The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for an intern in its Strategy Department at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France. You would help turn Strategy 2040 from a vision into reality and choose between topics in Strategic Initiatives and Strategic Coordination. The internship lasts 3 to 6 months, starts from February 2027 and is open to university students. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Internship at a Glance: ESA Strategy Department, Paris
🏛️ Organisation: European Space Agency (ESA)
🧭 Role: Intern in the Strategy Department, Strategy, Sustainability, and Strategic Foresight Tracks
🆔 Job requisition ID: 20966
🗂️ Directorate: Strategy, Legal and External Matters
📍 Location: ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
⏱️ Duration: 3 to 6 months
📆 Start: from February 2027, with the exact start agreed with your ESA tutor
🌐 Publication method: external only
🔚 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Where Europe's Space Strategy Is Shaped
The Strategy Department (SLE-S) is at the centre of the action when it comes to shaping the future of Europe in space. Its mission is to transform Strategy 2040 from a vision into reality, ensuring ESA not only anticipates global challenges but also leads in addressing them.
As an intern, you would be directly involved in this effort and gain unique insight into how strategic decisions are made at the highest level. The vacancy says you will have the chance to follow one of three paths, each playing a vital role in Europe's space future.
What the Strategy Department Does
The Department defines, coordinates and implements the Agency's strategic framework, including the ESA-wide strategy, working with all stakeholders:
⚙️ It runs the relevant processes and the Inter-Directorate Programme Strategy Group (IDPSG)
🔭 It provides the foresight, strategic intelligence, tools and frameworks needed to translate long-term ambitions into action
📊 It delivers strategic analysis to support decision-making and to keep the Agency's long-term objectives aligned with its short-, mid- and long-term planning cycles
🚀 It enables ESA to set long-term priorities, prepare bold initiatives and align resources so that Europe remains a space leader on the world stage
🤝 It represents the Agency in relations with external strategy and policy organisations relevant to ESA's long-term positioning
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The Strategic Initiatives Team (SLE-SC)
Within the Strategy Department, the Strategic Initiatives Team supports the implementation of ESA's Strategy 2040. The Team is responsible for identifying, defining and coordinating new, cross-cutting initiatives that advance ESA's strategic goals and priorities between Council Meetings at Ministerial level.
The Team analyses strategic gaps and opportunities for the European space sector and accelerates the definition and early implementation of high-impact initiatives to address them. For this purpose, it works in close cooperation with ESA Directorates and strategic partners through collaborative frameworks, processes and campaigns.
The Team also leads the development of new concepts, methodologies and tools for strategic innovation, and organises collaborative and competitive events, such as innovation sprints, to support the development of strategic initiatives. Finally, it supports the broader work of the Strategy Department and contributes to high-level engagements with ESA Member States, as required.
The Strategy Coordination Division (SLE-SA)
Under the direct authority of the Head of Department, the Strategy Coordination Division coordinates the implementation and evolution of the Agency's strategic framework, supporting ESA's mission and objectives. It does so by:
📘 Maintaining the Long-Term Plan (LTP)
📈 Monitoring Agency performance
🗃️ Overseeing the Basic Activities (BA) programme
The Division ensures coherence across ESA's short-, medium- and long-term planning cycles and coordinates closely with relevant Directorates and services. The vacancy invites interested candidates to visit the ESA website (listed in the Links section below).
Long-Term Plan and Strategy Coordination: What the Division Handles
The vacancy lists these responsibilities for the Long-Term Plan and Strategy Coordination work:
🧩 Coordinating the implementation and evolution of the Agency's strategic framework
📝 Maintaining and defining the ESA Long-Term Plan (LTP) in line with the Agency's strategic framework and across all programmes and activities
🔗 Ensuring coherence across ESA's short-, medium- and long-term planning cycles
🔮 Integrating strategic foresight into Agency decision-making processes
💶 Coordinating strategic analysis and financial planning, including preparation for Council Meetings at Ministerial level
🎯 Defining, monitoring and overseeing the evolution of the Agency's key performance indicators (KPIs)
📣 Contributing to the Agency-wide implementation of strategy-related recommendations and measures
📑 Preparing the ESA Annual Report to Council
🗺️ Analysing the strategic evolution of ESA's footprint in Member States
🏷️ Preparing space-related background and strategic policy papers
The Basic Activities Programme and the Level of Resources Proposal
The Basic Activities (BA) constitute the Agency's corporate, mandatory programme foundation. They provide the capabilities, infrastructure, knowledge management, education programmes and early-stage R&D that underpin ESA's programmes and prepare future missions and activities across all domains.
The Division oversees the programmatic and budgetary planning, geographical return, preparation, implementation and continuous evolution of the BA programme framework, ensuring consistency across the Agency and effective coordination with all relevant Directorates and services. It provides the governance, monitoring and strategic oversight required to ensure that BA activities remain coherent, affordable and aligned with the Agency's strategic objectives.
A key responsibility of the Division is the preparation of the Director General's Proposal on the Level of Resources (LoR), which is decided at Ministerial Council level. It consolidates programmatic needs, financial requirements, strategic priorities and Member State considerations into a coherent and evidence-based proposal. The Division supports the process from early priority-setting and internal coordination through to Member State engagement and negotiation, ensuring that the BA package is strategically justified, financially sustainable and clearly articulated in terms of its value in enabling ESA's programmes and future missions.
Field of Activity: Choose Your Topic
Interns in the Strategy Department will contribute to the implementation of Strategy 2040, at the heart of ESA's efforts to shape the future of Europe in space. Depending on their path, interns may support activities in Strategic Initiatives and Strategic Coordination. The vacancy lets you choose among the following topics:
🎯 Topic 1: Strategic Initiatives (SLE-SC)
🧭 Topic 2: Strategic Coordination (SLE-SA), covering Long-Term Plan & Strategy Coordination and the Basic Activities Programme / Basic Activities Office
Topic 1: Strategic Initiatives, Your Day-to-Day Work
Within the Strategic Initiatives Team, you would be involved in the practical activities behind new strategic initiatives, helping turn ideas, inputs and discussions into clear actions and useful material. You would support the preparation, coordination and follow-up of activities, helping the team organise information, prepare concise inputs for internal discussions, monitor ongoing work and keep workshops, Strategy Forums and competitive Innovation Sprints running smoothly.
You would contribute to:
🔎 Exploring strategic themes, emerging trends and relevant space-sector activities, then turning your findings into clear and useful summaries
🗂️ Bringing structure to information on innovation-related activities, helping the team track progress, spot connections and prepare internal reporting
🖥️ Shaping practical material for meetings, workshops and management discussions, including briefing notes, slide decks and short summaries
🔄 Keeping collaborative activities moving by consolidating inputs, updating trackers, preparing agendas, capturing key points and following up on agreed actions
📉 Helping develop new tools and dashboards that make activities easier to monitor, analyse and communicate
👥 Engaging with colleagues from different teams and, where relevant, external partners by preparing practical material and helping turn collaborative inputs into usable outputs
🎪 Supporting the organisation of lively strategy and innovation events, such as strategy forums, innovation sprints and innovation-focused workshops
✍️ Supporting communication activities by helping to develop clear messaging, simple visual material and short articles
Topic 2, Part 1: Long-Term Plan and Strategy Coordination Tasks
During your internship, you would contribute to strategic planning and organisational transformation activities at the heart of ESA's Strategy Coordination function. In a highly international and multicultural environment, you would support the delivery of ESA's Long-Term Plan (LTP), a key Agency strategic document defining the pathways for the next decade.
🛠️ You would support the development, deployment and operational implementation of a digital tool designed to monitor and facilitate this delivery
📊 You would collaborate closely with stakeholders across ESA directorates to collect, analyse and consolidate strategic data, helping to translate long-term ambitions into measurable actions and results
⚖️ The internship also offers opportunities to support strategic analyses and evaluations of ESA's legal framework, administrative structures, programmes and financial planning, contributing to the continuous evolution of the Agency
🏆 You would support internal and external reporting and presentations of results and achievements for senior management and Member States
Topic 2, Part 2: Inside the Basic Activities Office
Joining the Strategy Coordination Division within the Basic Activities team would allow you to gain first-hand experience in the management of ESA's core mandatory programme framework and acquire an in-depth understanding of a number of activities considered the foundations of the Agency, while advancing the Agency's long-term goals.
In an international and multicultural environment, you would support the delivery of strategic analysis, helping to define the pathways for the next decades. During this internship, you would contribute to strategic planning and organisational transformation activities and gain unique insight into how strategic decisions are made at the highest level.
More specifically, you would have the chance to support the team by:
🌐 Analysing Member States' strategic positions, economic outlook and political policies to inform documents tabled at different committees
📚 Supporting the preparation of reports and documents on BA activity lines, including associated research and analysis
🕵️ Preparing intelligence briefings for key decision-makers, synthesising information on programmatic, political and industrial developments
🛰️ Contributing to the update of ESA's programmatic roadmaps in coordination with Programme Directorates
Beyond Your Topic: Wider Strategy Work
As part of the Strategy Department, you may also contribute to wider strategy-related activities, gaining insight into ESA's institutional framework, programmes, policies and decision-making processes. In a multicultural and collaborative environment, you would interact with experts across different areas, develop a broader understanding of the European and international space sector and contribute directly to ESA's strategic objectives and change.
Who Can Apply: Student Status and Study Level
The vacancy asks for a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master's level. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Languages: English or French
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Strategic Analysis and Research Skills
The vacancy lists these requirements under strategic analysis and research:
🏛️ Interest in strategic planning, public policy or international affairs
💡 Knowledge of innovation management or a related field
🔬 Ability to analyse and synthesise information from multiple sources
🗣️ Good written and verbal English communication skills
📋 Ability to prepare clear and structured reports and presentations
Digital Tools and Data Analysis
Two points are listed for digital tools and data analysis:
💻 Interest in digital transformation and data-driven decision-making
🔧 Knowledge of software development is an asset
Personal Skills
The vacancy describes the personal skills it looks for:
🌱 Proactive attitude and willingness to learn
🔭 Curiosity, initiative, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a multicultural team
🗓️ Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
⏳ Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
Six Behavioural Competencies Behind the Role
The vacancy lists six ESA behavioural competencies. For more information, it refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🏁 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🫂 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔮 Forward Thinking
Interview and Selection Tests
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Nationality Rules for This Internship
ESA considers applications only from nationals of one of these States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with the ESA tutor.
Limit: Two Applications Per Candidate
ESA's announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies. Choose the offers that fit your studies best.
Equal Opportunities and Support for Applicants with Disabilities
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
ESA values diversity and welcomes people with disabilities. Whenever possible, it seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process, and you can discuss this by email with the ESA internships team (the address is listed in the Links section below).
Does the Vacancy Mention Pay? Conditions and Disclaimer
The vacancy page does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA notes that the information on its careers website about internship conditions is correct at the time of publication, is not exhaustive and may not address all questions you have.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the ESA Strategy Department internship take place?
The internship takes place at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France. The role belongs to the Strategy Department within the Strategy, Legal and External Matters Directorate.
What topics can I choose from?
The vacancy offers Topic 1, Strategic Initiatives (SLE-SC), and Topic 2, Strategic Coordination (SLE-SA). Topic 2 covers Long-Term Plan & Strategy Coordination and the Basic Activities Programme / Basic Activities Office.
What will an intern in Strategic Initiatives work on?
You would explore strategic themes and emerging trends, bring structure to information on innovation-related activities, prepare briefing notes, slide decks and short summaries, and consolidate inputs and update trackers. You would also help develop tools and dashboards and support events such as strategy forums, innovation sprints and workshops.
What does the Long-Term Plan internship involve?
You would support the development, deployment and operational implementation of a digital tool that monitors and facilitates the delivery of ESA's Long-Term Plan. You would also collect, analyse and consolidate strategic data with stakeholders across ESA directorates and support reporting and presentations for senior management and Member States.
What does the Basic Activities Office internship involve?
You would analyse Member States' strategic positions, economic outlook and political policies, support reports and documents on BA activity lines, prepare intelligence briefings for key decision-makers and contribute to updating ESA's programmatic roadmaps.
What is the Level of Resources proposal?
It is the Director General's Proposal on the Level of Resources (LoR), decided at Ministerial Council level. The Strategy Coordination Division prepares it by consolidating programmatic needs, financial requirements, strategic priorities and Member State considerations.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, the internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with your ESA tutor.
Who can apply for this internship?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Which nationalities can apply?
ESA considers applications only from nationals of its listed States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply, as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States.
Which languages do I need?
A good knowledge of English or French is required, as these are the working languages of the Agency. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Do I need programming skills?
Knowledge of software development is listed as an asset, together with an interest in digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
Can I apply for more than one ESA internship?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies, according to ESA's announcement.
Is the internship paid?
The vacancy page does not state an allowance. ESA notes that its published information on internship conditions is not exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Will there be selection tests?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process, and your motivation for applying will be explored during the interview.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (official vacancy): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Paris-Intern-in-the-Strategy-Department-Strategy%2C-Sustainability%2C-and-Strategic-Foresight-Tracks/1452873833/
📢 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌐 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 ESA internships contact: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
