Project Controller

Project Controller

ESO - European Southern Observatory

Garching, Germany

The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.

ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.

At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.

Due to the need for additional resources for our Programme Planning and Control office, within the Directorate of Programmes at its Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany we are looking for someone to fill the position of Project Controller.

This is an excellent opportunity for professionals who have experience in project control and project management within scientific projects and who wish to play a key role in large international projects. You will become part of the Programme Planning and Control Office within the Directorate of Programmes.

Within ESO, you will support all the activities related to budget preparation, schedule management, controlling, risk management, performance management, reporting, project management processes and administrative functions for the development of complex state of the art unique projects.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the preparation of project/programme budgets and consolidating resource plans;
• Managing project/programme fund commitments, performing budget implementation and year-end closure exercises;
• Support the preparation of project/programme procurement plans in close collaboration with Finance, and Contracts and Procurement departments;
• Supporting the preparation of ESO's long term financial plan (this includes medium/long term affordability analysis and scenario analysis);
• Monitoring the performances (cost, schedule, risks) of both ESO internal activities and contracts under the supervision of the relevant Programme/Project Manager. This includes application of Earned Value Management techniques, development of ad-hoc KPIs and Scorecards;
• Contribute to the maintenance of detailed programmes/projects schedules in close collaboration with the Programme/Project Managers (this includes schedule roll-up, critical path analysis, cross dependencies monitoring, milestones trend analysis);
• Delivering a variety of financial and programmatic reports to the relevant programme/project stakeholders;
• Contributing to the preparation of reports dedicated to ESO's governing bodies;
• Contribute to the maintenance of Planning and Controlling best practices and ensure related implementation across ESO projects;
• Supporting Risk Management process.

The duties for this position are not limited to the above and a flexible approach together with a strong capacity to adapt is essential. The selected candidate is expected to take on increasing responsibilities as his/her role develops over time.

Reports to:

Head of Programme Planning and Control.

Key Competences and Experience:

Essential Competences and Experience:

• At least three years of working experience in a similar function with deep involvement in project control and project management preferably in the context of scientific projects;
• Budgeting, cost control, scheduling and resources planning;
• Strong analytical skills and experience of data analysis and financial modelling allowing the consideration of a large amount of data to be used to draw conclusions and perform detailed assessments and produce robust incisive reports;
• Proven experience working with Microsoft Excel at an advanced level. This shall include: expertise in complex formulas, pivot tables, data validation, and conditional formatting, and hands-on experience with VBA and macro development;
• Good knowledge of ERP (Enterprises Resources Planning) and project planning/scheduling tools (e.g. Open Plan, MS Project, etc.);
• Ability to rapidly acquire and process information from the various projects stakeholders and adapt to ESO specific context and environment including ESO's matrix structure.

Desirable Competences and Experience:

• Experience as user of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Deltek Open Plan and Atlassian JIRA would be an asset;
• Pro-active approach to contribute ideas for improvement and future developments;
• Ability to and experience of working efficiently within an international and multi-cultural environment both independently and within a team.

Qualifications:

A Master's degree in engineering or other relevant field is required. A bachelor's degree may be accepted in lieu of master's degree with at least two years additional professional experience.

Language skills:

A very good command of the English language - verbal, reading and writing is essential and a working knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage.

Remuneration and Contract:

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (free of income tax for applicants from ESO member states), comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and support to place your child/children in daycare.

Our Salary Structure:

ESO's salary structure is based upon a range of career paths which reflect the nature and level of our jobs. Each career path is made up of two or three grades which are used to further reflect experience. Please follow this attached link for more details https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/salary-structure/.

ESO aims to support members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#work-life-balance) between their professional and private life. ESO is also committed to offering family-friendly support (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#family-friendly-support), creating a work environment and policies which allow staff to balance their professional and private responsibilities through flexible and mobile working arrangements and financial support for families.

The contract is for a fixed term duration of three years and is subject to successful completion of the probation period. There may be a possibility of extension(s) subject to individual performance and organisational requirements, and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. For any further information, please visit ESO's conditions of employment (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/). Please note that the contract policy and in particular the regulations concerning fixed-term and indefinite contracts are currently under review which may lead to changes in the contractual conditions applicable to this position.

Duty Station: ESO Headquarters at Garching, near Munich. To execute the listed functions, some short-term business trips to Chile might be required.
Career Path: IV

Application:

If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.

Applicants are invited to apply online. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV. Within your CV, please provide the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter upon request. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.

Deadline for applications is 25 February 2026.

Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.

ESO Values:

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.

The ESO values are:

ESO strives for excellence through innovation.

ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.

ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.

ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.

Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.

Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.

Diversity:

ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.

Nationality:

No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.