Head of the Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office - European Space Agency (Paris)

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:

• 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 l…
• 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 E…
• 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
• 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…
• Represent ESA in engagements with the European Commission, Member State institutions, industry and research organisations
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in aerospace engineering
• Experience: 15+ years of relevant professional experience across both public and private organisations, including end-to-end development and execution of strategic initiatives across multiple domains relevant to the Agency; proven experience leading, motivating and developing a multidisciplinary team of 10+ professionals in a context relevant to strategy
• Key skills: Extensive experience in strategic planning and programme development within large institutional or international organisations, 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, Strategic direction and ability to relate team objectives to overall organisational goals, Ability to bridge long-term strategy goals with short-term operational delivery, Ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams, Excellent leadership, relationship management and oral and written communication skills

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Strategy Department, Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Matters.

Position details

Reference

1422387233

Last Verified

6 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Head of the Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability Office at ESA based in Paris (Other). The vacancy reference is 1422387233.

Job Requisition ID:20788

Date Posted:3 August 2026

Closing Date:24 August 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Strategy, Legal and External Matters

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

## 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.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 August 2026, 2 days ago.

The application deadline is 24 August 2026, 17 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 6 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 Paris see our Paris location page.

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