Contracts Officer; Reserve list

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Closing Date: 14 May 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

This job opening is for the purposes of Reserve list recruitment on multiple positions.

ESA is initiating a Reserve list recruitment process to meet the consistently high demand for Contracts Officers insupport of the Agency’s cutting‑edge space projects and programmes. This Reserve list will comprise of candidates who have been pre‑assessed and pre‑approved by the ESA hiring team and who have already undergone a basic background screening. If selected, you will remain on the Reserve list for a period of 24 months, during which you will be fast‑tracked for positions in upcoming projects.

While inclusion in the Reserve list does not guarantee recruitment, it positions you as a valuable resource to fill ESA's future vacancies. When a relevant position arises, your candidacy will be reviewed. In that context, you may be invited to a brief follow‑up interview and, if successful, an offer will be made. No action is required on your part if you are placed on a Reserve list;

ESA will contact you directly about relevant opportunities.

This job requisition within the Contracts Department is intended to build a reserve pool of Contracts Officers, potentially to fill a number of positions, at ESTEC, to be confirmed during the course of 2026 or 2027. The Contracts Department is part of the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness and is organised into various divisions and services in support of ESA’s programme directorates.

The selected Contract Officer may be appointed to those located at ESTEC, namely Earth Observation, Connectivity and Secure Communications, Navigation, Human and Robotic Exploration, Science, Technology, Engineering and Quality, or work in General Procurement.

You will be entrusted with procurement activities, which you will implement autonomously in direct collaboration with the relevant initiating services. To ensure the appropriate level of independence, impartiality, transparency and compliance with the procurement tendering and contracting process, you will report directly and in an independent manner to the Head of the relevant Contracts Service.

The elements below highlight the types of responsibilities and tasks that a [Name of the Reserve List] can carry out when supporting space projects and programmes r specific duties will be further defined depending on the final appointment.

• preparing the various elements of the relevant procurement and contract documentation in close cooperation with the relevant technical services.
• organising and coordinating all stages of procurement, including issuing the invitations to tender, verifying compliant submission of proposals and their admissibility,
• evaluating them, and negotiating the resulting contract with the selected economic operators.
• ensuring compliance with the relevant key performance indicators (KPls) and innovation of the procurement processes with a view to improving the time to contract.
• providing guidance for applying the relevant, up‑to‑date legal and industrial policy measures throughout the procurement/tendering and contracting process.
• ensuring awareness and understanding of ESA’s procurement/tendering and contracting processes on the part of the relevant stakeholders.
• safeguarding full compliance of all assigned procurement activities with ESA’s rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• monitoring the performance of the contracts, including the negotiation of all amendments.
• dealing with administrative, contractual, legal and industrial matters that may arise, including matters involving regular and direct interaction with industrial counterparts.
• building a relationship of trust with the project managers/technical officers and their respective teams, advising them on all procurement‑related matters.

Extensive knowledge of contract, public procurement and international business law

Understanding of intellectual property issues

Experience with public tendering and contracting

Ability to assess tender documents and draft tailored conditions

Knowledge of European and international business environments,…