Lead Project Controller

Job Title: Lead Project Controller (VN 25/28)

EUMETSAT, Europe's meteorological satellite agency, operates a fleet of satellites delivering weather and climate-related data and images worldwide to help protect lives, property, and industries.

Within our Project Planning and Control Competence Area (PPC CA), the Lead Project Controller is responsible for financial, budget, and cost planning and control activities for two divisions: the Altimetry Missions Development Division (ALT) and the Copernicus Mission Development Division (CMD). These divisions focus on defining and developing Altimetry missions and new Copernicus/Sentinel Missions until they are handed over to operations.

The successful candidate will lead a small team of skilled Project Controllers and collaborate closely with core technical teams. They will oversee all budget and financial planning activities, ensure accuracy, and serve as the primary contact for budget control, partnering with programme management to lead resource planning, control, and reporting.

Main Duties:

1. Deliver project planning and control services to supported divisions, following documented processes, and manage the project control team;
2. Oversee project cost estimation and establish financial planning, considering complex contribution agreements with partners such as the EC and ESA;
3. Monitor annual budgets, assess in-year and multi-year cost plans, analyze deviations, identify risks, and propose recovery actions; provide progress reports including performance indicators and trend analyses;
4. Develop financial scenarios based on project changes and risks, evaluate financial impacts, and identify recovery actions with cost-at-completion and margin analysis;
5. Prepare financial meetings with partners and coordinate activities with involved project controllers;
6. Contribute to the EUMETSAT budget and financial planning process, including medium- and long-term human resource planning;
7. For activities funded by the Copernicus budget, provide consolidated financial reports to the Copernicus Programme Office;
8. Support the PPC CA Manager and contribute to the improvement of project planning and control processes, standards, and tools.

Location:

Darmstadt, Germany

Qualifications:

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

Languages:

Fluent in English; some knowledge of French is required.

Application Deadline:

19 May

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in project planning, control activities, and resource management in engineering environments with multi-year projects;
• Experience in team management, planning, and monitoring activities;
• Strong knowledge of financial systems (e.g., SAP) and proficiency in MS Excel;
• Knowledge of Power BI or similar tools is an advantage;
• Proactive with strong analytical and big-picture thinking skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills;
• Experience in a matrix organization is a plus.

Employment Conditions:

The initial contract is for 4 years, with subsequent 5-year contracts based on performance. There is no limit to follow-up contracts until retirement age (63). The position is graded A2/A4, with a negotiable salary based on skills and experience. EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits, and further details are available on their website.

EUMETSAT is committed to equal opportunity employment. Only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply, and recruitment is based on qualifications and the international character of the organization.