ESA Graduate Trainee in IT Application Services

Our team and mission

The Application Services team, within the IT Department, is responsible for management of corporate business portfolios/domains (such as finance, procurement and human resources) and are the custodians of business applications at ESA. Each of these portfolios are led by a Portfolio Manager responsible for maintenance and evolution of business applications to cater the present and future needs of business stakeholders. The overall Corporate Application estate is governed by Application Architect, and process architecture is key to ensure process consistency and process change management. Given the speed of technological progress and change, one of the missions of our team is to ensure and support the business with quality of business processes documented and maintained amidst the rapid technological change.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

As an ESA Graduate Trainee in the Applications Services team, you will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities:

• Process Mapping - Creating detailed flowcharts and diagrams to visualise current processes in the corporate business portfolios
• • Learning Objective: Understand how to identify and map process steps, decision points, and bottlenecks.
• Stakeholder Interviews - Conducting interviews with key personnel to gather insights on current practices and pain points.
• • Learning Objective: Develop interpersonal communication skills and learn to extract critical information from diverse stakeholders.
• Documentation Standardisation - Developing templates for process documentation that ensure consistency and clarity across departments.
• • Learning Objective: Master document management and learn the importance of standardization in process documentation.
• Gap Analysis - Analysing the differences between current processes and best practices or industry standards.
• • Learning Objective: Gain skills in analytical thinking and problem-solving within a business context.
• Procedure Writing - Drafting detailed procedures for each process, ensuring they are actionable and straightforward.
• • Learning Objective: Improve technical writing skills and learn how to translate complex processes into clear, step-by-step guides.
• Process Improvement Proposals - Suggesting enhancements or automation opportunities based on documentation findings.
• • Learning Objective: Cultivate critical thinking for innovation and efficiency in process management.
• Compliance Check - Ensuring that all documented processes adhere to legal and regulatory requirements in each domain.
• • Learning Objective: Understand the regulatory landscape affecting business operations and compliance documentation.
• Training Material Development - Creating training materials based on process documentation for staff onboarding and continuous training.
• • Learning Objective: Learn how to translate process documents into educational content, enhancing presentation and educational design skills.
• Change Management Support - Assisting in implementing changes by documenting transition plans and training sessions.
• • Learning Objective: Grasp the principles of change management and how documentation supports organisational transformation.
• Review and Update - Regularly reviewing existing documents to update them with new changes or improvements.
• • Learning Objective: Understand the importance of maintaining up-to-date documentation and continuous improvement in business processes.

These activities are designed to not only familiarise the EGT with the intricacies of various business functions but also to equip them with practical skills in process analysis, documentation, process reengineering and process orchestration.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domains
• Relevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activities
• General knowledge of the space sector and relevant activities
• Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

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

Additional requirements

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.