Description

Under the direct authority of the Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, the Head of the External Relations Department is responsible for proposing, coordinating and supporting ESA’s policy vis-à-vis non-Member States, their institutions and international organisations, in accordance with the overall corporate strategy of the Agency. They are also in charge of supervising the action plan to be followed in this regard. The Head of the External Relations Department is also ESA’s Diplomatic Advisor and, in this capacity, has direct access to the Director General. 

Duties

The Head of External Relations Department is responsible for:

• formulating the Agency’s strategy vis-à-vis non-Member States, their institutions and international organisations.
• monitoring the evolution of the activities of the Agency’s international partners and providing the Agency with appropriate information and reports.
• assuming overall responsibility for cooperation with non-Member States and international organisations, and establishing, with the support of the Legal Services Department, the appropriate frameworks to that end.
• preparing and coordinating meetings with international partners.
• representing the Agency towards non-Member States, their institutions and international organisations.
• devising, in accordance with the overall Agency corporate strategy and in coordination with all directorates, an international relations strategy.
• monitoring the implementation of the activities approved and reporting on this implementation to the IRC and Council.
• serving as the IRC secretariat and ensuring the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations and decisions.

The External Relations Department is composed of a team located at ESA Headquarters and at the ESA Washington Office.
You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You should have a master’s degree, preferably in social science, international relations or law.

Additional requirements

• Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team.
• The ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Department and to relate team objectives to the overall, evolving organisational goals and context.
• The ability to drive performance and foster cooperation within and across teams throughout the organisation.
• Demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills, both oral and written.
• A proven track record of representing the Agency’s interests to external interfaces.   Excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills.
• The ability to anticipate problems, solve complex issues and relate situations to their context.
• The ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic and timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.