Head of the Industrial Policy and Auditing Department

Job Requisition ID: 20872

Date Posted: 3 September 2026

Application Deadline: 30 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment ( learn more) : 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement

Workplace: Paris, FR

Grade Band ( learn more) : A6 - A6

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description
Head of the Industrial Policy and Auditing Department, Directorate of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement (CFO).

Under the direct authority of the Director of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement, the Head of the Industrial Policy and Auditing Department is responsible for defining and ensuring the coherent and efficient implementation of the Agency’s industrial and audit policies in all programmes and activities of the Agency, for fostering relations between industry and the Agency, and for economic research and socioeconomic impact evaluation of space programmes at ESA. The Head of Department is also responsible for industrial capabilities, implementing actions and fostering the successful integration of Associate Member and new Member States into ESA and ESA projects in coordination with the programme directorates.

In the role of Head of Department, you will be a member of the management team of the CFO Directorate and will work closely within this team to evolve the Directorate’s end-to-end service provision to Member States and programme directorates to further develop the industrial ecosystem.

Duties
Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• fostering relationships and maintaining strong engagement with the European space industry and its representative associations, ensuring continuous dialogue and alignment between Agency objectives and industrial stakeholders;
• coordinating and ensuring the coherent and efficient implementation of the Agency’s industrial policy, including SME policy, across all programmes and activities, working closely with the Contracts Department and programme directorates;
• defining and proactively managing the Agency’s geographical return policy by analysing industrial participation across programmes, coordinating with programme directorates, and ensuring compliance with the ESA Convention and Council decisions;
• preparing and conducting interim and formal reviews of the geographical distribution of contracts, delivering comprehensive policy recommendations to support programmes and strategic decision-making in accordance with Annex V of the Convention;
• collaborating closely with Member States on Industrial Policy Committee-related matters, facilitating coordination between delegations and programme stakeholders to ensure alignment between policy objectives and programme implementation;
• developing and implementing industrial cost audit policies, conducting detailed industrial analyses to assess industrial costs and company nationality, while supporting transparency and compliance;
• coordinating with non-Member States, European institutions, and particularly the European Union, in partnership with the Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters (D/SLE), to ensure coherent industrial policy implementation and strengthen international cooperation across Agency programmes;
• conducting socioeconomic studies and strategic analyses to evaluate programme impact, assess industrial participation, and provide evidence-based insights to support policy development;
• developing and implementing policies and initiatives supporting the integration of new Member States, Associate Member States and Cooperating States, working in close collaboration with programme directorates, the Director General's Cabinet and D/SLE to ensure coordinated delivery and maximise synergies across the Agency’s programmes and strategic initiatives;
• collaborating across the CFO Directorate to integrate industrial knowledge into an end-to-end process to provide evidence-based insights supporting the optimisation and evolution of the Agency’s industrial policy;
• collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop and maintain a hub of knowledge and expertise on European industry and space economy by monitoring industrial capabilities, supplier capacity and performance, market developments, and emerging technologies to identify critical gaps, strengthen the supplier base and establish a strategic capability monitoring framework across the industrial base of the European space ecosystem.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies
Strong analytical skills

Knowledge of the ESA institutional framework, and of the European and international space sector (institutional, commercial and/or industrial)

Knowledge of ESA programmes, policies and overall procedures

Knowledge of industrial and procurement policies

Experience in space programme management

Knowledge of or experience in managing multiple interfaces with various entities and stakeholders

Knowledge of the European space industry

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 a relevant domain is required for this post, together with 15 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

• Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team;
• The ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Office and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and 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;
• Excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;
• The ability to anticipate problems, resolve complex issues and relate situations to their context;
• 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.

Experience in industry and/or in ESA project or programme management is an asset.

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.