Intern in the Strategic Foresight & Planning Office, in the Strategy Department

Job Requisition ID: 19061

Application Deadline: 30 November 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Establishment: ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Directorate: Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Affair

Publication: External Only

Type of Contract: Intern

Date Posted: 1 November 2024

Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs.

Location
Paris
Our team and mission
This position is based at the ESA HQ - Paris, France

The Strategic Foresight & Planning Office supports the definition of the ESA-wide strategy and is responsible for:

• Organising and ensuring the availability of futures intelligence, examining the internal and external factors that may impact ESA;
• Developing strategic foresight capacity adapted to ESA and the space sector;
• Deploying, implementing, and delivering strategic foresight projects, aiming to identify the implications of different possible futures for ESA’s strategy, programmes, and policies, help ESA identify blind spots, and build resilience at both programme and Agency levels;
• Supporting the development of ESA’s strategic plans by identifying strategic challenges and opportunities as well as strategic options, and to develop relevant goals and objectives, in accordance with mid- and long-term priorities at Agency and directorate levels.
• Building up and maintaining Strategic Foresight networks.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA websites: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: Strategic Foresight for European space activities

You will actively contribute to executing foresight & planning projects aimed at shaping the future of space activities. This role will provide you with hands-on experience in scenario planning, research, and the application of strategic foresight methodologies. You will work in a dynamic environment, collaborating with experts in space policy, strategy, and foresight & planning, by engage with ongoing foresight projects at different stages, offering fresh insights and supporting project continuity.

Main activities may include:

• Conduct research on emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and global challenges that may impact the future of space;
• Support the identification and assessment of key drivers of change (e.g., economic, geopolitical, environmental) affecting the space sector;
• Assist in drafting and refining future scenarios;
• Participate in brainstorming and workshops to explore alternative futures;
• Work with cross-functional teams to articulate and visualise possible future;
• Assist in preparing presentations, briefings, and communication materials that summarise foresight findings and scenario narratives;
• Support the organisation and running of scenario-planning workshops, including logistics, agenda setting, and materials preparation;
• Assist in drafting reports and summaries of strategic foresight & planning projects, including lessons learned, potential implications for the space sector, and policy recommendations.

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
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements
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.

• Strong research, analytical, and critical thinking abilities;
• Excellent written and verbal communication;
• Strong capacity to challenge one’s thinking.

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

At the Agency 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 [email protected].

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).

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