JOB DESCRIPTION

The SatCen is seeking suitable candidates to establish a reserve list for the position of Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI) Project Officer.

Reporting to the Head of RTDI Unit, the Project Officer will be responsible for the implementation of Capability Development initiatives and projects. The role will involve a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following:

To contribute to the preparation of proposals in the frame of EU Research and Innovation programmes, as well as to support the writing of programmatic, strategic and procurement documents.
To contribute to the implementation of projects by supporting the day-by-day execution of related activities, including participating in meetings and preparing suitable papers / deliverables / documents.
To interact with relevant stakeholders, to collect user requirements, to define suitable use cases and to support the validation of Earth Observation (EO) pilot applications.
To develop solutions to exploit EO data in line with SatCen responsibilities, with the final objective of enlarging the SatCen portfolio.
To support the dissemination and communication activities related to project results or outcomes of internal initiatives in relevant events and fora (e.g. GEO).
To undertake additional duties, appropriate to the grade, as directed by the Head of RTDI Unit or by the Head of Division.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university degree of at least four years attested by a diploma in a scientific field as Physics, Engineering or Geography
Proven experience of at least one year in working in R&I projects within EU R&I frameworks (e.g. Horizon Europe or European Defence Fund);
Proven experience of at least one year in working with satellite EO data, processing and applications, preferably in the Space and Security domain;
Proven experience of at least one year working in international organizations;
Proven experience of at least one year working in communication and dissemination activities related to R&I results, including the organization of suitable events.

Desirable:

Knowledge of tools and solutions for the management and development of AI/ML and other innovative technologies (e.g. Digital Twins) in the EO domain;
Knowledge of software engineering practices related to EO data exploitation;
Knowledge of current EO initiatives at European and global scales (e.g. EC, EDA, ESA, GEO);
Knowledge of the institutional framework and decision-making procedures of SatCen, and the EU in general.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

Essential:

Excellent drafting, reporting and written / verbal communication skills;
Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, including ability to work flexibly and independently without supervision.

All essential and desirable criteria are evaluated so as to identify the most suitable candidates.

ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be considered eligible, candidates must satisfy all of the following eligibility criteria by the closing date for submitting applications:

Be a national of one of the Member States of the Union and enjoy their full rights as citizen;
Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;
Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of English (at least level B2 ), the working language of SatCen, and of a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the EU to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties;

In addition, candidates must:

Hold a security clearance at least at the level of EU SECRET, or equivalent. In case the successful candidate is not in possession of such a clearance at the time of submitting an application, the SatCen will request it, and no appointment will be fully confirmed until the security clearance has been received by the competent national authority. In addition, and during the selection procedure, candidates will need to declare any particular circumstances which could be in conflict with the performance of their duties at SatCen.
Be physically fit to perform their duties. Prior to the appointment the successful candidate will be medically examined to fulfil the requirement of Article 6 of the SatCen Staff Regulations;

As the SatCen is situated in an air force base outside of Madrid, with limited access by public transport to the entrance of the base and no public transport on the base itself, a driving licence is highly desirable. It is the duty of any staff member to get to the office by its own means.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Successful candidate(s) may be offered a contract as a temporary staff member in accordance with the SatCen Staff Regulations, for an initial period of 4 (four) years, renewable.

Successful candidate(s) who will be offered a contract of employment will, on their entry into service, be placed in grade B4, and step 1, 2 or 3 depending on the length of their relevant professional experience. The basic monthly salaries in the different grades and steps of the Coordinated Organisations salary scale are published on the SatCen’s website.

In addition to the basic monthly salary, the following benefits might apply:

Additional specific allowances (e.g. expatriation (up to 18% of the salary), household, dependent child, education, installation), depending on the individual’s family situation and the place of origin;
Flexible work arrangements (such as part-time work, flexible working hours, teleworking, home leave) under certain conditions; • Training and development opportunities;
Annual leave entitlement of 30 days;
Maternity/paternity leave and parental leave under certain conditions;
Private Medical Insurance Scheme enabling access to worldwide medical care;
Defined-benefit pension scheme, with right to a retirement pension accrued after 10 years of service.

The salary is subject to a community tax deducted at source and exempt of national taxation.