Our team and mission

This position is based at the ESA HQ - Paris, France

The Head of the Contracts Department, who reports to the Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, is responsible for defining contracting (procurement and partnership) policies, supporting the implementation of the Agency’s industrial policy through ESA’s contractual activities and the execution all procurement actions in accordance with the applicable ESA framework, in close cooperation with the initiators/project managers.

In particular, the Department is in charge of:

• defining and ensuring the coherent implementation of the Agency’s contracting policies, methods and procedures in coordination with the Legal Department, including the designing of contractual tools towards accelerated procurement process and commercialisation;
• defining and maintaining the necessary processes including defining IT system requirements in support of the optimal implementation of the Agency’s contracting activities, in coordination with the Information Technology Department;
• preparing and implementing the contractual aspects of all contracting activities for ESA and Third Parties (in particular EU delegated programmes) including contract negotiations and management;
• implementing the Agency’s industrial policy through its contracting activities in close coordination with the Industrial Policy and Audits Department and initiating Directorates;
• acting as the focal point for contacts with the ESA Industrial Ombudsperson;
• coordinating procurement policies with Member States and external bodies;
• defining, establishing and implementing a coherent contractual approach for manpower support contracts for all ESA establishments, in cooperation with the Human Resources Department and user Directorates;
• implementing in close cooperation with the relevant Directorates, proposal preparation and contractual aspects of third-party activities concerning the sale or loan of equipment, satellite systems, products and services to third parties.

The Head of the Contracts Department is the Chair of the Adjudication Committee. In the execution of these functions, the Head of Department is supported by the following Divisions:

• Earth Observation and Connectivity Contracts Division (CIC-CE)
• Space Transportation and Headquarters Contracts Division (CIC-CL)
• Operations and Ground Segment Contracts Division (CIC-CO)
• Navigation and EU Contracts Division (CIC-CP)
• General Procurement and Support Contracts Division (CIC-CS)
• Commercialisation and Technology Contracts Division (CIC-CT)
• Science and Exploration Contracts Division (CIC-CX)
• Responsible Contracting and Management Support Office (CIC-CM)

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions (IPR, Disclosure, DPD, export control, liability) and involvement in ESA procurement process

You will be requested to provide analysis on ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions; i.e. legal analysis of ESA specific regimes (Intellectual Property Rights, disclosure, Personal Data Protection, liability, export control, etc) and their implementation in ESA General Clauses and Conditions; with specific focus on difference between general contracts, Express Procurement contract and Manpower contract, in the frame of the Procurement Regulations reform. 

You will be offered to gain a first procurement experience in getting used to ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases, under the supervision of a Contract Officer in the division.

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

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.

Knowledge in Business Law, Contract Law, Intellectual Property Law, and public procurement law is required. 

Knowledge and background in space domain/technology is an asset.