ESA Workplace Development Lead
Paris | Frascati | Darmstadt | Harwell | Noordwijk | Madrid
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Paris | Frascati | Darmstadt | Harwell | Noordwijk | Madrid
- Grade: Mid level - A2/A4 - Grade band
-
Occupational Groups:
- Outer space and satellite technology
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: 2025-09-08
ESA Workplace Development Lead
Paris, FR Madrid, ES Darmstadt, DE Frascati, IT Noordwijk, NL Harwell, GB
This is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of four years.
Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France, ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, ESAC, Madrid, Spain, or ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom.
Description
ESA Workplace Development Lead, Development and Coordination Office, Real Estate and Facilities Management Department
The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking a dynamic and strategic ESA Workplace Development Lead to shape the future of its working environments across all ESA sites. Reporting to the Head of the Development and Coordination Office (DCO) within the Real Estate and Facilities Management (REFM) Department, you will lead the definition, implementation, and evolution of workplace accommodation principles that support diverse and hybrid ways of working in direct and close cooperation with the Head of the REFM Department and the REFM Leadership Team.
You will drive the transformation of the workplace environment and play a key role in ensuring effective utilisation of ESA’s legacy and newbuild working environments. Additionally, you will drive the network and knowledge-sharing among REFM colleagues, who also work on workplace development, across our sites.
About the REFM Department:
The Real Estate and Facilities Management Department oversees approximately 250,000m² of working and technical space across eight ESA sites in Europe, supporting a community of over 7,000 employees. The Development and Coordination Office plays a central role in aligning departmental activities and driving strategic initiatives.
Duties
Your main responsibilities will include:
- leading ESA-wide workplace strategy by defining and implementing principles that support hybrid and flexible working across all ESA sites;
- driving workplace transformation and leading the evolution of ESA’s work environments to meet changing work styles and organisational goals;
- developing and maintaining ESA workplace guidelines by creating and updating reference guidelines for the allocation and design of legacy, renovated, and newbuild workspaces;
- analysing, proposing, preparing and implementing a workplace plan that supports hybrid and activity-based working;
- acting as a key liaison and the main contact for ESA directorates, providing guidance on workplace policies and helping identify optimal solutions;
- integrating modern workplace design and collaborating with internal stakeholders and external experts to ensure workplace principles reflect the latest trends and best practices;
- coordinating with REFM project teams to ensure timely delivery of agreed layouts for refurbishment projects in alignment with customer needs;
- supporting digital workplace tools by contributing to the selection and implementation of software solutions that enhance space utilisation and workplace efficiency;
- promoting sustainability by identifying and implementing sustainable methods, materials, and processes in workplace development;
- fostering collaboration across sites by building a network of REFM colleagues to share knowledge, train and align workplace strategies and practices.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education
A master's degree in a relevant discipline is required for this post.
Additional requirements
You must have strong communication, problem solving and interpersonal skills. Additionally, you should demonstrate the ability to lead change and transformation efforts and effectively oversee small teams of industrial partners.
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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
Applicants must be eligible to acquire te security clearance by their national security administrations.
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, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this position, proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of German and other Member State languages would be an asset.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.