June 17, 2025
Vacancy: Research Coordinator – Earth Observations (ESA)
As Research Coordinator, you will be the liaison between ESA's Climate team and the Future Earth Global Secretariat
Location: ESA ECSAT, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
Application Deadline: 1 July 2025
Consultancy Period: July 2025 – December 2027
Fee: 60 – 70 kEUR per year (depending on skills and experience)
Are you passionate about climate science, Earth observations, and international collaboration? The European Space Agency (ESA) and Future Earth are seeking a dynamic Research Coordinator to help bridge the gap between cutting-edge satellite data and global sustainability science.
About the Role
As Research Coordinator, you will act as a key liaison between the ESA Climate team and the Future Earth Global Secretariat. You will foster stronger links between ESA’s Earth observation initiatives and Future Earth’s global research networks — driving forward the use of satellite data and working at the science-policy interface for sustainability and climate action.
You’ll be based at ESA’s ECSAT facility in Oxfordshire, with regular travel to Stockholm and international meetings. This role offers the opportunity to identify and coordinate new scientific activities, work at the intersection of science, policy, and innovation, engage with world-leading researchers and support impactful communication.
Key Responsibilities
- Connect ESA programs with Future Earth’s Global Research Networks.
- Collaborate with scientific steering committees, support workshops, and facilitate cross-network communication.
- Develop joint activities that expand the use of ESA Earth Observation (EO) data.
- Manage budgets and reporting for joint initiatives.
- Represent ESA and Future Earth at international events.
- Act as an interface between the ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) and the research community to enhance scientific uptake of EO data.
- Promote project outcomes via conferences, websites newsletters, and scientific literature.
- Support ESA and Future Earth involvement in key international events (e.g. UNFCCC COPs and research dialogues).
- Provide strategic insight to align research outputs with global environmental and climate policy needs.
Essential Skills & Experience
- PhD in Earth Sciences, or 3–5 years of equivalent research experience.
- Strong understanding of Earth observation and global environmental change research.Research experience with use of ESA EO data and application.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Fluent in English (written and verbal); other languages are a plus.
Desirable Qualifications
- Familiarity with Future Earth’s mission and its Global Research Networks.
- Insight into international climate policy processes.
- Experience managing grants, budgets, and working in interdisciplinary teams.
Conditions
- You must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
- The successful candidate will not be an employee of ESA or Future Earth but will engage via a consultancy or own company through a general service agreement.
- You must be willing to undertake regular international travel and participate in international online meetings which at times will be outside of regular working hours.
About the Partnership
This role is at the heart of a strategic partnership between ESA and Future Earth, aimed at transforming how Earth observation data supports sustainability science. Since 2016, this collaboration has linked data users with providers, helped set the research agenda to pioneer progress, and supported connections across research disciplines in support of transformations to global sustainability. More information about past activities is available on the Future Earth website.
How to Apply
Send your CV and cover letter (in English), detailing your motivation and fit for the role, along with contact details for two referees, to: sweden@futureearth.org before the deadline of 12:00 noon (Europe) on 1 July.
Please mark your application “Research Coordinator”. Successful candidates will be notified of invitation to interview on 9 July, and interviews will be conducted on 23 July.