Intern in the Contracts Department - Earth Observation Contracts Service

The Intern in the Contracts Department - Earth Observation Contracts Service will join the Earth Observation Contracts Service team, in the Contracts Department.

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Our team and mission

The Service is composed of a Head of Service (the Manager) and 15 team members. The Service is in charge of small to medium R&D procurements as well as large satellite procurements. Such procurements encompass ESA classical fully funded Mission, as well as Missions in partnership with the European Union (e.g. Copernicus) and EUMETSAT (e.g. Meteorological Missions).

As an intern you will have the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the full procurement cycle under the Agency’s procurement rules and how the Agency’s rules are adapted for EU co-funded procurements.

This will give you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the different public procurement rules (ESA, EU) and get a solid knowledge of the underlying public procurement principles.

Field(s) of activity for the internship

As an intern, you will be involved in the following activities:

• analysis of the ESA Contracting Regulations and ESA’s unique rules and context;
• analysis of the ESA procurement rules as adapted for activities funded by the EU;
• analysis of the ESA General Clauses and Conditions for ESA Contracts;
• participation in the full procurement cycle starting from the preparation of tender packages, issue of the tender, evaluation of the proposals and placement of the Contracts.

Through the participation in the above activities you will have a clear view of the main principles of public procurement applying to ESA procurements and at the same time you will have learnt the principles and international standards applicable to public procurement around the world which are mirrored in the ESA procurement rules.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

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

Knowledge and background in Contract and European Law is an asset.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

Nationality

Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).