Brussels Office Liaison Officer - SatCen/2024/043

The SatCen is seeking suitable candidates to cover one position as Brussels Liaison Officer and to establish a reserve list for the position. The post’s duty station is Brussels. However, the future jobholder will need to be available for regular missions, including to SatCen HQ’s in Spain. 

The Brussels Office (BO) serves as the primary liaison between SatCen and the Brussels community, facilitating the organisation of SatCen activities in Brussels. The Brussels Office (BO) works closely with the SatCen Headquarters in Madrid and the Operational Delegate of the EEAS, enhancing cooperation with key stakeholders such as EU Institutions, Member States, International Organisations, Think Tanks, and other third parties. From an operational perspective, the BO assists Brussels-based SatCen users, ensuring efficient workflows from request to delivery. In a policy and strategic capacity, the BO engages with the above mentioned key stakeholders, monitoring and reporting on relevant debates and initiatives to SatCen Senior Management. 

The BO provides a 24/7 on-call service, ensuring uninterrupted support and seamless operations. There is always one Liaison Officer on duty, who will be available at all times to address urgent task-related issues, coordinate solutions and provide immediate guidance on operational and security matters, thereby ensuring the prompt and efficient handling of critical tasks. 

The Brussels Liaison Officer will be responsible, amongst others, for the following duties:

• Provide effective and direct support to SatCen, particularly to the Directorate and the Operations Division; 

• Maintain trustful, efficient and regular working relations on operational matters with the European External Action Service (EEAS), notably SIAC, including EU Missions and Operations planning, to optimise and strengthen the role of SatCen within the CFSP/CSDP;

• Maintain trustful, efficient and regular working relations on operational matters with EU Commission Services, in particular related to the Copernicus Security Service and other services with responsibility in security, defence and space matters; 

• Support the HBO, from an operational dimension, to maintain trustful, efficient and regular working relations on policy- and strategy-related matters with relevant EU institutions and Member States services with responsibility in security, defence and space matters; 

• Represent SatCen in meetings, specifically held in the Brussels area, in particular on operational and technical matters; 

• Provide briefings, information sessions and trainings on SatCen mission, capabilities, and support options, for operational users as well as for existing and future partners; • Identify actual and potential critical issues between SatCen and its key stakeholders and users, and provide recommendations to SatCen; 

• Facilitates the efficient exchange of classified and unclassified information with Brussels-based SatCen users; 

• In liaison with the Tasking Frontdesk at SatCen HQ, maintain the database of Brussels-based SatCen users and provide them with guidance on operational and security aspects; 

• Assist SatCen’s users in formulating their requests in a standard and effective manner, while performing an initial feasibility assessment; 

• Assist the Tasking Frontdesk in coordinating task-related matters, particularly those originated by Brussels-based stakeholders and users; 

• Assist the Operational Delegate at the EEAS in tasking-related matters, particularly with regard to the sensitivity check process; 

• As Liaison Officer On-call, guarantee 24/7 on-call service, handling urgent tasking-related issues and coordinating solutions to ensure seamless operations and support;

• Support the development of elementary on-site GEOINT analysis capabilities within the Brussels Office, which would allow in-situ task processing and execution for extraordinary situations, ensuring rapid and straightforward responses; 

• Ensure continuous improvement and adaptation of processes to meet evolving operational needs and enhance the overall effectiveness of SatCen’s mission.

For more information, please refer to our recruitment page and the vacancy notice of the specific position.