff members. The agency's 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 operates in multiple countries across Europe, focusing on various aspects of space exploration, satellite technology, and Earth observation.

Job Overview:
The Project Controller position is situated within the Infrastructure and Value Chain Project Control Service of the Directorate of Space Transportation at ESA Headquarters in Paris. This role is crucial for providing management support to the Directorate, which encompasses overall human and financial resources planning, monitoring, and reporting. The Project Controller will be responsible for the preparation, procurement, and monitoring of complex procurements, ensuring that all financial and planning aspects are managed effectively. This includes interfacing with various stakeholders, including industrial contractors, and supporting Project Managers in making programmatic decisions. The role demands a proactive approach to monitoring and forecasting deviations from plans, providing explanations, and proposing corrective actions to ensure project success.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As a Project Controller, your primary responsibilities will include: preparing and updating project plans that cover industrial and operating costs, ensuring alignment with schedules; monitoring and forecasting deviations from these plans and proposing corrective actions; supporting project and department-level meetings; maintaining the overall programmatic aspects related to financial matters; defining the project control work breakdown structure; performing tasks assigned in ESA's ERP system; ensuring compliance with budgetary provisions and financial regulations; monitoring industrial return and providing necessary data analyses; maintaining general project administration; and supporting proposal evaluation negotiations with industry. Additionally, you will be responsible for monitoring assigned contracts, ensuring compliance with management, costs, schedules, risks, and reporting requirements. You will also prepare and update financial aspects of project plans, support project reviews, and assist in preparing status reports for Programme Boards, as well as supporting risk management and asset management at the project level.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in business administration, engineering, or a related field. Previous professional experience as a project or programme controller is essential, preferably within an agency or industry context. Candidates should have substantial experience in applying project control principles and advanced techniques, as well as in the preparation, negotiation, and implementation of major industrial procurements. Experience in finance, controlling, and auditing is considered an asset, along with knowledge of space systems architecture. Proficiency in computer systems and planning tools, such as esa-p, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Project, is required, and familiarity with modern dashboard tools is advantageous.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in business administration, engineering, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of project control within the space industry.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a significant level of experience in project control, with a strong emphasis on the application of project control principles and techniques. Experience in managing complex procurements and working within a project management framework is essential. Candidates with less than four years of relevant professional experience may be considered for a lower grade level (A1).

Languages:
Fluency in English or French is mandatory, as these are the working languages of the Agency. Knowledge of another language from an ESA Member State is considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within the diverse workforce.

Additional Notes:
This position is a four-year appointment, extendable to indefinite, and is classified within the grade band A2-A

• Recruitment will prioritize candidates from ESA Member States, with a focus on achieving diversity within the workforce. The Agency is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. Candidates must be eligible to access information subject to European or US export control regulations. The recruitment process may include selection tests and background screening.