Paris (France)
ESA Graduate Trainee in Strategic Foresight & Planning
Paris, FR
Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
Our team and mission
The Strategic Foresight & Planning Office helps shape the future of the Agency by exploring beyond current expectations and imagining a range of plausible futures. We provide the Director General, Programme Directorates, and the broader Agency with insights and tools to craft a compelling vision, strengthen resilience, and drive meaningful change.
By leveraging advanced foresight methodologies, we analyse trends across society, geopolitics, economics, technology, environment, law, and cultural values. Our work anticipates disruptions, uncovers emerging opportunities, and highlights risks, enabling the Agency to navigate uncertainty and make informed, future-ready decisions.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
As an ESA Graduate Trainee in the Strategic Foresight & Planning Office, you will contribute to a diverse range of activities aimed at exploring and shaping the future. These activities include:
- Horizon Scanning: Identifying emerging trends, critical uncertainties, and disruptions across various domains, from geopolitics and technology to society and the environment.
- Scenario Planning: Developing plausible futures and strategic pathways to enhance the Agency’s long-term resilience and decision-making.
- Interdisciplinary Studies: Analysing complex challenges and opportunities across sectors such as space exploration, innovation, climate action, security, and sustainable development.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to share insights, refine strategic options, and foster a culture of foresight across the Agency.
- Tailored Foresight Support: Providing targeted foresight insights for key projects, across all space domains or transverse topics such as future of work, AI, governance...
- Strategic Methodology Development: Exploring and applying innovative foresight methodologies to address complex, fast-evolving issues relevant to the Agency's mission.
Your contributions will directly support ESA’s global preparedness and its strategic projects, helping ensure the Agency remains future-ready in an ever-changing world.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook
Education
You should have recently completed or be in the final year of your master’s degree. A broad range of discipline will be considered, as we value all disciplines, notably: Futures Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Geopolitics, Economics, Environmental & sustainability Science, Science and Technology Studies (STS) or Innovation Studies, Social Sciences or Anthropology.
Particular attention will be given to candidates with interdisciplinary profiles combining two or more of the above fields.
Additional requirements
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.
You should also have:
- Strong analytical, research and writing skills are required. Flexibility and adaptability to work on diverse and evolving topics are essential.
- Strong creative and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions and identify emerging opportunities are desirable.
- Familiarity with foresight methodologies (e.g., scenario planning, horizon scanning, Delphi method) or related tools is an advantage.
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 contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
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.
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 can only be 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, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will be given to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
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