IPMA Senior Manager - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

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:

• Ensure strong project management knowledge is established from project inception
• Empower Project Managers to monitor and control project baseline effectively
• Support definition of harmonised project management digital tools and data collection
• Lead and contribute to Corporate Project Reviews, Investigation/Enquiry Boards, Project Resource Assessments and Peer Reviews
• Support review of Projects' Plans (IPREV) as Chair, System or Expert
• Participate in Directorates organizations assessments
• Oversee preparation activities for ESA Council at ministerial level reviews
• Critically review key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics related to ESA programme/project portfolio

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in engineering and/or management
• Experience: Minimum of eight years of proven experience as a project manager within the space systems and payload sectors
• Key skills: Knowledge of spacecraft system engineering, platforms, payloads and operations, Knowledge of mission risks, costs and schedule aspects, Knowledge of project management and procurement processes, Knowledge of ESA standards and policies, Knowledge of programme reviews, Knowledge of risk management, Strong leadership capabilities, Effective communication and facilitation skills, Ability to manage complex projects

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Working arrangements: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Independent Programme Management Authority, Inspector General's Office, Director General's Services.

Position details

Reference

1147007201

Last Verified

12 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for IPMA Senior Manager at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1147007201.

Job Requisition ID:19149

Date Posted:10 November 2026

Closing Date:24 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:Internal & External

Type of Appointment (learn more):4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate:Director General's Services

This post is classified A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale with some possibility of being upgraded to A5 after one year were your performance to be judged to be excellent.

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

IPMA Senior Manager in the Independent Programme Management Authority, Inspector General’s Office, Director General’s Services.

The Independent Programme Management Authority (IPMA) is intended to address project management challenges by institutionalising project management and control process ownership, alongside initiatives in digitalisation, compliance monitoring, and training and certification, and by establishing a veto/escalation process.

Duties

The purpose of this strategic role is to overhaul and enhance project execution practices across the Agency, ensuring projects are completed in accordance with quality targets, on time and within budget.

Your main objectives will be as follows:

- Ensure that a strong project management knowledge is established from a project’s inception, favouring the definition of a realistic project baseline and maximising the capability to achieve the project quality targets, schedule and costs. - Empower Project Managers to monitor and control the project baseline effectively with the support of lean and efficient compliance and performance monitoring processes; - Supporting the definition of harmonised project management digital tools and data collection, to support project and program manager in the managing the risks and act upon them. - Support and contribute to the execution of the ESA projects and programmes with your experience and knowledge by:

- Leading and contributing to Corporate Project Reviews, Investigation/Enquiry Boards, Project Resource Assessments and Peer Reviews at both Directorate and project level; - Support the review of Projects’ Plans (IPREV) during as Chair, System or Expert;

- Support the ESA top management by: - * Participating in Directorates organizations assessments - Overseeing the preparation activities for ESA Council at ministerial level reviews; - Critically reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics related to the ESA programme/project portfolio, including risks, cost and schedule, with the aim of detecting early signs of deviations and monitoring the overall health of the ESA programmatic activities.

- Support the definition of the project management rules and their implementation by: - * Participating in the definition of project management training, maturation and certification; - Contributing to the update of the IPMA processes (handbook) and project management requirements; - critically reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics related to the ESA programme/project portfolio, including risks, cost and schedule, with the aim of detecting early signs of deviations and monitoring the overall health of the ESA programmatic activities.

Technical competencies

Knowledge of spacecraft system engineering, platforms, payloads and operations

Knowledge of mission risks, costs and schedule aspects

Knowledge of project management and procurement processes

Knowledge of ESA standards and policies

Knowledge of programme reviews

Knowledge of risk management

Behavioural competencies

Education

A master's degree in engineering and/or management is required for this post.

Additional requirements

The Agency is seeking a highly experienced professional to play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the Agency's project and programme management practices. The ideal candidate will possess deep industry expertise, a keen understanding of common challenges, and a strategic vision for the future of space project management. You must have a senior profile, with a minimum of eight years of proven experience as a project manager within the space systems and payload sectors. Your extensive knowledge and track record will be instrumental in driving excellence and reliability across our programmes.

Additionally, candidates with one or more of the following are highly desirable:

- Strong leadership capabilities to drive a culture of accountability, efficiency and continuous improvement within project teams; - The flexibility to engage with ad hoc reviews, providing authoritative input to address unique project challenges; - A track record of managing complex projects, with the ability to navigate and rectify optimistic biases in project planning; - Effective communication and facilitation skills to lead diverse review panels/boards and committees, fostering collaboration and consensus among stakeholders.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 11 November 2026, 1 day ago.

The application deadline is 24 November 2026, 10 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 12 November 2026.

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 Noordwijk see our Noordwijk 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.