Business Applications and Partnerships Officer (2 Posts) - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Identifying and characterising commercial opportunities for sustainable solutions and services leveraging space assets
• Engaging with private and public users and stakeholders to identify commercial needs for space-based downstream business applications
• Developing expertise and leadership in space application in targeted market areas
• Acting as spokesperson and voice of ESA's strategy in areas of expertise
• Supervising outsourced and contract workforce, providing technical guidance and quality control
• Defining and developing initiatives with strategic partners in downstream space applications
• Supporting industry in developing proposals for new activities
• Managing contracted industrial activities related to studies and demonstration projects

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant discipline, such as engineering, environmental science or business administration
• Experience: 5 years of relevant professional experience; background and professional experience in satellite communications, satellite navigation or satellite Earth observation
• Key skills: Stakeholder management, Market research analysis, Experience in preparation and/or assessment of business plans, Project management experience in digital service development, Interpersonal and communication skills, Leadership capabilities with proven relationship management skills, Experience working in cross-functional teams, Problem-solving skills

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite duration; or fixed-term appointment of 4 years, extendable up to maximum total duration of 8 years.

Working arrangements: Harwell, GB and Noordwijk, NL.

Hiring unit: Directorate of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership.

Position details

Reference

1423959233

Last Verified

7 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Business Applications and Partnerships Officer (2 Posts) at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1423959233.

Job Requisition ID:20792

Date Posted:6 August 2026

Closing Date:27 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Commercialisation and Industry Partnership

Workplace: Harwell, GB Noordwijk, NL

This vacancy is published to recruit for either: an appointment of 4 years, extendable to an indefinite duration; or a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years that depending on performance and organisational needs, may be extended up to a maximum total duration of 8 years.

Location

ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

You will be responsible for stimulating the development and deployment of economically viable space-based solutions and services in cooperation with institutions, the private sector and corporate businesses, and the management of the resulting industrial activities.

You will work in close cooperation with members of the Directorate of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership and other directorates, as well as with industry and private and public stakeholders.

Duties

- Identifying and characterising commercial opportunities for sustainable solutions and services that leverage space assets, such as in satellite communications, satellite navigation and Earth observation, integrated with digital technologies; - Engaging with private and public users and relevant stakeholders to identify commercial needs for new space-based downstream business applications and services. This includes fostering collaboration with new user communities, managing relations with partners and federating user communities per sector; - Developing personal expertise and leadership in the application of space in one or more targeted market areas in order to contribute to a European market development strategy; - Acting as a spokesperson and voice of ESA’s strategy in your areas of expertise and responsibility; - Supervising outsourced and contract workforce tasked with the delivery of the programme, providing technical guidance and performing quality control; - Defining and developing initiatives in cooperation with strategic partners in the context of downstream space applications, assisting in the preparation of work plans and reporting to delegate bodies and drafting documentation for calls for proposals and tenders. These initiatives will support the creation of sustainable solutions and services aimed at addressing the identified opportunities; - Supporting industry in developing proposals for new activities, including the selection process and the execution of quality control measures; - Managing contracted industrial activities, specifically those related to studies and demonstration projects, within the designated areas of responsibility; - Coordinating with other ESA directorate projects and initiatives intended to bring to commercial exploitation space assets and/or data and contributing to activities pursued in the context of cross-directorate initiatives; - Supervising the analysis of the portfolio of industrial activities in the markets and domains under your responsibility, developing related dossiers, monitoring the efficiency of the programmatic and procurement tools adopted for programme implementation, and proposing plans for improvements.

Technical competencies

Background and professional experience in satellite communications, satellite navigation or satellite Earth observation

Knowledge relevant to space-using markets and the field of activity

Stakeholder management

Market research analysis

Experience in the preparation and/or assessment of business plans

Project management experience in digital service development

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as engineering, environmental science or business administration, is required for this post, together with 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

Interpersonal and communication skills

Leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management skills

Experience of working in cross-functional teams

Problem-solving skills

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 7 August 2026, today.

The application deadline is 27 August 2026, 19 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 7 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Noordwijk see our Noordwijk location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.