Head of the Independent Safety Office

Updated: over 1 year ago
Job Type: Permanent
Deadline: 14 Aug 2022

Vacancy in the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

This post is classified A5 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.

Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands


Description

Head of the Independent Safety Office in the Product Assurance and Safety Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Under the direct responsibility of the Head of the Product Assurance and Safety Department, you will be responsible for the management of the Office, its resources and activities. 

Since this position plays a key role in the Agency’s activities, there will be a period of induction with the incumbent Head of the Independent Safety Office. This will ensure a full and complete handover to allow you to become operational.


Duties

Your duties will include:
•    establishing and maintaining good working relationships and technical networks with users, projects and other organisational bodies, both inside and outside the Agency;
•    contributing to the continuous improvement of working procedures and reflecting on the evolution of the Office’s role and activities;
•    ensuring a positive and motivating working environment for the Office.

The Head of the Independent Safety Office is responsible for the technical and strategic management of all aspects of human spaceflight safety engineering, space debris mitigation, re-entry safety, safety of nuclear power sources in space applications and planetary protection. 

Within the area of competence, you will be responsible for:


Human Spaceflight Safety

•    ISS Safety Lead, ensuring independent certification of safety of ESA hardware and software for the International Space Station (ISS) under the safety review authority delegated by the NASA Space Station Program for the certification and risk acceptance of the Space Station elements and payloads;
•    ensuring independent certification of the safety of ESA Lunar Gateway elements and payloads under the safety review authority delegated by the ESA Lunar Gateway Control Board for the certification and risk acceptance of ESA Lunar Gateway elements and payloads;
•    ensuring provision of technical support and guidance to International Space Station Columbus Module exploitation, to the development of the iHAB and ESPRIT elements of the Lunar Gateway Program and to the ESA lunar exploration projects for the generation and interpretation of human spaceflight safety requirements, identification of hazard causes, and implementation of hazard controls;
•    representing ESA in multilateral human spaceflight safety boards and panels for the International Space Station and the Lunar Gateway;
•    assessing safety posture for US Crew vehicles transporting ESA astronauts;
•    overseeing the in-flight anomaly resolution for ESA human spaceflight missions assessing their compliance with human spaceflight safety requirements;
•    acting as ESA Safety Representative for human spaceflight and re-entry safety contingencies;
•    performing, as necessary, internal and external safety audits for human spaceflight safety in the framework of the ISS and Lunar Gateway Program;
•    organising human spaceflight flight safety training opportunities;
•    conducting studies in the field of human spaceflight safety, including development of advanced methods and tools to support current and future ESA programmes;

•    defining, promoting and implementing contributions to the ESA technology programs and R&D activities in human space flight.


Space Debris Mitigation

•    generating and maintaining the ESA Policy on Space Debris Mitigation;
•    leading conformance assessment and ensuring independent verification of compliance with regard to the technical requirements related to the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy, statutory requirements and international obligations;
•    ESA Technical Authority and regulator certifying ESA missions compliance with the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy;
•    ensuring independent certification of safety for ESA spacecraft and vehicles re-entry for compliance with the ESA accepted casualty risk;
•    overseeing the in-flight anomaly resolution process to ensure that it is consistent with the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy;
•    assessing corrective actions for compliance with space debris mitigation requirements and monitoring their effectiveness;
•    maintaining records and providing regular reporting to ESA corporate and program level related to the ESA missions compliance with the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy;
•    cooperating with the Space Safety Program Office and the Quality, Dependability and PA Support Division for the activities related to space debris mitigation;
•    ensuring provision of expert technical support and consultancy to projects, programs and general studies in the interpretation of the technical requirements in the ESA Space Debris Mitigation Policy;
•    contributing to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) to favor cooperation activities with IADC members and identify debris mitigation options;
•    generating space debris mitigation guidelines;
•    supporting Member States in the evaluation of launch authorizations for compliance with Space Debris Mitigation requirements in the frame of the relevant Technical Assistance Agreements.


Planetary Protection

•    generating and maintaining the ESA Planetary Protection Policy;
•    ESA Technical Authority and regulator certifying ESA’s missions compliance with the ESA Planetary Protection Policy;
•    leading and ensuring independent evaluation of compliance of ESA missions with the ESA Planetary Protection Policy, statutory requirements and international obligations;
•    ensuring ESA’s representation and proactive contribution in the COSPAR, UNCOPOUS and relevant Academic Organizations for what concerns Planetary Protection;
•    coordinating ESA standardization activities for Planetary Protection;
•    generating guidelines for the implementation of Planetary Protection requirements;
•    ensuring provision of expert technical support and consultancy to projects, programs and general studies in the field of Planetary Protection throughout all project phases;
•    maintaining records and providing regular reporting to COSPAR and ESA corporate and program level related to the ESA missions compliance with the ESA Planetary Protection Policy;
•    organizing Planetary Protection training opportunities and establishing formal certification programs;
•    conducting studies in the field of Planetary Protection, including development of advanced methods and tools to support current and future ESA programs;

•    defining, promoting and implementing contributions to the ESA technology programs and R&D activities in planetary protection.


Nuclear Safety

•    maintaining the ESA Policy on the Use of Nuclear Power Source in Space;
•    leading and ensuring independent nuclear safety evaluation for risk to people and the environment for nuclear power sources applied in ESA missions;
•    ensuring ESA’s representation in the UNCOPOUS working group for nuclear power sources;
•    ensuring provision of expert technical support and consultancy to projects, programmes and general studies in the field of safety of nuclear power sources in space throughout all project phases;

•    defining, promoting and implementing contributions to the ESA technology programs and R&D activities in the use of nuclear power sources for space applications.


Other responsibilities

•    ensuring dissemination of information and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency with regard to Space Debris Mitigation – in close cooperation with the Space Safety Programme Office, Planetary Protection, Human Spaceflight and Nuclear Power Sources Safety;
•    ensuring frequent exchange of information and cooperation with NASA and JAXA for mission assurance and safety matters in the framework of the ESA/NASA/JAXA trilateral cooperation agreement.

•    cooperating with international partners and other bodies and stakeholders on the development, maintenance and implementation of multilateral policies, requirements and standards for Space Debris Mitigation, Safety and Planetary Protection;
•    managing the resources of the Office;
•    supporting the activities of the relevant Competence Domains.


In the performance of your tasks you will be supported by:
-    The ESA Planetary Protection Officer;
-    Human Spaceflight and Nuclear Safety Systems Engineers;
-    Space Debris Mitigation and Re-entry Safety Engineers


Technical competencies

General background and experience in the technical domains covered by the position

Experience of space systems issues

Knowledge of the industrial landscape, test facilities and industry best practices, i.e. relevant strategic and technological trends and developments, both inside and outside the space domain

Knowledge of ESA technology programmes and the organisation of R&D activities

Experience with ESA project reviews and associated panel leadership

Ability to lead disciplinary and inter-disciplinary groups of top experts


Behavioural competencies

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


Education

A master’s degree or PhD in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline is required for this post.


Additional requirements

In addition to the abovementioned competencies and education, you should also have:
•    proven experience in safety management and systems safety engineering, in particular in conducting independent flight safety reviews;
•    hands-on experience with spacecraft development as well as knowledge of launch and re-entry safety analysis techniques, of re-entry safety critical system functions as well as a working knowledge of orbital mechanics;
•    experience in the development of systems for human spaceflight;
•    proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a team of experts in a project or R&D environment;
•    experience with NASA and JAXA mission assurance organisations in the framework of cooperative programmes;
•    the ability to provide strategic direction to the individuals and teams within the Office and relate team objectives to the overall and 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;
•    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 integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.
•    knowledge and experience of the safety of nuclear power sources for space applications would be an asset.


Other Information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework .

For further information please visit: Professionals , What we offer   and FAQ


The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required.
Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests. 

At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities.  Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace.  The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us at [email protected] .

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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented or balanced Member States*.
(https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/NationalityTargets.pdf )

In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service. 

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.



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