In particular, the Department is in charge of:

• Defining and ensuring the coherent implementation of the Agency’s contracting policies, methods and procedures in coordination with the Legal Department, including the designing of contractual tools towards accelerated procurement process and commercialisation;
• Defining and maintaining the necessary processes including defining IT system requirements in support of the optimal implementation of the Agency’s contracting activities, in coordination with the Information Technology Department;
• Preparing and implementing the contractual aspects of all contracting activities for ESA and Third Parties (in particular EU delegated programmes) including contract negotiations and management;
• Implementing the Agency’s industrial policy through its contracting activities in close coordination with the Industrial Policy and Audits Department and initiating Directorates;
• Acting as the focal point for contacts with the ESA Industrial Ombudsperson;
• Coordinating procurement policies with Member States and external bodies;
• Defining, establishing and implementing a coherent contractual approach for manpower support contracts for all ESA establishments, in cooperation with the Human Resources Department and user Directorates;
• Implementing in close cooperation with the relevant Directorates, proposal preparation and contractual aspects of third-party activities concerning the sale or loan of equipment, satellite systems, products and services to third parties.

The Head of the Contracts Department is the Chair of the Adjudication Committee. In the execution of these functions, the Head of Department is supported by the following Divisions:

• Earth Observation and Connectivity Contracts Division (CIC-CE)
• Space Transportation and Headquarters Contracts Division (CIC-CL)
• Operations and Ground Segment Contracts Division (CIC-CO)
• Navigation and EU Contracts Division (CIC-CP)
• General Procurement and Support Contracts Division (CIC-CS)
• Commercialisation and Technology Contracts Division (CIC-CT)
• Science and Exploration Contracts Division (CIC-CX)
• Responsible Contracting and Management Support Office (CIC-CM)

Field(s) of activity for the internship

The topic of the internship: ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions (IPR, Disclosure, DPD, export control, liability) and involvement in the ESA procurement process

You will be requested to provide an analysis of ESA General Contractual Clauses and Conditions; i.e. legal analysis of ESA-specific regimes (Intellectual Property Rights, disclosure, Personal Data Protection, liability, export control, etc) and their implementation in ESA General Clauses and Conditions; with a specific focus on the difference between general contracts, Express Procurement contract and Manpower contract, in the frame of the Procurement Regulations reform.

You will be offered to gain a first procurement experience in getting used to the ESA procurement process through involvement in practical procurement cases, under the supervision of a Contract Officer in the division.

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESAthe   Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.