Sustainability Lead

Sustainability Lead

Job Requisition ID: 20329Date Posted: 27 February 2026Closing Date: 20 March :59 CET/CESTPublication: Internal & ExternalType of Appointment: Fixed-TermDirectorate: Strategy, Legal and External MattersWorkplace: Paris, FRGrade Band: A2 - A4

Location

ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Description

As Sustainability Lead in the Strategic Sustainability Office, Strategy Department, Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs, you will directly report to the Head of the Strategic Sustainability Office and be responsible for proposing, developing and monitoring the implementation of the ESA Sustainability Strategy, in alignment with both the ESA CSR principles and the Agency’s Strategy 2040.

You will also support, in their capacity as ESA’s Chief Sustainability Officer, the Head of the Strategic Sustainability Office in managing the ESA Green Agenda programme and its evolution to meet the Agency’s current and future environmental objectives, and you will work in close coordination with the relevant services in the Strategy Department.

Duties

• Driving ESA social responsibility policies and projects, fostering sustainability and environmental thinking within ESA.
• Coordinating the implementation of the ESA Double Materiality Assessment to identify the Agency’s priorities with respect to its stakeholders in ESG areas.
• Developing and updating the ESA Sustainability Strategy, in alignment with ESA CSR principles and Strategy 2040, in collaboration with all ESA programme and support directorates.
• Coordinating a comprehensive annual assessment of the Agency’s environmental footprint and preparing the ESA Responsibility and Sustainability report.
• Overseeing and organising, together with the European Interparliamentary Space Committee and the European Space Policy Institute, the annual European Space Sustainability Award.
• Coordinating the ESA Green Agenda Programme Management Office in support of the ESA Chief Sustainability Officer.
• Overseeing the Sustainability Fund by selecting and approving internal projects in line with the Agency’s environmental objectives.
• Providing secretariat services to the ESA Environmental Protection Working Group, chaired by the ESA Chief Sustainability Officer.

Technical competencies

• Good knowledge of ESA and the European industrial space sector, as well as of ESA Boards and their areas of responsibility.
• Excellent understanding of the sustainability challenges related to the space sector.
• Knowledge of ESA and industrial development, verification and procurement processes.
• Project and programme management skills.
• Space engineering and systems orientation.
• Good knowledge of the life cycle thinking approach and ecodesign/life cycle assessment techniques.
• Ability to promote collaboration and coordination with stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.

Education

A master's degree in environmental engineering, environmental science or a related subject is required for this post.

Additional Requirements

Proven experience in the domain of space sustainability, strategy and project management is required.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

We value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at

Important Information and Disclaimer

In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

Nationality and Languages

Applications are only considered from nationals 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, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

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.