Head of the Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office

Job Requisition ID: 20788

Date Posted: 3 August 2026

Application Deadline: 24 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment : 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Strategy, Legal and External Matters

Workplace: Paris, FR

Grade Band : A5 - A5

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description
Head of the Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office, Strategy Department, Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.

As Head of the Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office, you will report to the Head of the Strategy Department (SLE-S). The Division is responsible for identifying, testing and structuring new strategic initiatives between Council meetings at ministerial level, expanding ESA’s engagement with non-traditional partners, such as public authorities, security actors and European institutions, and leading the Agency’s sustainability agenda, including management of the Sustainability Fund.

Duties

• Lead and shape ESA’s Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office, driving early-stage concept development and ensuring continuous strategic preparation of future initiatives between Council meetings at ministerial level;
• Actively contribute to the implementation and ongoing updating of Strategy 2040, translating its long-term objectives into concrete divisional priorities and initiatives;
• Identify, design and oversee cross-sector “accelerator” initiatives with non-traditional partners, such as public authorities, security actors and European institutions, to explore new mission domains and prepare future ESA programmes;
• Coordinate across ESA directorates to bring to maturity and transition validated initiatives into operational programmes, and contribute to preparations for the Council meeting at ministerial level, including the development and positioning of future proposals;
• Define and steer ESA’s Green Agenda, including management of the Sustainability Fund (€3m/year), embedding sustainability across ESA programmes and mobilising industry and directorates to deliver concrete environmental impact;
• Represent ESA in engagements with the European Commission, Member State institutions, industry and research organisations;
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team.

Technical competencies
Extensive experience in strategic planning and programme development within large institutional or international organisations, ideally in the space sector

Strong understanding of the European space sector, ESA programmes and the institutional environment involving Member States, European institutions and industry

Proven experience in the incubation of new initiatives from concept to operational implementation, including partnership development with diverse stakeholders

Solid knowledge of sustainability policies, environmental strategies and their integration into technology and industrial ecosystems

Experience in financial management, including budgeting and resource planning

Strong leadership, negotiation and cross-organisational coordination capabilities

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 aerospace engineering is required for this post together with 15+ years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements
A minimum of 15 years of professional experience across both public and private organisations, including the end-to-end development and execution of strategic initiatives across multiple domains relevant to the Agency, is required. In addition, you should have:

• proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a multidisciplinary team of 10+ professionals, in a context relevant to strategy;
• the ability to provide strategic direction to individuals and teams and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context;
• the ability to bridge long-term strategy goals with short-term operational delivery, with a track record of anticipating emerging trends, shaping new priorities and developing actionable initiatives with measurable outcomes;
• the ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation, with, in particular, extensive experience designing and leading initiatives across complex, multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder environments;
• demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and oral and written communication skills;
• a proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces;
• excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills, with hands-on experience in developing and implementing coordinated governance, collaborative processes and integrated workplans;
• the ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• the ability to make solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity, as well as to support others, such as team members, upper management and other stakeholders, in this process;
• recognised expertise in bridging space and sustainability agendas at a strategic level, including through joint initiatives.

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, beginning after approximately five years in this role.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at Se e-mailadresse på jobbank.dk .

Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.