Schedule and Risk Management Expert (ESA/ESTEC)

Octagon Professionals is looking for a Schedule and Risk Management Expert to support the definition and maintenance of Project Schedules for the Navigation directorate of ESTEC, in Noordwijk. The role is pivotal for providing expert support to eight projects: Galileo, Egnos, HSNAV, NAVISP, LeoPNT, H2020, and Genesis.


The service is based in ESTEC in Noordwijk, the NL and supports remotely the site of CST in Toulouse, France.


Please note, that the successful candidate will be employed by Octagon Professionals.


The tasks include the following:

• Co-ordinate project schedule and risk support ensuring common approaches and tools are followed.




• Provide support to project teams in schedule control and periodic monitoring.




• Perform analysis of incoming schedules, including metrics on quality, critical path analysis, float summary and assess the schedule performance at the required level.




• Provide expert schedule and risk support, inputs, evaluations, and recommendations to project teams during major procurement activities.




• Set up and configure schedule and risk tools.




• Coordinate and support schedule/risk meetings with the ESA project teams.




• Determine the criticality of scheduled activities on NAV projects, such as Galileo, EGNOS, H2020, Genesis, etc. Run simulations and what-if scenarios to support the decision-making process of management and technical teams.




• Set up and maintain trend charts and templates for reporting progress.




• Set up and maintain schedule performance indicators and quality metrics for project schedules.




• Prepare periodic quarterly and ad-hoc reports documenting schedule performance status and analysis.




• Provide expert support to the ESA Project Manager, project controller and project team in the risk management process.




• Assist NAV Project Control in the design and implementation of new schedule and risk control techniques, state-of-the-art tools and procedures and potential AI applications.




• Provide expert advice to the PMSO Office on the use or introduction of new schedule and risk management IT tools.




• Proactively contribute to the development, maintenance and update of schedule and risk standards, practices, and processes within the Agency's programs.




• Proactively contribute to the Agency's activities in capturing knowledge and elaborating best practices documentation in schedule and risk control.




• Elaborate training materials and deliver the trainings to the ESA teams.




• Support queries and issues on the tools used for schedule and risk management.

Job Requirements/Competences:

• A minimum education - Master's degree in STEM. Professional training in relevant subjects is an asset.




• Master-level expertise in the use of scheduling and risk management tools and techniques.




• Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience.




• Demonstrated experience in the space sector.




• High capacity to interact and communicate with international teams, and technical and business domains.




• Service delivery orientation.




• Effective time management.




• Highly proficient in communication in English (written and oral).




• Ability to act independently, as all as in a team.




• Forward thinking and proactive approach.

We offer:

• Attractive remuneration package.




• Up to 30 vacation days & additional 12 public holidays based on the 40-hour working week.




• Advice from our Learning & Development Specialist on most suitable training/courses.




• Extra budget and up to 5 extra days off for your professional development.




• Pension contribution to a tailor-made pension scheme.




• Yearly subscription to the ESTEC gym facilities and a swimming pool.




• Assistance with relocation in case you are moving to The Netherlands from abroad.

Ready for this new challenge? Apply now and let's get in touch!


Octagon Professionals International is a full-service recruitment and HR services firm with 30 years of experience in the European and international market. Our large network of professionals across multiple functional areas, and multi-national team provide flexible solutions customised to individual client needs.


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European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC)