Head of Φ-lab Explore Office

at  European Space Agency

Head of Φ-lab Explore Office
Job Requisition ID: 19233
Date Posted: 20 January 2025
Closing Date: 17 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Publication: Internal & External
Type of Contract: Permanent
Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes
Workplace:Frascati, IT
Grade Band: A2 - A4

DESCRIPTION

The Φ-lab is an innovation lab whose mission is to accelerate the future of Earth observation with the goal of strengthening Europe’s world-leading competitiveness in the science and industrial sectors, as well as serving as a “hub and catalyst” for EO and disruptive/transformative innovations to connect a growing ecosystem of innovative capabilities across Europe.
Under the direct authority of the Head of the Φ-lab Division, you will be responsible for exploring disruptive and transformative innovations originating from both the space and non-space domains, assessing their positive impact, prototyping, demonstrating, and finally enabling their adoption in the EO ecosystem (industry, academia, NGOs and the scientific community) and in ESA mainstream activities. In addition to exploring the worldwide innovation landscape, you will follow strategic directions and goals as defined by the directorate leadership.
As the Head of the Φ-lab Explore Office, you should be technically competent, detail-focused, strategic, energetic and motivated, with the capability to promote and achieve innovation adoption. You should be a recognised innovator with an international network of connections, as well as an interest in innovative technologies and approaches combined with a strong ability to think out of the box.
You will develop and foster a worldwide community around the Φ-lab and manage a cooperative framework through which these actors can work with ESA by rapidly prototyping new concepts in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment. This will involve using disruptive and agile development methods to foster discovery, facilitate innovation and accelerate the development cycles of projects in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes (EOP).
You will also collaborate with the Head of the Invest Office in promoting a single Φ-lab innovation pipeline, fostering the adoption of disruptive/transformative technologies in the InCubed programme.
You will be responsible, in collaboration with the Head of the Φ-lab, for the design and implementation of the EOP coordination function for disruptive innovation.
You will lead a team of ESA staff that facilitates the activities of a larger, multidisciplinary and high-turnover group comprising visiting researchers from industry and academia, temporarily assigned ESA staff and research fellows. You will also coordinate closely and work with other Φ-lab teams following a matrix approach.

EDUCATION

A master’s degree in a relevant engineering/science discipline is required for this post. A relevant Ph.D. would be considered an asset.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of non-ICT-related domains would be an asset (e.g. meta materials/nano-structured optical elements, photonics/computational imaging, etc.)
• A successful track record in managing innovation in an international EO industry or academia context, sustain collaboration a non-exchange-of-funds basis, preferably in Earth Observation programmes, is required for this post
• The leadership and communication skills necessary to foster the adoption of the generated innovation within and beyond ESA are required

You should also have:

• the potential to manage individuals or a multifunctional team;
• the ability to organise their activities and ensure a motivating work environment;
• strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• the ability to drive your team’s performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• excellent cognitive, analytical, delegation, planning and organisational skills;

People management experience would be an asset, as would international experience, i.e. outside your home country, as well as experience in diverse functional areas relevant to ESA activities.

You will:

• explore the disruptive/transformative innovation landscape of the space and non-space domains, analysing innovation trends and opportunities within the ecosystem (including ESA);
• implement strategic directions and goals indicated by and in collaboration with senior management;
• deliver an excellent and coherent innovation programme aiming at the adoption of ideas;
• prepare a multiyear Φ-lab Explore Office strategic plan and yearly work plans;
• prospect for opportunities and secure resources from ESA and non-ESA programmes to support the activities of the Office;
• develop disruptive/transformative innovation and unorthodox organisational methods to rapidly prototype new capabilities in an informal, multidisciplinary and collaborative environment: the Φ-lab Explore Office;
• network proactively with EOP organisational units to collect ideas, addressing their problems and opportunities, channelling results into their projects and supporting continuous innovation within the Directorate;
• provide an open gateway and cooperative framework to enable innovation pioneers to connect with ESA and within the Earth Observation ecosystem;
• develop a European and international innovation community around the Φ-lab to collect strategic inputs, mainly from outside the space domain;
• ensure the timely execution of all administrative procedures necessary for hosting people at the Φ-lab Explore Office;
• coordinate with the Φ-lab Invest Office to develop success cases of disruptive/transformative technologies exploited in InCubed activities;
• support the Head of the Φ-lab in the design and implementation of the EOP coordination function for disruptive innovation;
• liaise with counterparts in other ESA directorates to maximise the overall coherence and effectiveness of ESA actions fostering disruptive/transformational innovation within the space sector;
• you will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting on the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.