Phoenix Study Manager

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 various domains, including Earth observation, human spaceflight, exploration, and telecommunications, and collaborates with numerous international partners.

Job Overview:
The Phoenix Study Manager will oversee the Phoenix Phase B1/B2 Project within the Resilience Initiative Implementation Management Office (RNC-RI) at ESA. This role is crucial for consolidating mission and system requirements, developing the concept of operations, and establishing the technical and programmatic baseline necessary for subsequent implementation phases. The manager will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing study activities, ensuring the technical coherence and quality of all outputs. The position requires close collaboration with various stakeholders, including industrial partners, Member States, and internal teams, to ensure the successful delivery of the project objectives. The role does not involve direct line management but requires functional coordination of a multidisciplinary team, making it essential for the manager to possess strong leadership and communication skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Phoenix Study Manager will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including: planning and managing the Phoenix Phase B1/B2 study activities, establishing and maintaining an integrated study plan, coordinating the consolidation of mission objectives and requirements, leading the assessment of mission scenarios and system architectures, ensuring technical coherence across all elements of the proposed system, preparing procurement documentation, monitoring industrial performance, leading study reviews, coordinating the application of relevant standards, and maintaining effective communication with stakeholders. The manager will also be responsible for preparing technical and programmatic documentation to support decision-making for the implementation phase and may support other activities within the RNC-RI as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline, along with four years of relevant professional experience. Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor's degree and an additional four years of relevant experience may be considered. The position requires experience in managing or coordinating complex industrial mission studies, the ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, and strong communication skills to engage with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in engineering or a related field is required for this position. Candidates with a bachelor's degree may also be considered if they have additional relevant experience. The educational background should provide a solid foundation in engineering principles, particularly as they relate to telecommunications and system studies.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least four years of relevant professional experience in early-phase telecommunications mission studies, including experience in requirements engineering, concept-of-operations definition, and system architecture. Experience in managing industrial studies and familiarity with ESA procurement processes will be considered advantageous. Candidates with experience in later implementation phases may also be viewed favorably, particularly if it supports sound preparatory-phase decisions.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is one of the working languages of ESA. Knowledge of French is also required. Additionally, familiarity with another Member State language would be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders.

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

• Recruitment will be conducted in accordance with ESA's policies, ensuring diversity and inclusiveness in the workforce. Candidates must be eligible to access information subject to European or US export control regulations and must be able to obtain security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security-clearance" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearance. The recruitment process may include selection tests, and successful candidates will undergo basic screening before appointment. ESA is transitioning to a Matrix setup, which may lead to organizational changes affecting this position.