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essp europe
June 19, 2026

System Operations Unit Director - F/M


Created in 2009, ESSP is a young and dynamic company, a pan-European service provider, certified by EASA (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) to deliver safety-critical services. Our mission is to operate and provide Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services, among which the main one is the EGNOS service (the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), on behalf of the EUSPA (the European Union Agency for the Space Programme).

ESSP Corporate Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkszX-ptzAY

ESSP Website career: https://www.essp-sas.eu/human-resources/careers/

 

We are looking for a System Operations Director who will be in charge of coordinating operations, engineering, maintenance management, and operational outsourcing (telecommunications services, logistics, operational site management, etc.). As a member of the Operational Committee, under the coordination of the Chief Operating Officer (COO), he/she ensures, in collaboration with other units, the successful delivery of services and projects, while adhering to safety, security, and quality requirements. As a member of the Extended Executive Committee, he/she supports and implements the company's strategy and policies (HR, finance, internal processes in general).

For these activities, we are looking for someone with at least 7 years’ experience in team management. The applicant will also need experience in finance, contractualization and critical system operations in aeronautic or aerospace domain with a very good level of English (minimum B2).

 TheSOU Director is responsible for :

  • Managing a team (approximately80 people) in charge of:

managing operations, engineering, and systems maintenance;

managing operational tools (procedures, platforms, etc.) and executing operational outsourcing contracts (technical assistance, operational sites, logistics, network, etc.).

  • Ensuring risk management within his/her area of responsibility and being responsible for the continuous improvement of his/her unit's processes and tools;
  • Implementing contingency plans and personally play an active role in crisis situations;
  • Coordinating the definition of future operational requirements for service delivery and compliance with applicable regulations before transmission to system architects (e.g., ESA for EGNOS);
  • Ensuring, under the coordination of the COO and in close collaboration with the SPU (Service Provision Unit) Director and the CMU (Compliance Management Unit) Director, effective cooperation between their teams;
  • Proposing the annual operating budget for SOU and ensuring its adherence;
  • Providing the necessary expertise for responding to BID’s offer, and ensuring that workload and purchase estimates related to SOU activities are appropriate;
  • Contributing to the definition and implementation of the company's strategy and development;
  • Supporting and deploying the policies implemented within the company (HR, security, safety, finance) and ensuring compliance with internal processes;
  • Actively contributing to management meetings and company decision-making.

 

The SOU Director contributes to the security of the company's information systems within the limits of his/her responsibilities. In collaboration with the Chief Security Officer (CSO), he/she ensures that the rules and procedures established are taken into consideration and correctly enforced within his/her unit, in particular in the context of the ISMS and related ESSP’s ISO 27001 certification.

 

Profile:

  • Strong autonomy
  • Organization
  • Ability to assume responsibilities
  • Customer Service Oriented and internal collaboration
  • Shows initiative and is able to synthesize
  • Experience with software suites Microsoft (MSOffice, MSProject, etc).−
  • Team management
  • Very good level of English (C1) – CEFR
  • Understanding of challenges and strategy and of the constraints
  • Operational decision-making sometimes in urgent conditions
  • Leadership
  • Financial management (optimization of the organization, and associated costs)
  • Delegation / control
  • Work in management team, challenging and loyal member of the management team
  • Team player spirit

 

Job Specifications:

  • Engineering degree or equivalent
  • Available for regular travels mainly in Europe.
  • Subject to constraints of minimum presence during normal vacation periods (July/August, Christmas, February, Easter), and in case of crisis situation.

 

Human Resources information:
- 1st interview is held by the CEO (technical interview)
- 2nd interview is held by HR department

Element of package of remuneration:
- Variable: bonuses based on objectives
- Profit-sharing
- Teleworking: up to 2 days/week
- Tickets Restaurant (card)
- Family Health insurance
- Sustainable Mobility Package: Home/Office travels reimbursement if car sharing or bicycling
- Reimbursement of 75% of public transport subscription

- Professional car

Please send your application file only by e-mail to the following address: recrut@essp-sas.eu

Job Location: Toulouse (France)

Type of Contract: Full time - Permanent Contract

PDF: Download


ESSP is committed to cultural diversity, gender equality and the employment of disabled workers.