Country Desk Support Officer (ESA/ESTEC)

Octagon Professionals is seeking for a Country Desk Support Officer to provide service support to the Country capability and Support Division, based at ESTEC within the Directorate Commercialisation, industry and Competitiveness.

The Division's main objective is to facilitate the integration of targeted countries into the European space ecosystem, by supporting their capacity-building efforts (industrial and academic space capabilities) and ensuring they can effectively contribute to and benefit from ESA programmes.

The Division's mandate includes:

• Manages several funding and cooperation schemes (e.g. NMS IIS, AM RPA, PECS, etc.).


• Works directly with national industry, academia, and government delegations via dedicated Country Desk Officers (CDOs).


• Organises events, training courses, company visits, and outreach in support of these countries.


• Prepares and analyses country-level strategies, performance, and capability assessments.


• Ensures coordination with ESA programme directorates and technical directorates

Core Responsibilities:

• Assist with preparation of Tender Evaluation Boards (TEBs), including industry briefings, follow-ups, and documentation.


• Draft Statements of Work, cost analyses, and maintain SharePoint databases and statistics.


• Monitor contract implementation, support negotiations, manage debriefs, and organise final presentations.


• Produce quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc reports, minutes, presentations, and official ESA documents.


• Coordinate and attend company visits, maintaining and improving visit records.


• Analyse industrial capacity and capability, bidding patterns, and support country strategic assessments (Countries could include: Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Ukraine, etc.).

Required Competencies:

Technical knowledge & experience:

• Experience in programme/project management support in an institutional, aerospace, or public-sector environment.


• Familiarity with ESA procedures, tendering processes, and industrial policy principles is desirable.


• Knowledge of industrial capacity development, procurement processes, and reporting requirements.

Analytical & documentation skills:

• Strong ability to analyse data, synthesise findings, and present clearly.


• Skilled in drafting official reports, minutes, presentations, and strategic analyses.

Behavioural:

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.


• Attention to detail and accuracy.


• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to work under pressure, managing competing priorities.

Tools:

• Proficiency with IT tools and databases and MS Office.

Qualifications & Experience:

• University degree in engineering, science, economics, public policy, or another relevant field.


• At least 3-5 years of experience in a programme support or policy implementation role, ideally in the space/aerospace domain or similar.


• Full professional fluency in English (written and spoken). Knowledge of the local working language is an asset;

We offer:

• Attractive remuneration package.


• Up to 30 vacation days & additional 12 public holidays based on the 40h working week.


• Pension contribution to a tailor-made pension scheme.


• Yearly subscription to the ESTEC gym facilities and a swimming pool.

Ready for this new challenge? Apply now and let's get in touch!

Octagon Professionals International is a full-service recruitment and HR services firm with 30 years of experience in the European and international market. Our large network of professionals across multiple functional areas, and multi-national team provide flexible solutions customised to individual client needs.

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