Contracts Officer

European Space Agency - ESA; Darmstadt; Vor Ort; EUR 50.000 - 70.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A prominent space agency in Darmstadt seeks a Contracts Officer to enhance the management of procurement activities. This role involves preparing contract documents, coordinating procurement stages, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Candidates must have a master's in law and at least six years of relevant experience, along with strong negotiation skills and a comprehensive understanding of contract law. This position offers an opportunity to play a vital role in supporting mission operations through effective contract management.

Qualifikationen

• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience in contracts or public procurement.
• Completed advanced studies with a specialization in public contract law.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Aufgaben

• Prepare procurement and contract documentation.
• Organize and coordinate all stages of procurement.
• Monitor performance of contracts, including negotiation of amendments.

Kenntnisse

Extensive knowledge of contract law

Understanding of financial aspects of contracts

Strong negotiation skills

Experience with public tendering

Ability to assess tender documents

Ausbildung

Master's in law

Jobbeschreibung

Job Requisition ID: 20151

Date Posted: 18 December 2025

Application Deadline: 8 January 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment: 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness

Workplace: Darmstadt, DE

Grade Band: A2 - A4

Location

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Description

Contracts Officer reporting to the Head of the Mission Operations & Ground Segment Engineering Contracts Service, Operations & Ground Segment Contracts Division, Contracts Department, Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness.

The Mission Operations & Ground Segment Engineering Contracts Service deals with contracts for Mission Operations and Ground Systems technology/infrastructure developments including software developments as well as contracts in the area of Space Situational Awareness and Space Safety.

You will be entrusted with procurement activities which you will implement autonomously in direct collaboration with the respective initiating services. To ensure the appropriate level of independence, impartiality, transparency and compliance with the procurement tendering and contracting process, you will report in an independent manner directly to the Head of the Mission Operations & Ground Segment Engineering Contracts Service.

Duties

• preparing the various elements of the relevant procurement and contract documentation in close cooperation with the relevant technical services;
• organising and coordinating all stages of procurement, including issuing the invitations to tender, verifying the compliant submission of proposals and their admissibility, evaluating them, and negotiating the resulting contract with the selected economic operators;
• ensuring compliance with the relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and innovation of the procurement processes with a view to improving the time-to-contract;
• providing guidance for applying the relevant and up-to-date legal and industrial policy measures throughout the procurement/tendering and contracting process;
• ensuring awareness and understanding of ESA's procurement/tendering and contracting processes to the relevant stakeholders;
• safeguarding full compliance of all assigned procurement activities with ESA's rules, regulations, policies and strategies;
• monitoring the performance of the contracts, including the negotiation of all amendments;
• dealing with administrative, contractual, legal, and industrial issues that may arise, including issues involving regular and direct interaction with industrial counterparts;
• building a relationship of trust with the Project Managers/Technical Officers and their respective teams, advising them on all procurement-related matters.

Technical competencies

• Extensive knowledge of contract, public procurement, and international business law
• Understanding of intellectual property issues
• Experience with public tendering and contracting
• Ability to assess tender documents and draft tailored conditions
• Knowledge of European and international business environments, ideally in the space sector
• Understanding of financial aspects of contracts
• Strong negotiation skills

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

A master's in law is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• completed advanced studies with a specialisation in (public) contract law;
• at least 6 years of relevant professional experience in contracts and/or public procurement gained in a public administration setting or in an international organisation, business, or a specialised law firm;
• excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
• a customer focus, with sound judgement in solving problems;
• discretion and integrity;
• the ability to interact with multiple international actors and to work collaboratively in a team to achieve organisational goals;
• operational efficiency, including excellent planning and organisation skills and the ability to manage several tasks efficiently in parallel;
• openness to change and flexibility in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to reflect on experience and adapt your approach accordingly;
• the ability to perform consistently, even under pressure;
• the ability to grasp new and large-scale/complex concepts quickly;
• the ability to understand and formulate contractual and legal texts in English;
• the ability to understand issues of a technical and management nature.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

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 via email at [e-mail].

Important Information and Disclaimer

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

Nationality and Languages

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

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 Member States*.

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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.