Lead Project Controller

EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation based in Darmstadt, Germany. Our vision is to be the leading user-driven operational agency in Europe and a trusted global partner for weather and Earth system monitoring from space. All data provided by our state-of-the-art satellites systems are making a tangible difference in people’s lives and contribute to the thriving European economy.

Within our Project Planning and Control Competence Area, you will be responsible for financial, budget, cost planning and control activities for two Divisions – Altimetry Missions Development Division and Copernicus Mission Development Division, responsible for the definition and development of Altimetry missions and new Copernicus/Sentinel Missions until their hand over to operations.

In this role, you will lead a small team of skilled Project Controllers while collaborating closely with core technical teams across the organization. They will oversee all budget and financial planning activities, ensuring accuracy and effective implementation. As the primary point of contact for budget control, they will partner closely with programme management, providing leadership in resource planning, control, and reporting.

What you’ll be doing

• Deliver project planning and control services to the supported divisions, following documented processes and manage the project control team allocated to these tasks;
• Oversee project cost estimation and establish financial planning, taking into account complex contribution agreements with partner organisations (EC, ESA, etc.);
• Monitor the implementation of the yearly budget, assess in-year and multi-year cost planning, analyse deviations and identify risks and recovery actions. Provide progress reporting to management, including performance indicators and analysis of deviations and trends;
• Develop financial planning scenarios as result of project changes and programme risks and evaluate related financial impact, identifying recovery actions and providing cost-at-completion and analysis of margins;
• Prepare financial meetings with partners, and coordinate such activities with involved project controllers;
• Coordinate and deliver inputs to the EUMETSAT budget and financial planning process, including medium and long-term human resource needs;
• For activities funded by the Copernicus budget, provide consolidated financial reports to the Copernicus Programme Office;
• Support the Project Planning and Control Competence Area Manager and contribute to the overall harmonisation and improvement of project planning and control processes, standards and methodologies, working practices and tools.

What we offer

• Excellent salary, of up to Euro 7,500 NET (after income tax) based on skills and experience
• Flexible working time including additional flexi-leave
• Full medical coverage for employee and family
• Attractive pension
• 30 days of annual leave + 14.5 days public holidays
• Training and development support
• Relocation allowance and support (if applicable)

Requirements

Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering, Economics or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in project planning and control activities and in managing resource allocation, preferably in an engineering environment with multi-year projects;
• Experience of team management, including planning and monitoring of activities and keeping critical skills up-to-date;
• Proven knowledge and practice of administrative processes based on an integrated financial system (e.g. SAP) and strong MS Excel proficiency.
• Knowledge on Power BI and similar reporting tools will be considered an advantage;
• Proactivity, strong capability for independent and analytical thinking and seeing the big picture while maintaining a focus on details;
• Very good interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, with a proven ability to apply these to interact with management and stakeholders as well working within, and across, teams;
• Experience working in a matrix-based organisation would be an advantage.

Languages

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH. WE WILL BE UNABLE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OTHER LANGUAGES.

EUMETSAT is an international organisation employing staff from across all 30 member states and this role is being advertised on multiple international job boards, but please note that this role would be based in Darmstadt, Germany and would require international applicants to relocate if successful.

More about us

EUMETSAT’s role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation’s Member and Cooperating States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT can recruit nationals only from the 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).