Business & Project Control Support Officer – European Space Agency

Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk (Netherlands)

Overview:

Octagon Professionals International is recruiting a Business & Project Control Support Officer to support the European Space Agency at ESTEC.

This is a finance-focused role at the heart of ESA’s business and project control operations - keeping procurement, timesheets, contracts, cost monitoring and audits accurate and on time across ESA’s corporate and Navigation systems. It suits a highly organised professional who enjoys financial processes and systems such as SAP and ESA-p. Octagon has supported ESA and other international institutions for more than 35 years.

Role & Responsibilities

• Administer the full timesheet (TAS) lifecycle for around 250 staff and contractors, driving 95% completion at month-end and 100% at year-end closure.
• Implement procurement and Purchase-to-Pay actions in ESA-p and SAP - Shopping Carts, RFXs, purchase orders, contracts, GRNs and TEB nominations - with IPSAS-compliant audit trails.
• Support contracts, accruals and milestone payments (MPP/APP) in close coordination with Business and Project Controllers, and process reimbursement requests.
• Monitor Workforce and Lab SLAs (TEC, OPS and others) and reconcile support actuals against planning in tools such as WLMS.
• Support the EFC2 Technical Officer: personnel and position records, restricted tenders, Work Orders/CCNs and T-Car reconciliation.
• Monitor cost, budget and missions — WBS and cost-centre checks, account assignment, mission bookings and CO2 validation.
• Support internal, QMS (ISO 9001) and EC/EUSPA audits, maintaining audit evidence and full audit trails.
• Support programme closure with SAP financial reporting, and act as focal point for key tools (ESA-p, EROS, ESA-Star) and user training.
• Safeguard data accuracy, consistency and confidentiality across all systems, and drive continuous process improvement.

Essential Skills & Experience

• 5+ years’ experience in business/project control, financial administration or PMO/project support, ideally in a large or international organisation.
• 5+ years' experience in procurement
• Hands-on experience with ERP and financial systems - SAP and/or ESA-p strongly preferred - covering procurement, Purchase-to-Pay, purchase orders and GRNs.
• Solid understanding of procurement and Purchase-to-Pay processes and of financial or cost controlling.
• Strong data accuracy, reconciliation and reporting skills, including advanced Excel.
• Highly organised and able to work autonomously, with excellent follow-up and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working to strict deadlines and compliance requirements, and discreet in handling confidential data.
• Fluent, professional English (written and spoken).

Desireable Skills & Experience

• Experience within ESA or a comparable international, space or public-sector organisation.
• Familiarity with ESA-p, EROS, ESA-Star, WLMS and Thread/ECC.
• Knowledge of IPSAS or public-sector accounting standards.
• Experience with timesheet/TAS administration or SLA monitoring.
• Experience supporting internal, QMS (ISO 9001) or EC/EUSPA audits.
• An additional European language.

Package:

• Competitive salary: commensurate with skills and experience.
• Fixed-term contract aligned to the ESA service, with strong potential for extension.
• Based at ESA’s ESTEC establishment in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
• Comprehensive benefits, plus visa and relocation support where applicable - Octagon is a recognised IND sponsor.
• A genuinely international, multicultural working environment and real scope for professional development.

Ready for this new challenge? Apply now.

Octagon Professionals International is a full-service recruitment and HR services firm with nearly 40 years of experience in the European and international market. Our large network of professionals across multiple functional areas, and multi-national team provide flexible solutions customised to individual client needs.

Privacy Notice: In order to apply for this vacancy you must submit your personal information to Octagon Professionals. Octagon Professionals will collect, use, and process your personal information as mentioned in our Privacy Policy. Our policy and processing of your personal information is compliant with the GDPR.