ESA recruits for Director of Commercialisation and Industry...

The European Space Agency is currently looking for a new Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership. Find out more about this leadership opportunity at ESA and apply by 14 July 2026.

The Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership will be a member of the ESA Executive Board and, in that role, will be responsible for contributing to ESA-wide strategic leadership and decision-making.

Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership

In this role, the successful candidate will be leading ESA commercialisation and business development strategy, with impact on innovation, strategy and industry. They will act as a catalyst for market development, ensuring that Europe’s space investments translate into sustainable economic value, industrial competitiveness and strategic advantage for Europe.

The Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership will play a central role in driving the evolution of the European space ecosystem, working closely with top-tier industry leaders, institutional partners and international stakeholders. They will foster the scaling-up on global markets and facilitate access to private and public investments and finance for European space industry. Building and maintaining close relationships and partnerships with these external entities is another key function of this role.

In addition, the Director will oversee ARTES 4.0 commercial partnership projects conducted with European and Canadian industries and operators, as well as the ELC (European Launcher Challenge) and Boost! programmes, both in close cooperation with ESA’s Directorate of Space Transportation. They will also manage ESA’s ACCESS (Accelerating Commercialisation and Competitiveness of European Space Sector) programme, along with other relevant programmes as required.

This position can be based at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France, ESA’s European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, or ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, UK. Regular on-site presence at ECSAT is required, irrespective of the duty station, as well as regular travel to other ESA sites and Member States.

Candidates must submit their applications, including a cover letter and CV, using the link “Apply now” in the vacancy, before midnight on 14 July 2026.