Head of Spaceport Operations & Kourou Office

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY; Kourou; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mobility opportunities

Job summary

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY seeks a dynamic leader to head the CSG Operations and Kourou Office Division in French Guiana. You will oversee infrastructure, operations and external relations, ensuring safety, efficiency and strategic alignment with Europe’s space transportation goals.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary team, coordinate with authorities and industry, and drive transformation of the spaceport to improve resilience and sustainability for future launch campaigns.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in managing complex engineering, infrastructure or operational programmes.
• Solid knowledge of ground segment, launch site and/or operational infrastructure systems.
• Proven experience in the space sector, preferably with a space agency, launch organisation or related industry.
• Experience in assessing and justifying infrastructure investments and business cases.
• Good understanding of launcher and payload preparation activities and launch campaigns.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as ESA’s senior representative in French Guiana and coordinate with local and national authorities, institutional partners and industry.
• Oversee infrastructure, facilities and operational activities at Europe’s Spaceport (CSG).
• Define and implement the long-term evolution strategy for the spaceport and its infrastructure.
• Manage ESA’s external relations, communication and outreach in the territory.
• Ensure safety, compliance, performance and efficiency of spaceport assets and operations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Strategic thinking

Risk management

Communication

Education

Master's degree in engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, physics, industrial engineering or another relevant discipline

Job description

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY seeks a dynamic leader to head the CSG Operations and Kourou Office Division in French Guiana. You will oversee infrastructure, operations and external relations, ensuring safety, efficiency and strategic alignment with Europe’s space transportation goals.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary team, coordinate with authorities and industry, and drive transformation of the spaceport to improve resilience and sustainability for future launch campaigns.