Can you describe your role within your organization?
I am Coordinator at the Strategic Foresight & Planning Office of the European Space Agency. As such, my role is completely transversal as I take in charge the coordination of a wide range of activities, such as: - projects, events and activities from planning to implementation, evaluation and reporting, - documents and plans drafting and proofreading, - team meetings, - communication actions and tools, - external providers and experts.
How did you end up in space with your study/work background?
By chance, and I feel so lucky. I received a message from HE Space via LinkedIn and at first I thought it could be some kind of spam instead of a job offer, since I had never worked in the space domain! Then I saw they were looking for someone with a coordination profile like mine, not necessarily linked to space. Indeed, I had been working for more than 15 years as project coordinator of EU funded projects and as a convinced Europeanist, this position looked like the perfect step forward for my professional growth. I applied and I was happily selected and hired by CS Group as a contractor at ESA headquarters in Paris in September 2023.
What advice would you give fellow non-tech space enthusiasts if they want to pursue a job in space?
Apply ! Even if you think it is far from your education and background, and/or your previous professional experience. The space domain is blooming and there are opportunities not just for astronauts, engineers or scientists. Also, it is a rich multinational and multidisciplinary domain and there are lots of learning and professional opportunities.