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AU Values

• Respect for Diversity and Team Work             • Think Africa Above all                     

• Transparency and Accountability                    • Integrity and Impartiality                       

• Efficiency and Professionalism                       • Information and Knowledge Sharing

Organization Information

Reports to: President of the Council of the African Space Agency
Directorate/Department: African Space Agency (AfSA)
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 0 
Job Grade: P4
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Location: Cairo, Egypt

Purpose of Job

To ensure effective coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the activities under the Programme and to facilitate seamless collaboration between stakeholders, ensure timely execution of planned activities, and align the Programme’s objectives with the strategic priorities of AfSA.

Main Functions

•    To head the team and ensure overall management of the programme;
•    Oversee day-to-day management, coordination, and implementation of the programme ensuring linkage to AU policies and strategies linked to space and green transition;
•    Supervise staff under the programme;
•    Lead, as the programme focal person, the preparation of reports for the monitoring and evaluation of the Action’s activities ; 
•    Make sure that all efforts are executed in accordance with expected outputs and aligned with the relevant policies, rules and commitments of the AU while ensuring harmony with regional (REC) policies and strategies;
•    Maintain collaboration with other stakeholders including African stakeholders, the European Space Agency (ESA), relevant EC offices (i.e. DG-INTPA, DG-JRC, DG DEFIS, EU Delegation to the AU, etc.).

Specific Responsibilities

•    Provide strategic coordination and oversight of Programme activities;
•    Facilitate communication and coordination among stakeholders, including the African Union Commission (AUC), European Commission (EC), implementing partners, and beneficiaries;
•    Monitor the implementation progress, identify challenges, and propose mitigation measures;
•    Ensure alignment of Programme activities with the strategic goals of AfSA and the Africa-EU Space Partnership;
•    Support reporting, documentation, and dissemination of Programme outcomes and best practices;
•    Foster synergies with relevant regional and international space and Earth observation initiatives.
•    Develop and oversee the implementation of the Programme’s work plan and space strategy;
•    Coordinate Programme activities and ensure their timely execution;
•    Engage with relevant stakeholders, including African and European institutions, implementing organizations, and regional partners;
•    Organize and facilitate technical meetings, workshops, and events related to the Programme;
•    Support the development and implementation of a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework;
•    Consolidate and analyze reports from different implementing partners to track progress and identify bottlenecks;
•    Ensure effective reporting, documentation, and knowledge sharing on Programme results;
•    Liaise with technical teams to ensure alignment with the broader policy frameworks of the African Union;
•    Contribute to the dissemination of Programme results through reports, publications, and other communication tools;
•    Support the integration of Programme outcomes into policy discussions at regional and continental levels.
•    Perform any other related duties as assigned by supervisors

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

•    Master’s degree in Space Sciences or any related field, with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience in space programme and/or project management, preferably in a multinational organization, of which at least six (6) years must be at managerial level and three (3) years at supervisory level; 

OR
•    Bachelor’s degree in Space Sciences, Project Management, Finance, or any related field, with a minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant work experience in space programme and/or project management, preferably in a multinational organization, of which at least six (6) years must be at managerial level and three (3) years at supervisory level. 

In addition to the above academic qualifications and years of experience, qualified candidates under either qualification pathway should desirably demonstrate the following:
•    Experience working with international organizations or regional institutions handling Africa–Europe joint space programmes; 
•    Demonstrated experience in space programme and/or project management, including conceptualization, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting; 
•    Experience in space cooperation, partnership development and negotiations with international organizations and relevant stakeholders, preferably the European Space Agency (ESA), national space agencies and/or New Space actors; 

Required Skills

•    Ability to work under pressure in a multi-cultural environment
•    Use strong political and diplomatic tact and skills to achieve documented objectives  
•    Listen to others, correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately in using strong interpersonal skills;
•    Demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
•    Excellent writing, negotiating, analytical and communication skills.
•    Delegate appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development.
•    Knowledge of the space policies, strategic frameworks and reference documents of the European Union and the African Union.
•    Project management theory;
•    Sound knowledge on project management theory, as well versed in the use of the management tools, Internet, MS Power Point, MS Excel and MS Word.
•    Knowledge of the African Union system will be an added advantage.
•    Space trends and challenges in Africa.
•    Demonstrated ability to identify key strategic opportunities and effectively manage associated risks; 
•    Proven ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with senior-level stakeholders; and 
•    Demonstrated ability to maintain effective communication and work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies

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GENDER MAINSTREAMING:
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:
The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

LANGUAGES:
Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 107,026.89 (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 91,962.34 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Applications must be submitted no later than September 24, 2026 at 11h59 p.m. EAT.
- Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
- Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
- The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Candidates from least represented and under represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, and Somalia.

Under represented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.