Head of Executive Director Services Department

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) provides safe, secure, and innovative satellite navigation and communication services for Europe. We advance the commercialisation of Galileo, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), and Copernicus data and services, while engaging in secure SATCOM (GOVSATCOM & IRIS²), and operating the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Front-Desk. Our work strengthens European autonomy in space technologies, fosters innovation, and supports critical sectors such as transport, agriculture, and economic development across the EU. For more information on the EUSPA and the EU Space Programme, click here.

At EUSPA, we aim for our workforce to be representative of European society and strongly welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We actively seek to create a workplace where each staff member feels valued and respected, can give their best and can develop to their full potential. We believe that diversity drives excellence, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared mission.

To promote diversity and establish a geographically balanced pool of candidates, we strongly encourage applicants from Member States which are lesser represented in the Agency workforce to apply. These Member States are currently Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden. Recruitment will however remain strictly based on the merits of all applicants and no advantage will be given and no positions will be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State.

We are looking to recruit a Head of Department for the Agency’s Executive Director Services, who will be reporting directly to the Executive Director and ensure an efficient and effective corporate coordination and outreach, including relations with external stakeholders and institutional partners, and will lead and manage the Agency’s communication activities.

The Head of Executive Director Services department will:

• Steer, manage, and coordinate all activities of the Executive Director’s Services, providing leadership and guidance to all team members, promoting excellence, teamwork, ownership and responsibility within the team and across the Agency;
• Assist the Executive Director in the aspects of the management of the Agency related to corporate and communication tasks;
• Lead the development of the Agency’s vision, strategy and programming documents (annual and multiannual plans) and monitor their implementation;  
• Coordinate the preparation of the consolidated annual report on the Agency’s activities, including the accounts and a description of how the Agency has met its performance indicators;
• Ensure a smooth, timely and clear internal communication flow between the ED and internal and external stakeholders of the Agency’s Administrative Board, and provide support and secretarial services to the Agency’s Administrative Board;
• Lead information management activities across the Agency;
• Coordinate, maintain, and exercise the Business Continuity Plan of the Agency’s corporate tasks;
• Lead the creation, delivery and editing of speeches, presentations and strategic communications for senior executive management;
• Propose and implement an integrated communication strategy to increase the visibility of the Agency, its mission and achievements through communication campaigns, press conferences, and outreach events;
• Build and maintain strong relationship with media, drive positive press coverage, coordinate press conferences, and provide advice to the Executive Director, the SAB chair, and when relevant to senior management and other staff;
• Provide regular reports on the impact of media and external relations activities, and  review strategies to meet organisational priorities;
• Oversee the provision of key up-to-date, targeted and engaging communication services and products (printed, audio-visual, digital), including proofreading, editing, lay-outing, graphic design and publication of EUSPA documents;
• Foster a positive team spirit within the Agency and ensure motivation, efficiency and effectiveness in alignment with the European Union values, ethics and integrity;
• Liaise with other departments, to ensure the execution of relevant corporate tasks, such as planning, reporting, administration, financial & budget management, risk management.

The position requires permanent relocation to the Agency’s headquarter in Prague, Czech Republic.

All eligible applications that meet the criteria outlined above will be fairly and objectively assessed against the selection criteria based solely on the information candidates provide in their applications. The Selection Board responsible for this selection will determine the criteria to be assessed in the various phases of the selection procedure (assessment of the application forms, interview and written test) prior to being granted access to the names of the applicants.

The selection is based on a comparative assessment of eligible candidates against all the selection criteria. Even candidates who do not excel in every single criterion may still be successful in the overall assessment and are therefore encouraged to apply.

When completing the online application, please clearly highlight your relevant skills and experiences that demonstrate how your profile aligns with the requirements below.

Professional experience and expertise:

1. At least 5 years of proven working experience in the areas listed above under 2. Tasks and responsibilities;
2. Proven experience in managing and leading high performing interdisciplinary teams in complex technical/operational organisations;
3. Proven experience in stakeholder management within an EU or international context;
4. Proven experience in providing advice to senior management within an international or national institutional context including crisis communications;
5. Experience in project management and financial, procurement and contract management;
6. Excellent command of both written and spoken English;
7. Strong communication skills in other EU languages would be considered as an advantage.

Required competencies:

8. Motivation for the post;
9. Effective communication;
10. Collaborative leadership and ability to empower and inspire others;
11. Cooperative, practical, solution-driven and service-oriented attitude;
12. Ability to manage stress, prioritising and organising.

We warmly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, experiences, and identities to apply. Your unique perspective and talents are valued and essential to our success.

The current vacancy aims to fill 1 (one) post and establish a reserve list. The established reserve list may be used for another current or future site of the Agency.

A detailed description of the selection process is available here.

The interview and written test are currently scheduled for September/October 2026; however the date may be adjusted based on the availability of the Selection Board members.

In addition, candidates proposed to be placed on the reserve list will be invited to an assessment centre, run by external consultants, prior to the interview with the Appointing Authority.

To ensure a fair and transparent process for all candidates, direct or indirect contact with Selection Board members is not permitted. Any breach of this rule will result in disqualification from the selection procedure. Any questions regarding the selection procedure should be addressed only to: jobs@euspa.europa.eu.

In addition, candidates having any personal relationship within the EUSPA shall declare such situation to jobs@euspa.europa.eu.

To apply for this position, candidates need to create an account and register through the EUSPA e-recruitment tool.

Please note that only applications submitted via the e-recruitment tool will be accepted. Applications sent by email or post cannot be considered.

To ensure fairness, submitting multiple applications for the same position using different accounts will result in exclusion from the selection procedure.

Important: The information you provide in your online application is the sole basis for assessing your eligibility and matching your profile to the selection criteria. We encourage you to carefully review the requirements and provide detailed, clear information — especially regarding your education and professional experience. Include exact dates, descriptions of your responsibilities, and duties performed to help us understand your qualifications and experience fully. It is your responsibility to complete the application accurately and thoroughly, avoiding any unclear information or typographical errors.

To facilitate the selection process, please complete all sections of the application in English.

Applications must be received by the closing date specified in the vacancy notice to be considered. We recommend submitting your application well before the deadline to avoid any technical issues, as the Agency cannot be held responsible for last-minute problems with the e-recruitment tool, especially during periods of high traffic.

If you require technical support, please send your request to jobs@euspa.europa.eu at least two working days before the application deadline. Requests received later may not be addressed in time.

For detailed instructions on completing your application, please consult the e-recruitment guideline.

If you have any questions about the selection procedure, feel free to contact us at jobs@euspa.europa.eu. We are here to support you throughout the process.

If a candidate considers that they have been adversely affected by a particular decision, they can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Union; submit a judicial appeal under Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (ex Art. 236 of the EC Treaty) and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union; or make a complaint to the European Ombudsman.

Details on how to initiate these processes are available here.

Commitment to Serving the Public Interest with Integrity:

All jobholders will be asked to affirm their commitment to act independently and in the public interest. They will also be required to declare any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality.

In carrying out their duties, jobholders are expected to act solely in the interests of the European Union, maintaining objectivity, impartiality, and loyalty. They must not seek or accept instructions from any external government, authority, organisation, or individual outside their institution.

Commitment to Equal Opportunities:

The Agency is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and warmly welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, free from discrimination. We believe that diversity enriches our work and strengthens our mission to serve the European Union effectively.

The personal data requested from applicants will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) N° 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, officers and agencies and on the free movement of such data (repealing Regulation (EC) N° 45/2001 and Decision N° 1247/2002/EC) and the applicable privacy statement which can be accessed here.