ESA Graduate Trainee in Project Portfolio Analysis & Support in Real Estate & Facilities Management

Our team and mission

Based at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands) or ESOC (Darmstadt, Germany), you will join the Real Estate and Facilities Management (REFM) Department, which has responsibility for eight sites across Europe, with a total of approximately 250,000 sqm of working space as well as technical facilities, and a population of over 7,000 staff and contractors.

The Development and Coordination Office (DCO) is a staff function within the REFM Department ensuring cross-departmental alignment of activities as well as supporting the development of the department’s scope and strategic initiatives. Within the DCO is the Project Portfolio Management Office (PPMO), which provides structured control and governance over the REFM project portfolio, supporting alignment of projects with departmental and Agency objectives.

Reporting to the Head of the REFM Development and Coordination Office, you will provide support to the PPMO team across a broad portfolio of projects.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

In this role, your specific tasks and responsibilities will include:

• In support of department activities and projects, gather and verify the quality and completeness of real estate and facilities project-related data (e.g., ESA Green Agenda projects, Common Infrastructure Plan projects) from REFM teams across ESA sites.
• Collect and analyse operational metrics to support planning, performance tracking, and long-term improvement initiatives within the REFM portfolio.
• Contribute to the preparation of management reports and visual summaries, such as dashboards, charts, and data visualisations, to support communication with senior management and other stakeholders.
• Build effective working relationships with relevant internal stakeholders to support smooth, coordinated and reliable data-collection and reporting processes.
• Coordinate the annual assessment of environmental impacts, including gathering and consolidating data needed for greenhouse gas reporting and other environmental performance indicators.
• Assist in maintaining documentation and procedures, including those related to REFM projects and environmental or energy-management frameworks, and support internal/external audit activities when required.
• Support awareness and communication activities that promote REFM projects, efficient operations, and responsible resource use across the built environment.
• Assist in the adoption and use of digital tools and software that improve data integrity, streamline reporting, and enhance visibility of facilities performance.
• Collaborate with external service providers and suppliers to improve products, services, and processes that contribute to a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable facilities portfolio.

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

Education

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in real estate and facilities management, project management, sustainability, environmental science, data science, engineering, or a related field.

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.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications can only be 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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).

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.

*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.