Talent Management Expert

The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting a Talent Management Expert to join a dynamic, international team in the Talent and Culture Competence Centre, a Division within the Human Resources Department comprising over 100 internal and external professionals delivering high-quality HR services to a workforce of more than 7,700 across the Agency.

The Division develops HR policies, processes and solutions across a broad range of fields, including talent acquisition, employer branding, internal and external mobility, performance management, promotions, feedback, talent reviews and succession planning, on and offboarding, leadership assessment and development, employee engagement and experience, organisational culture and employee listening.

In this role, you will make a tangible impact in shaping a skills-based talent strategy, and in delivering, in one or more fields, solutions that directly support ESA’s missions and long-term workforce sustainability.

Description

As a Talent Management Expert, you will:

• research, benchmark, design and implement leading practice HR programmes, talent policies, frameworks, solutions and processes;
• collaborate with stakeholders in HR, across the Agency and with external partners, maintaining continuous dialogue to integrate feedback, and ensure that HR policies and solutions align with the needs of the organisation and the business areas;
• prepare high-quality and synthetic materials, such as policies, frameworks, processes and their communications, to key stakeholders ranging from end users to top management;
• leverage people analytics, metrics and employee insights such as surveys and KPIs to enable strategic and evidence-based solutions and integrate continuous improvement in the life cycle of all talent products;
• contribute to the HR digital agenda through the exploration of innovative methodologies and emerging technologies.

Technical competencies

• Experience managing HR policies and talent solutions in large and multicultural organisations
• Knowledge and experience in change management, people analytics and continuous improvement
• Ability to analyse and visualise data and advise peers and stakeholders on their impact and benefits for target audiences
• Knowledge of HR best practices, including current and emerging policies, trends and methodologies
• Good stakeholder management and collaboration skills across various organisational levels and experience of serving as a central source of expertise
• Excellent English drafting and communication abilities, enabling clear synthesis of complex information for a diverse range of audiences, including senior management and the Executive Board

Behavioural competencies

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

Education and professional experience

A master’s degree in e.g. Human Resources, Business Administration, Engineering, Law or Psychology is required for this post, together with at least four years of hands-on experience in HR policies and talent management solutions.

Alternatively, candidates with a bachelor’s degree, complemented by an additional 4 years of relevant professional experience in the above-mentioned domains, can be considered.

Additional requirements

• Experience in carrying out qualitative studies, including surveys and focus groups, and reviewing literature.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: sourcing strategies, selection processes and toolkits, mobility frameworks, employee listening initiatives (from design and communication to implementation and follow-up actions).
• Strong digital and data savviness and experience.
• Knowledge of latest methodologies such as agile, design thinking and lean management.

This job requisition aims to establish a reserve list of suitable candidates for upcoming and future recruitment needs for the next two years.

The post is expected to be subject to rotation in line with ESA’s mobility and workforce needs.

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.