Director of Space Operations - European Space Agency (Darmstadt)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Oversee the Directorate of Space Operations ensuring delivery of world-class operational capabilities
• Shape and implement a coherent ESA-wide strategy for space operations
• Steer the future of space operations in Europe with focus on cost-efficiency and cutting-edge technologies
• Manage both programme and support components within ESA's matrix organisation
• Prepare and execute flight operations for ESA missions and associated ground segment management
• Manage space safety activities and operational services
• Serve as ESA's representative in the Space Situational Awareness Programme Board
• Manage ESA-wide radio frequency management and coordination

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree, preferably in a technical or scientific domain
• Experience: More than 10 years' experience in senior management positions at executive level and in the management of teams and programmes of significant size in terms of budget and human resources, preferably in an international context. Extensive experience in space operations with proven track record of collaboration at institutional level with international partners, agencies and industry.
• Key skills: Strong strategic acumen with ability to define and drive long-term vision, Foster innovation and implement transformative approaches, Extensive experience in space operations, Building strong relationships with key stakeholders, Innovative spirit and strategically oriented mind, Proven capacity to lead change and manage people and teams, Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills, Ability to influence high-level decisions, Understanding of state-of-the-art operations concepts and future evolution, Excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Directorate of Space Operations.

Position details

Reference

1406041433

Last Verified

24 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Director of Space Operations at ESA based in Darmstadt (Other). The vacancy reference is 1406041433.

Job Requisition ID:20681

Date Posted:18 June 2026

Closing Date:30 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Space Operations

[French version](https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/careers/JR_20681_Director_of_Space_Operations_FR.pdf)

Location

ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany. Regular travel to other ESA sites is required.

## Description

The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting a strategic leader to oversee the Directorate of Space Operations ensuring the delivery of world-class operational capabilities across ESA programmes while driving technology development, innovation, and standardisation in space operations.

European space operations are strategic assets that require leadership extending beyond technical management and operational expertise. A Director with a strong strategic vision, coupled with the ability to foster cross-institutional coordination and effective outreach, is essential to align space operations with ESA’s Member States’ needs and EU priorities. This role must also navigate a complex stakeholder landscape and ensure long-term coherence across ESA’s space programmes.

In this role, you will play a central part in positioning ESA and its industrial ecosystem at the forefront of space operations, both within Europe and globally.

The Directorate of Space Operations comprises approximately 600 staff and contractors across multiple sites in Europe, with an annual budget of around €400 million.

The European Space Agency is Europe's gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA’s annual budget in 2026 is 8.26 billion Euro.

## Duties

Reporting directly to the Director General, you will be a member of the ESA Executive Board, contributing to Agency-wide strategic leadership and decision-making. Under delegation from the Director General, your main responsibilities will include:

Defining an ESA-wide strategy for space operations

You will shape and implement a coherent ESA-wide strategy for space operations, ensuring alignment across programmes, stakeholders and industrial partners.

Driving efficiency and innovation

You will steer the future of space operations in Europe, with a strong focus on cost-efficiency and the effective adoption of cutting-edge technologies as key enablers of performance, competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

Programme and support responsibilities

Within ESA’s matrix organisation, comprising programme and support directorates, you will be responsible for both a programme component and a support component.

The support component covers the preparation and execution of flight operations for ESA missions and other missions assigned to the Directorate, as well as the engineering, management and operation of the associated ground segment throughout the entire mission life cycle.

The programme component encompasses activities related to space safety and associated operational services. In this capacity, you will be ESA’s representative in the Space Situational Awareness Programme Board. You will also be responsible for the ESA-wide radio frequency management and coordination.

Acting as Head of Establishment

Furthermore, as Head of Establishment at ESOC, you will be responsible for relations with the administrative authorities of the host country, for on-site health, safety, environmental, and security provisions.

Leadership, people management and risk management

You will actively work to ensure the well-being, motivation, training and career progression of your Directorate workforce, incentivising a spirit of initiative, transparency, information flow and collaboration with other Directorates.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing, and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

## Technical competencies

Strong strategic acumen, with the ability to define and drive long-term vision, foster innovation and implement transformative approaches to enhance operational performance, efficiency and resilience, including openness to disruptive concepts and technologies

Extensive experience in space operations, with a proven track record of collaboration at institutional level with international partners, agencies and industry, contributing to the development and delivery of complex operational ecosystems

More than 10 years' experience in senior management positions at executive level and in the management of teams and programmes of significant size in terms of budget and human resources, preferably in an international context

Building strong relationships with key stakeholders to drive successful business outcomes

## Behavioural competencies

## Education

Applicants for this post should have at least a master’s, preferably in a technical or scientific domain.

## Additional requirements

Key qualities required for the post are an innovative spirit and a strategically oriented mind, a proven capacity to lead change and manage people and teams, excellent relationship management, negotiation skills and the ability to influence high-level decisions.

In addition, you should have:

* an excellent understanding of state-of-the-art operations concepts and their future evolution, including disruptive technologies, processes and tools; * the ambition to reduce costs and increase efficiency while delivering top quality services; * demonstrated excellent leadership, relationship management and communication skills; * the ability to reach solution-oriented, pragmatic, timely decisions of a high standard and with integrity as well as to support others (team members, upper management, other stakeholders) in this process.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 17 July 2026, 9 days ago.

The application deadline is 30 July 2026, 2 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 24 July 2026 (2 days ago).

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Darmstadt see our Darmstadt location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.