Copernicus Missions Managers

Copernicus Missions Managers

EUMETSAT - European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

Darmstadt, Germany

EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation based in Darmstadt, Germany. Our vision is to be the leading user-driven operational agency in Europe and a trusted global partner for weather and Earth system monitoring from space. All data provided by our state-of-the-art satellites systems are making a tangible difference in people's lives and contribute to the thriving European economy.

EUMETSAT is seeking two experienced professionals to join the Copernicus Programme Office (CPO) in the Operations and Support to Users (OPS) Department. These positions will play a significant role in managing key Earth observation missions under the Copernicus Programme:

• Copernicus Sentinel-3 Mission Manager;
• Copernicus Altimetry Missions Manager.

Both roles will support the Copernicus Programme Manager (CPM) in overseeing mission-related activities and ensuring alignment with the obligations of the Copernicus Agreement between EUMETSAT and the European Commission (EC).

The Copernicus Sentinel-3 Mission Manager will be responsible for leading Sentinel-3 programme interactions with the EC and ESA, coordinating mission operations, upgrades, and future developments in collaboration with ESA and other stakeholders. This includes ensuring the readiness of Sentinel-3C and Sentinel-3D for launch, commissioning, and routine operations.

The Copernicus Altimetry Missions Manager will oversee the management of operational Copernicus altimetry missions, including Sentinel-6, Jason-3, and future missions like CRISTAL. This role involves managing stakeholder relations, ensuring the seamless operation and evolution of these missions, and maintaining agreements with partners such as ESA, the EC, and international collaborators.

Applicants should indicate their preference for which post they wish to apply for (Sentinel-3 or Altimetry Missions) in their application.

These positions offer a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of Copernicus, Europe’s flagship Earth observation programme, by shaping the future of satellite-based environmental monitoring.

What you’ll be doing

• Manage the mission related tasks (for either Sentinel-3 OR Sentinel-6 and Jason-3) as outlined in the Copernicus Agreement between EUMETSAT and ESA or the EC, in close coordination the EUMETSAT user support, operations, science and engineering teams and international partners;
• Manage the relevant agreements with partners and external stakeholders as concerns Copernicus missions in operation;
• Coordinate, in close cooperation with the Copernicus user support, engineering, operations and science teams, the analysis and implementation of change requests initiated by the Commission, ESA, international partners or other Copernicus entities, ensuring optimal communication between the teams;
• Manage the analysis and implementation of mission related change requests initiated by the EC, ESA or other Copernicus entities;
• Maintain the Copernicus baseline documentation and related plans as regards Copernicus Sentinel-3 or Altimetry missions in operation;
• Prepare the mission inputs to the Copernicus implementation plan and status reports, specifically to the EUMETSAT Management Board, EUMETSAT member states and ESA/the EC;
• Interface with the Copernicus Services and users for mission (Sentinel-3 OR Sentinel-6 and Jason-3) programmatic matters, ensuring efficient two-way communication to guarantee that the current and planned EUMETSAT mission activities continue to meet the needs of these services;
• Manage the development activities for the recurrent satellites, interfacing with the relevant satellite and ground segment managers and ensuring readiness of the EUMETSAT systems and teams to support the respective launch and commissioning activities and prepare for routine operations.

What we offer

• Excellent salary, of up to Euro 9,000 NET (after income tax) based on skills and experience;
• Flexible working time including additional flexi-leave;
• Full medical coverage for employee and family;
• Attractive pension;
• 30 days of annual leave + 14.5 days public holidays;
• Training and development support;
• Relocation allowance and support (if applicable).

Requirements

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field such as engineering, space systems, earth observation.

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience directly working in international, highly operational and time critical environments, preferably directly related to satellite operations, earth observation or management of large-scale space-related activities;
• Excellent understanding of the use of satellite data for operational applications;
• Ability to understand and synthesise complex issues and apply these to decision making processes;
• Very strong technical background in ideally one or more fields of: satellite operations, engineering and data services;
• Innovation oriented mindset and opportunities-based thinking combined with strong analytical skills in establishing technical but also strategic trade-offs;
• Excellent interpersonal, team working and communication (both oral and in writing) skills, with a proven ability to apply these to working within and across international and diverse teams.

Languages

• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH. WE WILL BE UNABLE TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OTHER LANGUAGES.

EUMETSAT is an international organisation employing staff from across all 30 member states and this role is being advertised on multiple international job boards, but please note that this role would be based in Darmstadt, Germany and would require international applicants to relocate if successful.

More about us

EUMETSAT’s role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member and Cooperating States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT can recruit nationals only from the 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).

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