About this job

Serco has made significant contributions at ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, supporting a wide range of space missions and projects. Serco has provided essential engineering, technical, and management services, playing a key role in logistics and operational support for missions. Serco’s expertise in spacecraft management, ground systems and data processing has earned them recognition, including ‘Best in Domain’ awards from ESA. Their long-standing partnership with ESA reflects their commitment to excellence and innovation in the space sector.

On behalf of our client, the European Space Agency, we are looking for a skilled Planning and Scheduling Officer to join our team at the esteemed ESA ESTEC site in  Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

The primary objective of the service is to provide support on all schedule management activities linked to planning, scheduling, monitoring, and controlling of the ESA Directorates schedules portfolio. It translates into support in aspects related to scheduling, planning, schedule risks identification and mitigation provided to projects from the initial study phases (present and future) to projects in development phases and up to their closeout and/or commissioning.

Responsibilities

As a Planning and Scheduling Officer you will concentrate your activities on the following:

• Issue and update the Launcher Master Baseline Schedule.
• Monitor and control the master schedule: perform complex schedule analysis including metrics, critical path analysis, float summary and assess the schedule performance at Agency’s level .
• Determine the criticality of schedule activities, evaluate and recommend alternatives for schedule improvement to the technical teams for discussion and/or decision, run simulations and what-if scenarios in support of management and technical teams decision process.
• Set up trend charts and templates for reporting mission progress, in line with agency best practices, tools and in close cooperation with mission management team.
• Prepare reports documenting the analysis and communicate on the content to the technical team as well as to external stakeholders via the working interface.
• Support all project stakeholders in understanding the current status of the planning in their work domain and issue recommendations for improvement.
• Proactively verify the consistency between the schedules of the Industrial Contractors and CFI providers (if any) with respect to those of their lower tier suppliers, if available, to identify potential problem areas and to propose relevant mitigation actions.
• Integrate and develop the schedule in collaboration with the management team and discipline technical leads: define work activities and milestones, define durations and assign dependencies, create calendars and network logic, consider schedule size and granularity, run risk assessments and allocate relevant margins.
• Create and update on monthly basis the required trend charts.
• Attend meetings, as requested.

Profile

Do you think you are the person we are looking for? See below what experience or knowledge you should bring: 

• Master’s degree in Engineering or equivalent University degree from a recognised institution of secondary studies or equivalent qualification in Business Administration, with relevant experience.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated expertise with the use of modern schedule software tools (at least both MS Project, Primavera).
• Expertise with the techniques that allow the use of such software tools to provide active schedule management and best scheduling practices.
• Experience with the schedule peculiarities of spacecraft development is an asset.
• Proactivity, good communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to interact effectively with the technical personnel in our projects and colleagues of different backgrounds (engineering, management, legal).
• Capability to summarise and present complex information to colleagues and senior management in a concise and clear manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are needed, together with a high degree organizational and communication abilities, and comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
• Proficient in the English and French language, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU.

In Return:

• Flexible working policy (hybrid working)
• Comprehensive and competitive benefits plan
• A range of wellness activities and employee assistance programs
• Casual dress code

Relocation:

The Netherlands’ central location in Europe makes it an ideal base for travel and business within the EU. Major cities are well-connected by road, rail, and air with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport one of Europe’s busiest and most well-connected airports, facilitating easy international travel.

Serco offers relocation support for all EU passport holders that are planning to relocate to the Netherlands and work for Serco B.V. 

DE&I

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Serco is based on a culture where every voice is heard and every employee feels valued. Working together as one team, we can enhance the experience of our people and teams, improve the value of our solutions to better serve the missions of our customers, and make an impact in our world.