Description

DestinE and Copernicus Advanced Infrastructure Services Manager, Copernicus Ground Segment Systems Section, Copernicus Ground Segment and Data Management Division, Earth Observation Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
You will work on the DestinE and Digital Twin Earth (DTE) projects under the responsibility of the DestinE and DTE Project Manager.

Within the framework of ESA Earth Observation (EO), ESA, together with its partners and the European Earth observation and information technology (IT) industries, is developing a digital ecosystem of Copernicus and DestinE data management and modelling services to foster user exploitation activities, as well as the growth of a sustainable industrial network of services.
ESA contributes to the development of the ecosystem by defining the necessary strategic development objectives and by procuring to industry and supporting new industrial projects.
ESA also supports the integration of ESA Member States or European Union (EU) environments and platforms maximising synergies between European and national initiatives and optimising user experience.

Duties

You will be responsible for managing the access to and usage of European advanced operational infrastructure services supporting the development and growth of the Copernicus and DestinE services ecosystem, including the end-to-end procurements and management of enabling services, as well as supporting the ecosystem’s performance within cost and schedule.

Reporting to the Head of the Copernicus Ground Segment Systems Section, you will carry out the following duties:

• Defining and maintaining a strategic roadmap for the use of advanced operational infrastructure services, for example HPC and public clouds, in line with the objectives of the Copernicus and DestinE ecosystem;
• Managing the implementation of advanced operational infrastructure services, driving performance, adoption, economic and environmental sustainability, security and compliance with relevant regulations;
• Exploring continuous innovation and the adoption – as part of the ecosystem and related service operations – of new technologies that can enhance efficiency and performance, optimising costs while ensuring high-quality services;
• Fostering strong relationships with external public and private infrastructure service providers and related stakeholders to define the governance regulating an operational use of the infrastructure by public and commercial services;
• Technical coordination with the other project areas;
• Planning and supporting the adoption of ecosystem services by a large user community;
• Planning and supporting communication activities;
• Planning and supporting the evolution of the ecosystem services, including co-design activities;
• Managing procurements, including preparation of tender documentation and evaluation of industrial proposals, for example for tools or services;
• Negotiation and management of the industrial contract relating to your area of responsibility, for example verifying and accepting industrial outputs and planning milestones;
• Interfacing with industry for all matters relating to your area of responsibility;
• Supporting and participating in Copernicus and DestinE project reviews;
• Identifying risks and mitigation actions relating to your area of responsibility;
• Providing expert technical support to the Copernicus Ground Segment and DestinE teams;
• Monitoring applicable technological trends and maintaining a state-of-the-art expertise;
• Contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and to the transfer of knowledge and lessons learned within ESA;
• Coordinating activities performed in collaboration with European industry and academia, promoting ESA’s activities to students, researchers and universities and stimulating cross-fertilisation and new ideas;
• Supporting the ESA Earth Observation quality system for the definition and maintenance of the Copernicus, DestinE and ESA DTE quality programme of work.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

A master’s degree in engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The following are considered assets:

• A high level of motivation and dedication, with the ability to take ownership and act in a proactive manner;
• Ten years of experience in an international context and in large projects.

You should also have:

• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

International experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities, is an asset.