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 Programme/Project Controller to join our team at the esteemed ESA-ESTEC site, in the Netherlands. The ideal candidate will be assigned to the Programme and Project Control Service under the direct responsibility of a Business Control and Administration Manager (BCAM).

Responsibilities

As a Programme/Project Controller you will concentrate your activities on the following:

Support to the planning, preparation, execution and follow-up of projects / programmes activities in terms of schedule, related procurement actions, costs including preparation of CaC as relevant, manpower including support, etc. including:

• Assisting in preparing, developing, and maintaining programme level plans.
• Assisting in the definition and in maintaining related work/procurement plans and related execution and contract actions plans using local tools as applicable.
• Monitoring of the implementation of the programmes and of activities, as appropriate, and preparation of related reports and provision of management information as required.
• Evaluating the results and main achievements of the programme, elaborating related KPIs, and preparing periodic overview publications.

In the field of resources (i.e., financial and manpower) for programme/project(s):

• Assisting in the preparation of long-term, medium term and in-year resource plans.
• Monitoring and controlling the implementation of the plans in line with resource targets, performing forecasting, identifying deviations and related recovery actions, producing related reports.
• Reviewing / checking of ESA internal expenditures such as re-charges, support services and purchases for consistency with Cost–at–Completion (CAC) of industrial contracts.
• Checking commitments for consistency with budgets and ESA’s procedures and consumption of commitment ceiling and initiating related budgetary transfers as required.

In the field of procurements and execution of contracts:

• Support to the preparation and follow-up of the Agency’s tender actions.
• Support to the proposal evaluations as expert for the price and schedule verification and analysis.
• Support to the preparation of the financial contract commitment and the data entry of the milestone payment plans in the Agency’s system(s).
• Contributing to the elaboration, consolidation of related procurement workplans and detailed implementation plans (e.g., Contract Action Plan baseline) and related commitment consumption, cost, and disbursement profiles.
• Ensuring that above plans are properly inserted in the appropriate management tools.
• Following-up of the progress of the procurement actions and contracts and keeping track of status and maintaining the current actual and forecasting in the appropriate ESA tools.
• Creating related objects in ESA-p, maintaining corresponding information in local applications as required and ensuring the correctness and coherence of related information.
• Monitoring and controlling of timely implementation of actions related to procurement and contractual matters, including monitoring of financial commitments, payment milestones and invoicing.
• Supporting industrial invoicing process and payment verification and control.
• Supporting programme inventory and export control activities, maintain relevant inventory databases.

In the field of programme industrial return:

• Initiation and coordination of the periodic updating of relevant Industrial Return data base to reflect the current commitments status and the industrial policy forecast for planned activities.
• Verification of coherence with ESA corporate Industrial Return data.
• Maintenance of list of specific compensation or improvement measures and follow-up the implementation.
• Verification of coherence of proposed procurement actions with the planned industrial return policy.

Support to programme/project level risk management:

• Maintaining up to date the related data, performing data analysis, identifying deviations w.r.t. plans/targets and production of associated reports to the responsible management and to the concerned.
• Operation of the associated management information tools and system databases.
• Support to the responsible entity in the definition of new and improvement of existing processes and tools and production of related documents.
• Support the execution of the directorate’s Risk Management process.

Specific responsibility for controlling and reporting all aspects, resolve issues implement corrective actions of a busy Division covering:

• Technology
• Laboratories
• TEC Activities
• Manpower planning
• Travel budget planning.
• Take responsibility on reporting progress and end of year budget landing point predictions on a selected Program at Department Level.
• Will also contribute to a continuous process improvement, regular interfacing with line management, stake holders, dedicated Service Providers.

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 or MBA or equivalent University degree from a recognized Institution of secondary studies or equivalent qualification in Business Administration, with relevant experience.
• 4 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in controlling and/or management of activities and resources in aerospace industry.
• For some tasks knowledge of Finance/Accounting may be required.
• Highly proficient in the use of modern activities and resource management support tools/databases of standard office automation support software packages including in particular advance usage of Excel (Ms-Office and in particular advanced use of Excel.
• Experience as user of SAP and in particular ECC and SRM modules and familiarity with relevant ESA corporate applications e.g. ESA-p) is an asset.
• Ability to rapidly understand and adapt to ESA specific context and environment including ESA corporate IT applications.
• Past experience with ESA in relevant activities is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a “must”.
• Knowledge of the contract procurement process.
• Knowledge of project control methods and calculating Milestone Payment Plans.
• Familiarity with preparing Power BI reports is advantageous.
• Comfortable with working in a diverse and multinational team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are needed, together with a high degree organizational and communication abilities.
• Proficient in the English language, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of another EU member state language is an asset.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU.

On offer

• 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.