Project Controller

Description

Project Controller in the Infrastructure and Value Chain Project Control Service Operating Planning and Business Unit Controlling Office Directorate of Space Transportation.

The Operating Planning and Business Unit Controlling Office provides management support to the Directorate of Space Transportation (STS) and is responsible for the Directorates overall human and financial resources planning monitoring and reporting as well as for coordinating the activities and plans of the Directorates information systems.

The team provides project control support to all Space Transportation projects and activities and fulfils Directorate-level roles such as financial planning and consolidation risk management and reporting to management as well as to Member State committees and boards.

Duties

As Project Controller you will report to the Head of the Infrastructure and Value Chain Project Control Service and will hold key responsibilities in the preparation procurement and monitoring of complex procurements from tendering to the closure of contracts as well as for management financial and planning aspects. You will have multiple interfaces within and outside ESA including with industrial contractors when conducting negotiations and you will play a key role in supporting the Project Manager(s) with programmatic decision-making.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• preparing and updating plans (in-year multi-year and at-completion) covering industrial and operating costs (including workforce-related costs) ensuring consistency with the schedule as well as the appropriate aggregation of cross-cutting areas;
• monitoring and forecasting deviations from plans providing explanations and proposing corrective actions. Supporting project and department-level team meetings;
• preparing developing and maintaining the overall programmatic aspects on financial matters: defining the project control work breakdown structure and maintaining the related master data in alignment with the organisation; performing tasks assigned to Project Controllers in ESA ERP for assigned projects; keeping the planning up-to-date; ensuring compliance with budgetary provisions and financial regulations; monitoring industrial return by providing data and supporting related analyses; and maintaining general project administration;
• providing support for proposal evaluation negotiations with industry. Monitoring assigned contracts and ensuring industrys compliance with formal requirements for management costs schedule risks industrial return and reporting including deviations from plans and trends;
• preparing and updating the financial/workforce aspects of project plans supporting project reviews and preparing and/or supporting ad hoc analyses;
• supporting the preparation of Programme Board status reports: reporting on schedule and conducting preparation and validation tasks with Project Managers inputs to ensure concise reports are produced;
• supporting the preparation of Adjudication Committee and Industrial Policy Committee papers;
• supporting the programme closure exercise;
• supporting risk management at project level in the context of the Agency-wide risk management policy and Directorate risk management procedures;
• supporting asset management at project level;
• participating in the establishment and maintenance of the Directorates project control procedures and information systems;
• supporting the Head of the Infrastructure and Value Chain Project Control Service in the performance of their duties.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.

Education

A masters degree in business administration engineering or a related field is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• You should have previous professional experience as a controller of a project or programme preferably at Agency or industry level.
• Substantial experience is essential in the application of project control principles and advanced project control techniques as well as in the preparation negotiation and implementation of major industrial procurements.
• Experience in another function in finance controlling and auditing would be considered an asset. Some knowledge and/or understanding of space systems architecture would also be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of computer systems and information/planning/coordination tools (e.g. esa-p Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project) is essential.
• Familiarity with modern dashboard tools would be considered an asset.
• You should be able to work autonomously effectively and cooperatively. You should also be able to define and implement solutions in line with team and individual objectives and deadlines. You should possess strong written and oral communication skills and be rigorous and disciplined when working on demanding tasks. You should also have good analytical organisational and reporting skills with a proactive attitude to problem-solving.