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ESTEC Real Estate and Facilities Management Site Manager

Job Requisition ID: 19706

Date Posted: 26 November 2025

Closing Date: 4 January 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication: Internal & External

Type of Appointment : 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Resources and Services

Workplace:

Noordwijk, NL

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

ESTEC Real Estate and Facilities Management Site Manager, REFM Division A, Real Estate and Facilities Management (REFM) Department, Directorate of Resources and Services.

As the ESTEC REFM Site Manager, you will be responsible for the tactical and operational management and delivery of all REFM activities at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC).

Alongside other site managers across Europe, you will be a member of the REFM Leadership Team, led by the Head of Department with the Heads of Division, who are responsible for optimising REFM deliverables across sites by establishing a common set of strategic objectives, guidelines, performance and quality management systems, optimised methods and processes, planning and coordination, and governance and reporting in a cross-cutting (matrix) departmental structure. Your role will require that you work closely with the Leadership Team to address the overlapping responsibilities of a matrix organisation and ensure consistency across the ESA sites.

The Real Estate and Facilities Management Department is responsible for eight sites across Europe, with a total of approximately 250,000sqm of working space as well as technical facilities, and a population of over 7,000 employees.

ESTEC is the largest of the ESA sites, with a total of approximately 130,000sqm of working space, the largest European satellite test centre, numerous laboratories and technical facilities, a conference centre, and various general-purpose facilities, with over 3,500 employees.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of REFM Division A, you will define, propose and implement the full range of agreed REFM services in accordance with relevant ESA policies, resource availability and the requirements expressed by the Head of Establishment and other on-site customers while ensuring consistency with the Agency's common approach to facilities management.

You will be responsible for managing a large team, as well as a variety of contracted FM services, with an operating budget responsibility exceeding €30m per year. In this role, you will be required to deliver the strategic oversight of the site by applying your competencies and skills in a wide variety of domains: people management, compliance, crisis management and business continuity, maintenance and operations, asset management, capital and operating planning and expenditure.

Your responsibilities will include:

• ensuring that the site's functioning and services align with the REFM strategic decisions endorsed by the Senior Leadership Team, and proactively contributing to shaping REFM strategic decisions;
• developing strong relationships with and providing leadership to the REFM ESTEC service managers and operational teams to enhance service delivery and optimal support to ESTEC users;
• developing effective interfaces and a sound working relationship, within REFM's remit, with:
  • the ESA directorates on site, including by representing REFM in various local committees, as well as the ESTEC Staff Association Committee;
  • the Dutch local entities responsible for the provision and oversight of zoning plans and related permissions, policing, fire and rescue services, and safety and environmental compliance;
• providing specialist advice to the Head of Establishment, in particular with respect to compliance with applicable legislation and ESA policies and support in interfacing with relevant national stakeholders, as well as with respect to Establishment-wide crisis management and business continuity;
• driving compliance in terms of the site's industrial safety management, identifying, managing and reporting on the safety and environmental and physical security risks, within REFM's remit, in compliance with national legislation and ESA policies and regulations, and initiating and/or coordinating related audits and inspections and prevention exercises, for example;
• overseeing preparation and conclusion, objective-setting and performance management for customer SLAs for the provision of utilities and common physical infrastructure and, as mandated, programme-dedicated infrastructure, as well as FM services, in accordance with specifically agreed customer requirements, and associated budgetary and work plans;

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• overseeing resource management, including preparation and leadership of recruitment or contracting processes, as applicable, objective-setting and performance management for the ESTEC team of staff and contractors, as well as for a variety of contracted FM services for the:
  • maintenance and operation of all common physical infrastructure and, as mandated, programme dedicated infrastructure;
  • provision of facilities services, such as catering, cleaning, general services and internal and external logistics, such as storage, transportation and customs handling;
  • provision of physical security and event coordination services delivered at ESTEC through local implementation of the corresponding corporate contracts;
  • provision of the management activities relating to the working environment, such as activity-based office accommodation, and general-purpose infrastructure and facilities, responding to ESA's programmatic requirements;
• overseeing a local Project Management Office (PMO) for small construction and refurbishment projects for REFM and, as mandated, programme-dedicated infrastructure.

You will also be responsible for identifying, assessing, managing and reporting the health and safety risks in your area of responsibility.

Technical competencies

Proven experience in the REFM domain, with demonstrated people management experience and the leadership qualities required to manage a multi-disciplinary team and a variety of contracted FM services in a multi-site, complex organisation with a strong customer focus

Synthesis skills: ability to take in a variety of complex information and effectively simplify, organise and translate it into action

Analytical skills: proficiency in data analysis tools to evaluate and make recommendations for improvement

Proven experience in activity and project management with effective skills including planning, preparing, executing and evaluating projects

Knowledge and experience of planning and scheduling, allocation and execution monitoring of resources and maintaining a balanced workload

Knowledge and experience in process adherence: compliance with procedures relating to quality, safety and security

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

Education

A master's degree in a relevant discipline is required for this post.

Additional requirements

• Team leadership, with the ability to lead and motivate a team, ensuring that each member is engaged and productive;
• Strong leadership capabilities, with proven relationship management and communication skills;
• Strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• A strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• Effective delegation skills to ensure that tasks are assigned appropriately and team members are empowered to take ownership of their responsibilities;
• Performance management: skills in setting clear performance expectations and conducting performance reviews, with the ability to drive your team's performance, developing your people by encouraging learning, delegating responsibility and giving regular and constructive feedback;
• Conflict resolution: proficiency in resolving conflicts within the team in a constructive manner;
• The ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused;
• Development and training: commitment to the professional development of team members through training, mentoring and growth opportunities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

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, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

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 .

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.

Applicants must be eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

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.

The information published on ESA's careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one 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. For this position, proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of Dutch and other Member State language would be an asset.