Description

Project Controller in the Ariane and P120C Project Control and BUC Support Service, Business Unit Controlling and Operating Planning Office, Directorate of Space Transportation (D/STS).

The Business Unit Controlling and Operating Planning Office provides management support to the Directorate of Space Transportation and is responsible for the Directorate’s overall human and financial resource planning, monitoring and reporting, as well as for coordinating its information systems activities and plans.

The Office provides project control support to all Space Transportation projects and activities and fulfils Directorate-level roles such as financial planning and consolidation, risk management and reporting to management and to Member State committees and boards.

Reporting to the Head of the Ariane and P120C Project Control and BUC Support Office, you will hold key responsibilities in respect of the preparation, procurement and monitoring of procurements, from tendering to the closure of contracts, as well as management, financial and planning aspects, with multiple interfaces within and external to ESA.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Project control activities
  • Preparing and updating plans covering industrial and operating costs consistent with schedule and ensuring solid aggregation of cross-cutting area;
  • Monitoring and forecasting of deviations from plans, providing explanations and proposing corrective actions;
  • Preparing, developing and maintaining the overall programmatic aspects on financial matters: defining the project control work breakdown structure and maintaining the related master data in alignment with the organisation; performing tasks assigned to project controllers in ESA ERP for assigned projects; maintaining the planning up-to-date; ensuring compliance with budgetary provisions and financial regulations; monitoring industrial return by providing data and supporting related analyses; and maintaining general project administration;
  • Providing support for proposal evaluation, negotiations with industry. Monitoring assigned contracts and ensuring industry’s compliance with established formal requirements for management, costs, schedule, risks, industrial return and reporting, including deviations from plans and trends;
  • Participating in the establishment and maintenance of the Directorate’s project control procedures and computerised information systems.
• Financial planning and consolidation activities
  • Supporting the financial planning and consolidation;
  • Analysing results, monitoring variance, identifying trends, preparing reports;
  • Supporting the implementation of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence elements in the financial planning and consolidation processes;
  • Providing support for monitoring actual resource usage and analysing deviations;
  • Providing support for the development of other digital activities.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master’s degree in Business Administration or Engineering is required for this post.

Additional requirements

Professional experience as a controller, preferably at Agency or industry level, would be an asset.
Knowledge of computer systems and information, planning and coordination tools, for example using esa-p, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project and Power BI, are essential. Familiarity with modern dashboard tools will be considered an asset.
You should be able to work autonomously, effectively and cooperatively.

You should also be able to define and implement solutions in line with team and individual objectives and deadlines.

You should possess strong written and oral communication skills and should be rigorous and disciplined when working on demanding tasks.

In addition, you should have good analytical, organisational and reporting skills, with a proactive attitude to problem-solving.