EJR-Quartz

What EJR-Quartz taught me about turning science into stories

Ellen Ranebo | 2 December 2025

By Saskia Cornet

For the past six months, I’ve had the pleasure of doing a traineeship at EJR-Quartz. With my background in biomedical sciences and science communication, I certainly raised some eyebrows when I started working at this primarily space-focused company. But for me, it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

Anyone who has recently joined the job market can attest that experience rules. And as a recent graduate, I was still gravely lacking in that department. That’s why I was so thankful that EJR-Quartz decided to take a chance on me.

I joined the team as a junior social media editor, primarily working on the English language channels of the German Aerospace Centre DLR, with some smaller projects for EUMETSAT and COSPAR. From day one, I felt at home in the team, and soon, I started to get more comfortable with the tasks and the “spacey” topics.

Saskia-Cornet-and-Rosa-Jesse-in-cologne-for-dlr-meeting — Saskia Cornet and Rosa Jesse in Cologne for a meeting with the DLR team to discuss social media strategy on 28 August 2025

At times, this traineeship was a bit of a ‘trial by fire’: in my third week, I was providing solo live coverage of a satellite launch, and by the fifth, I was on my way to Germany for the annual DLR social media meeting.

As an anxious recent graduate without experience, this was of course a bit stressful. But I always felt fully supported and truly appreciated by the team and management. Their feedback was nothing but constructive, and they weren’t afraid to give compliments when warranted. This made EJR-Quartz the perfect environment for me to develop my skills and figure out what I enjoy most.

Turns out… what I enjoy most is this kind of work! From mastering social media strategy and writing engaging content to learning video editing, design and subtitling, every day was a new opportunity to learn and let my creativity run wild.

Sadly, I’ll be leaving EJR-Quartz for the next step in my career, back to my biomedical roots. Looking back, I’m still incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work at EJR-Quartz. This traineeship not only allowed me to grow professionally but also gave me the confidence and skills to take on new challenges. I truly enjoyed being part of such a supportive and inspiring team, and the experience I’ve gained here has set me up perfectly for my next science communication adventure.

Ariane 6 team wins prize at the 2024 ESA Team Achievement Awards

Ellen Ranebo | 9 October 2025

ariane-6-inaugral-flight-team-at-2024-esa-team-achievement-award-ceremony-in-paris

ejr-quartz-at-esa-team-achievement-award-ceremony-for-ariane-6

We are proud to announce that the Ariane 6 team was honoured with a 2024 ESA Team Achievement Award…with a little help from us. On Tuesday, 7 October 2025 in Paris, France, our very own Julien Harrod and Rosa Jesse joined the whole Ariane 6 team as they were formally recognised for their accomplishments at the ESA Team Achievement Award ceremony.

Both EJR-Quartz’s Julien Harrod (Senior Space Transportation Editor for ESA) and Rosa Jesse (then Space Transportation Editor) played key roles within the ESA Communications team providing coverage for the successful inaugural flight of the rocket Ariane 6, launched on 9 July 2024.

Pictured here are Julien Harrod and Rosa Jesse together with ESA Communications Programme Officer Marie Carracedo and Karen Lochtenberg (Graphic Designer for Akkodis) – as well as the whole Ariane 6 team. Congratulations to the entire crew for reaching new heights!

esa-team-achievement-award-ceremony-for-ariane-6

Space East event demystifies Earth Observation

Peter Bickerton | 22 September 2025

peter-bickerton-onstage-during-multi-sector-panel-discussing-earth-observation-at-space-east-event-in-norwich

It’s always a treat when two worlds come together. As an Editor for EJR-Quartz, I work with the pioneering Earth Explorer mission managers to tell the stories of trailblazing ESA science on wind, ice, clouds and geomagnetism.

But once upon a time I was a biologist, and after my PhD my first job was on Norwich Research Park creating exciting events about DNA and big data biology. That meant my home became the East of England, so it seemed perfect when I was asked by Space East to join a panel on what Earth Observation means for the region on 10 September 2025.

Peter Bickerton-at-Space-East-Unlocking-Earth-Observation-for-Sustainability-event-in-Norwich

The event was brilliant. It was held at the University of East Anglia’s Enterprise Centre, which has a nice feel to it, with all its chalet-like wooden features and space. There was a good hum of interest from people from various sectors, and a lot of interest in how space technology could help things like agriculture, energy, and coastline monitoring.

The East of England is surrounded by sea, full of wind farms, and is one of the most productive agricultural regions on Earth, so it’s no surprise that people are keen to know what Earth Observation can do here.

One very entertaining part of the day was that one of the first talks, given by Electra Panagoulia of the Satellite Applications Catapult, featured what was for me a very recognisable satellite in her title slide. It was EarthCARE, ESA’s cloud, aerosol and radiation explorer.

It was a perfect segue for me to launch into the panel discussion, in which I was able to recount our incredible Hakuryu experience for ESA – when with Jamie Perera we turned EarthCARE’s cloud and aerosol data into a dragon’s song of peace. We exhibited this at ESA’s Living Planet Symposium in Vienna, where it was a big success, and we plan to make it even bigger with events online and around the world. It was a perfect example of one of the key questions – how to make EO data more accessible.

Funnily enough, later in the day I chatted to another speaker, Krupa Nanda Kumar of Space4Climate, who had also done a lot of work on EarthCARE. We ended up sharing details and Space4Climate were able to promote Hakuryu the next week. So, the event was clearly a networking success!

copernicus-presentation-at-space-east-earth-observation-event-in-norwich — Credit: Space East

The workshops in the afternoon were also very interesting, and it was wonderful to see just how many examples of crossovers there were between the attendees. The usefulness of ESA’s missions was clear, and it was a pleasure to discuss them with enthusiasm. The conversations could have gone on for hours, and many will continue afterwards.

I think this sort of event is very useful for introducing people to EO, and also to each other, and I look forward to attending similar events in the future.

peter-bickerton-outside-university-of-east-anglia-enterprise-centre-for-space-east-event

Celebrating difference: A third year of Pride Leiden

Ellen Ranebo | 17 September 2025

ejr-quartz-team-celebrating-at-de-valk-windmill-for-pride-leiden-2025

Evolved from a two-person business into a thriving team with over 70 professionals, at EJR-Quartz, diversity is at the heart of our ethos. As an equal-opportunities employer, we were proud to sponsor Pride Leiden 2025 for the second year in a row.

The third edition of the event attracted upwards of 50,000 visitors to the idyllic city of Leiden, where EJR-Quartz is headquartered, on Saturday, 6 September. Several of our team members watched as 47 boats adorned with multicoloured decorations, upbeat music and shimmying passengers cruised through Leiden’s extensive canal network.

boat-parade-through-leiden-canals-for-pride-leiden-2025

As evening settled in, our team gathered near the illuminated music stage beside the De Valk windmill, enjoying live performances while surrounded by rainbow-clad dancers moving into the night.

Next year, we hope we too can board a boat and get a front-row seat to all the action. Happy Pride!

A flying start to 2025

Dirma van Eck | 28 January 2025

New year, new start! We’re delighted to announce that we have won a new contract to provide communications services to the European Space Agency (ESA).

ESA was looking for a single communications service for all its channels, now expanded across five pillars: editorial, video/image distribution, graphics, corporate public affairs and logistics.

To meet this need, we will continue to work with our partners Publicis Sapient, World Wide Group and ATG Europe, in order to guarantee a 360-degree communications service.

Frédéric Le Gall, ESA Technical Officer of the contract, explains: “ESA was looking for a streamlined communications service across five pillars. We wanted a single provider to cover all our channels, providing everything from editorial services to video, graphics and branding support, as well as public affairs and logistics services. Throughout a rigorous tender process, the EJR-Quartz consortium has demonstrated that it has the knowledge and experience to meet our needs.“

With EJR-Quartz as prime contractor, the Communications Service Provision (CSP) contract is organised as follows:

Editing and Publishing services
Video/image Production and Distribution services
Graphics Applications services
Corporate Public Affairs and Social Media services
Outreach and Logistics services

In an evolution of the previous CSP contract, EJR-Quartz provides all editorial and publishing services, as well as public relations and strategic communications; World Wide Group is responsible for the video and related distribution services; Publicis Sapient provides graphics services, including branding and merchanding; while ATG Europe provides logistics and organisational support.

Erica Rolfe, EJR-Quartz Managing Director, explains: “We’re delighted that ESA continues to place its trust in us. Our companies have already been working together successfully for the last five years, combining strong storytelling skills with graphical/branding excellence, extensive TV and video competence, and strong public relations and organisational support. The success of this tender is thanks to the strength of our dedicated and experienced CSP service team.“

At the kick-off meeting on 9 January, Erica Rolfe handed over management of the CSP contract to Karin Ranero, EJR-Quartz Operations Manager. Kelsea Brennan-Wessels, Head of the Management Support Unit within ESA’s Communication Department, was introduced as the new ESA Technical Officer, taking over from Frederic Le Gall from 1 March onwards.

The three-year service contract is already off to a flying start, with eight new Earth Observation missions to support this year, the first launch of Ariane 64, the new class of ESA astronauts, the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget and the first release of Euclid data. We’re proud to continue to support ESA’s communication activities.

Vacancy: Internal Communications Editor for ESA, based at ESRIN in Italy

Dirma van Eck | 5 November 2025

***Applications closed*** Do you have excellent writing skills and the ability to translate corporate messages into engaging content for an internal audience? Are you looking for your next challenge in internal communications? Then we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Working as part of the EJR-Quartz team for the European Space Agency (ESA), you will be based onsite at ESA’s Earth Observation Centre, ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. You will join the highly motivated Internal Communications Team, which is spread over several locations.

The successful candidate will have:

A degree in communication, journalism or science/engineering
Minimum of two years’ professional experience in writing and editing, preferably for an internal communications team of a large international organisation.
The ability to present ideas and recommendations persuasively in writing and verbally, geared towards an internal audience
An excellent grasp of the English language (native or equivalent), including exceptional detail for spelling, grammar and punctuation.
The capacity to conduct interviews in written, audio or video format.
Experience of working in compliance with corporate tone-of-voice guidelines to create accurate, compelling copy.
A proactive approach to managing projects and the ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines
Great communication and networking skills
Experience in managing physical, online and hybrid events, including knowledge of the technical tools needed
A good knowledge of IT and other technical tools needed for hybrid and online events
Hands-on experience with content management systems and basic programming skills
The ability to plan and implement communication strategies

We also value:

Knowledge of analytics and planning tools
Basic graphic design skills
Knowledge of another European language
Knowledge of European Space Programmes

The fine print

You will be working as part of our communications service team for ESA on ESA’s Internal Communications activities, across ESA establishments.

Your tasks will include to:

Write, edit and publish content in English for different sections of the intranet
Disseminate corporate messages to an internal audience
Serve as point of contact for workforce engagement activities at ESRIN
Support communications campaigns and local events to help increase workforce engagement in order to foster a collaborative, transparent and engaging work environment
Ensure that all content published on the intranet is compliant with ESA editorial standards and agreed approval processes
Collect user requirements and support the evolution of tools needed by the Internal Communications Team
Ensure the update of internal display screens at the different ESA establishments
Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the implemented activities, reporting on performance requirements (PRs)

Contractual matters

The successful candidate will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz as part of our service team for ESA. The position is full-time (1 FTE) and onsite at ESA ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. This is a 1 year contract until 31 December 2026, with possibility of renewal. The optimal start date is 1 January 2026.

Candidates must already have a valid residence/working permit for Italy.

Closing date: 18 November 2025 at 12:30 CEST

Salary range: 3800-4200 EUR gross per month × 14 months, depending on experience.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

If you think this is for you, tell us why you’d like to join our team. Please send your cover letter, CV and references to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Please note that only applications in English will be considered. During the application process we may perform a check of your social media channels. If you do not agree to such screening, please let us know when you apply. Any data collected during the application process will of course be processed according to EU GDPR. For more information, please check our Data Policy.

(Banner: ESA’s ESRIN facility in Frascati, Italy. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Editor for ESA’s Operations activities in Darmstadt, Germany

Dirma van Eck | 5 November 2025

***Applications closed*** Would you like to be at the forefront of space operations? Do you have excellent editorial skills and a flair for storytelling? EJR-Quartz has an immediate opening for a fluent English editor familiar with spacecraft operations activities, to be part of our service team for the European Space Agency, based onsite at ESA’s Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

We’re looking for an experienced editor to develop inspiring content and creative campaigns for ESA’s Operations Directorate. We seek an individual who shares our passion for creative problem solving and who is able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will have:

Proficiency in English (mother-tongue or equivalent) and the ability to write and edit independently
A Masters degree in communications/journalism or a scientific or technical subject
Minimum of 4 years’ professional experience in writing and editing
Strong content management skills and familiarity with online publishing and social media tools
Great communication and networking skills
Demonstrable knowledge of communications and social media strategy
Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, both independently and as part of a team
Knowledge of another European language is an asset
Knowledge of European spacecraft operations is an advantage

Tasks include:

Researching and writing/editing content with the aim of publishing news, web stories, blog posts, social media posts, brochures, fact sheets, and other materials promoting the technical and programmatic activities of the directorate.
Supporting external and internal communications about the topic and liaising with the wider communication teams
Validating information with the relevant technical experts, and ensuring that it is compliant with ESA’s editorial and branding guidelines
Coordinating with ESA Corporate Communications to ensure that the content is aligned with ESA’s overall communication strategy
Creating and updating content in the content management system
Coordinating the creation of multimedia content for use on different platforms.
Contributing to the overall a communication strategy and ensuring its implementation.

Contractual matters

The successful candidate will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz as part of our service team for ESA. The position is full-time (1 FTE) and onsite at ESA’s Operations Centre in Darmstadt. This is a temporary contract until 31 December 2026, with possibility of renewal. The optimal start date is 1 January 2026.

Candidates must already have a valid residence/working permit for Germany.

Closing date: 18 November 2025 at 12:30 CEST

Salary range: 4000-4400 EUR gross per month, depending on experience.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

If you think this is for you, tell us why you’d like to join our team. Please send your cover letter, CV and references to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

(Banner: ESOC’s main facility in Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Social media editor for ESA

Dirma van Eck | 29 August 2025

***Applications closed***Editorial / Publishing Service for ESA Corporate Social Media

Do you have excellent social media skills and a passion for digital storytelling? Then we’d like to hear from you! We’re hiring an experienced and highly motivated social media and digital content editor with an interest in science and aerospace, to help us implement a social media strategy across the European Space Agency’s social media channels, finding new and creative ways to meet Agency-wide communications needs using current and emerging social/digital platforms.

We’re looking for someone with:

A Bachelor’s degree in digital media communications or related field and/or scientific or technical subject;
2+ years of hands-on experience running high-profile social media accounts, in particular on X, Facebook, BlueSky, Instagram and TikTok, planning and executing campaigns across multiple channels;
Understanding of what it takes to execute social media strategy within the wider framework of a corporate communications strategy;
Mother-tongue level standard of written English;
Affinity with space and science communication;
A demonstrable flair for social media storytelling on both corporate and scientific topics;
Up-to-date knowledge of latest social media trends and best practices;
Experience using photo and video editing tools from the Adobe Creative Suite;
Familiarity with and interest in the space programme and producing content for younger audiences.
Able to work independently and as part of a close-knit production team, collaborating with a wide range of internal and external interfaces.

We also value:

A proactive and positive approach with a can-do attitude;
A solution-oriented mindset;
The ability to operate in a friendly, client-focused manner;
Experience working in an international environment with government organisations;

The fine print:

As part of our Communications Service Provision team for ESA, you’ll be working within ESA’s social media team, supporting social media activities in English on ESA’s main channels.

Reporting to the Head of Digital and Print Products and Channels Office, you’ll be creating and publishing English content on ESA’s existing social media portfolio and potential future channels.

Your tasks will include:

Creating and publishing engaging social media content in line with ESA’s strategic communications objectives;
Contributing to ESA’s social media presence with creative ideas and campaigns;
Working as part of the ESA social media team, providing support across ESA’s social media channels, including, but not limited to, X, Facebook, BlueSky, TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest;
Interacting and engaging with ESA’s social media followers;
Identifying video material for repackaging on social media channels;
Staying on top of best practices and evolving digital platforms to inform strategies and growth.

Does this sound like you? Tell us why you think you’re the right fit for this exciting role. Send your CV and cover letter to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com or reach out via social media to @ejrquartz. You’ll find us on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contractual matters

You’ll be based on site at ESA’s Technical Centre ESTEC, in the Netherlands, as part of our EJR-Quartz service team for the ESA Communications Department.

The successful candidates will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz and must already hold a valid residence and work permit for the Netherlands. This will normally be a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal.

Start date: 1 October 2025

Closing date: 10 September 2025

Salary range: 3800-4300 EUR/month (depending on experience)

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

If you think this is for you, tell us why you’d like to join our team. Please send your cover letter, CV and references to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

(Banner: ESA’s ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Editor for ESA’s Operations B2B activities in Darmstadt, Germany

Dirma van Eck | 25 August 2025

***Applications closed***Are you hunting for your next challenge in B2B marketing in the space sector? Do you have excellent writing skills and the ability to translate communications strategy into compelling content? EJR-Quartz has an immediate opening for a fluent English editor familiar with spacecraft operations activities, to be part of our service team for the European Space Agency, based onsite at ESA’s Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

The successful candidate will have:

Proficiency in English (mother-tongue or equivalent) and the ability to write and edit independently;
A Masters degree in communications/journalism, marketing or a scientific or technical subject;
Minimum of 4 years’ professional experience in writing and editing with a flair for marketing;
Strong content management skills and familiarity with online publishing and social media tools;
Great communication and networking skills;
Demonstrable knowledge of communications, marketing and social media strategy;
Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, both independently and as part of a team.

Nice to have:

Knowledge of another European language is an asset;
A keen interest in space and spacecraft operations.

Tasks include to:

Support the drafting and publishing of content aimed at the B2B audiences of ESA’s Operations directorate;
Coordinate with the ESA Corporate Communication Department to support the implementation of the OPS B2B communication plan, with a special focus on marketing aspects, in order to maximise impact and ensure that all material is aligned with ESA’s overall communication strategy;
Research, write and edit content for all digital channels (web, social media, leaflets, newsletters, etc) promoting the technical and programmatic activities of the directorate to internal and external B2B stakeholders;
Validate technical information with the ESA content owners;
Liaise with ESA corporate communications services to ensure the timely publication and widest dissemination of content;
Foster a network of internal and external stakeholders to keep abreast of technological developments and engineering activities;
Assist in devising and implementing a B2B communication strategy for the Directorate
Support and assist all aspects of Operations B2B marketing and promotion activities and events as directed, especially directorate-wide trade events such as SPACEOPS.

Contractual matters

The successful candidate will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz as part of our service team for ESA. The position is full-time (1 FTE) and onsite at ESA’s Operations Centre in Darmstadt. This is a one-year contract with a possibility of renewal. The optimal start date is 1 October 2025.

Note: Candidates must already have a valid residence/working permit for Germany.

Closing date: 10 September 2025 at 12:30 CEST

Start date: 1 October 2025

Salary range: 3800-4200 EUR gross per month, depending on experience.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

If you think this is for you, tell us why you’d like to join our team. Please send your cover letter, CV and references to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

(Banner: ESOC’s main facility in Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Media relations expert for the European Space Agency

Dirma van Eck | 16 June 2025

***Applications closed*** Are you a natural at engaging with the media and experienced in media relations for an international organisation? Then we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Working as part of the EJR-Quartz communications service team for the European Space Agency (ESA), you will be based on site at ESA’s Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), located in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Your job will be to support ESA’s Corporate Media Relations activities by engaging with the media and managing the media community.

The successful candidate will have:

A degree in media or public relations, communication, or journalism;
Minimum of four years’ professional experience in the field, preferably acting as media relations person for a large international organisation;
Great communication and networking skills;
An excellent grasp of the English language (native or equivalent)
Experience in dealing with requests from the media and actively managing the media communities;
The ability to help plan and implement communication strategies;
Experience of working in compliance with corporate processes and guidelines;
The ability to remain calm in a crisis and work efficiently under pressure;
At ease with managing media relations effectively on social media channels.

We also value:

Knowledge of European Space Programmes
Knowledge of French and German or other European languages

Your tasks will include to:

Implement corporate media relations activities for the European Space Agency, in close coordination with the Head of Corporate and Institutional Communications and the Corporate Media Relations Officer;
Manage, establish and grow interactions with a community of relevant journalists focused on relevant topics such as space, climate and European affairs, who need in depth scientific, technological, political and financial information and facilitate their access to ESA experts
Plan, implement and evaluate engagement activities to foster a close engagement of relevant journalists with ESA’s programmes;
Perform social media analytics to optimise activities and contribute to media insight analysis reports;
Contribute to setting up an early alert system procedure;
Maintain the list of ESA spokespersons on corporate topics, in particular DG Services and Strategic, Legal and External Affairs;
Maintain and use relevant journalist and influencer databases
Deal with requests from media for interviews, information and support related to flagship and corporate media campaigns, in a coherent and timely manner;
Organise interviews and briefings for individual journalists;
Organise and support corporate media events;
Prepare, send and update press releases and news releases;
Adhere to media relations processes between establishments and collaborate with the Member States Outreach Office

Does this sound like you? Tell us why you think you’re the right fit for this exciting role by sending your CV and cover letter to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com or reach out via social media to @ejrquartz

You’ll find us on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Contractual matters

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the Netherlands. The contract will be issued by EJR-Quartz BV in the Netherlands. The position is full-time and on site at ESTEC, Noordwijk (NL). This position is initially for one year until 31 August 2026 with the possibility of renewal. Ideal starting date would be 1 September 2025.

Closing date for applications: 7 July 2025 at 12:30 CEST

Salary: €4700-5400 gross for a full-time position (40 h/week), depending on experience

Starting date: 1 September 2025

Please note that only applications in English will be considered. During the application process we may perform a quick check of your social media channels. If you do not agree to such screening, please let us know when you apply. Any data collected during the application process will of course be processed according to EU GDPR. For more information, please check our Data Policy.

(Banner: ESA’s ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Editor for ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications

Dirma van Eck | 15 April 2025

***Applications closed*** Do you have excellent writing skills and the ability to translate space technology facts into engaging content for end users? Are you able to write for a more general audience and looking for your next challenge in science communication? Then we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Working as part of the EJR-Quartz communications service team for the European Space Agency (ESA), you will be based onsite at ESA’s Technology Centre (ESTEC), located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

The successful candidate will have:

A degree in communication, journalism or science/engineering;
Minimum of four years’ professional experience in writing and editing, preferably for a communications team of a large international organisation;
The ability to present ideas and recommendations persuasively in writing and verbally, geared towards the general public and end users;
An excellent grasp of the English language (native or equivalent), with an exceptional eye for detail;
Great communication and networking skills;
The ability to help plan and implement communication strategies;
The capacity to conduct interviews in written, audio or video format;
Experience of working in compliance with corporate guidelines to create accurate, compelling copy;
A proactive approach to managing projects and the ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines;
An affinity with social media posting, engaging and the relevant platforms;
The ability to help plan and implement communication strategies.

We also value:

Knowledge of European Space Programmes
Knowledge of another European language

Your tasks will include to:

Create content for publication on the main ESA corporate communications portal. The content must be accessible to the general public and includes web articles, as well as images and videos.
Create social media posts for the @ESATelecoms X, BlueSky and LinkedIn accounts and other social media platforms, as required.
Conduct research into the topics to be covered, working with colleagues in the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications to identify newsworthy content that can be created in a timely fashion.
Create and edit the content to ensure the high quality of its language and narrative structure, and to ensure it complies with the ESA corporate communications style guide.
Ensure that all content is approved by the relevant stakeholders
Help external partners that seek to issue their own press releases by providing content, such as a quote from the Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
Upload approved content into the content management system
Run the social media accounts and coordinate with other relevant social media accounts.
Curate the telecommunications section of the ESA corporate communications portal
Support colleagues as necessary in ESA-wide corporate communications, including creating content for press releases and ESA Web TV
Attend editorial and other meetings as required

You’ll find us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Contractual matters

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the Netherlands. The contract will be issued by EJR-Quartz BV in the Netherlands. The position is full-time and onsite at ESTEC, Noordwijk (NL). This position is temporary until 31 December 2025 with the possibility of renewal. Ideal starting date would be 1 June 2025.

Closing date for applications: 29 April 2025 at 12:30 CEST

Salary: €4000-4500 gross for a full-time position (40 h/week), depending on experience

Starting date: 1 June 2025

Please note that only applications in English will be considered. During the application process we may perform a quick check of your social media channels. If you do not agree to such screening, please let us know when you apply. Any data collected during the application process will of course be processed according to EU GDPR. For more information, please check our Data Policy.

(Banner: ESA’s ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Technical editor

Dirma van Eck | 20 March 2025

***Applications closed*** Are you that one-of-a-kind engineer with a flair for writing and editing? Do you have a passion for figuring out linguistic intricacies and an engineering or science degree? Then we are looking for you!

We have an urgent vacancy in the Netherlands for an experienced mother-tongue (or equivalent) English writer/editor, who has a solid background in engineering, for our editorial team that supports the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with their communications needs.

Does this sound like you? Apply now!

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

Mother-tongue (or equivalent) English
The right to live and work in the Netherlands
A degree in engineering or physics
Minimum of three years’ experience in editing scientific materials
Demonstrable experience in presenting scientific and technical subjects in a style accessible for general public

Nice-to-haves:

Familiarity with space topics an advantage
Knowledge of German is an asset

Job description

Your main job will be to edit and fine-tune content that has been translated from German into English. This may include articles for the DLR website and the DLRmagazine, as well as scripts, subtitles and social media posts. The scope is varied: one moment, you might be editing a press release about Mars; the next, refining a web article on new aircraft engine designs, followed by polishing a magazine article on novel approaches to sustainable transport.

Working as part of the DLR communications team, your tasks will include to:

Edit content translated from German into English on topics relevant to DLR (e.g. aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security)
Ensure that all content is compliant with DLR’s editorial guidelines
Fact-check scientific content
Assist with publishing and updating content on the DLR website
Support social media campaigns and channels
Liaise with DLR staff, team members and external contacts

Tell us why you think you are the right fit for this role. Send your CV and cover letter to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com or reach out via social media to @ejrquartz.

You’ll find us on X, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.

Contractual matters

You’ll be based onsite in our head office in Leiden, the Netherlands and therefore you must have the right to work in the Netherlands. This will be a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal.

Start date: 1 May 2025

Closing date: 15 April 2025

Salary range: 60kEUR-68kEUR annual gross wage, including 8% holiday allowance, based on a full-time position (40 hrs per week).

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

EJR-Quartz is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud of our diverse team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Please note that only applications in English will be considered. During the application process we may perform a check of your social media channels. If you do not agree to such screening, please let us know when you apply. Any data collected during the application process will of course be processed according to EU GDPR. For more information, please check our Data Policy.

Vacancy: Social media intern

Dirma van Eck | 19 March 2025

***Applications closed*** Interested in science storytelling and recently graduated in science and/or digital media? We have an opportunity for a social media intern, supporting our own company channels and those of our clients. We are looking for someone who is not afraid to try new things out on social media, keeps up with the latest platforms, follows trends and is happy to learn more.

Come and join our team in Leiden and help us find creative ways of communicating science to a broad audience using current and emerging social/digital platforms. This is a paid internship for 6 months at our Leiden headquarters, where you’ll work in an international environment, hone your social media and digital storytelling skills and learn a thing or two from our in-house experts.

We’re looking for someone with:

A proactive and positive approach
A solution-oriented mindset
The ability to operate in a friendly, client-focused manner
A talent for science storytelling
A degree in science and/or digital media

Does this sound like you? Tell us why you think you are the right fit for this exciting role. Send your CV and cover letter, your reels, or other samples of your creativity to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com or reach out via social media to @ejrquartz

Contractual matters

You’ll be based on site at the EJR-Quartz Leiden office, in the Netherlands, and therefore you must have the right to live and work in the Netherlands. This will be a six-month contract, with possibility of renewal.

Salary: 2500 EUR per month

Closing date: 15 April 2025

Start date: 1 May 2025

Our company

EJR-Quartz is an international company specialised in science communication, particularly related to space. Our multinational team of digital content specialists is spread across five European countries, serving a number of clients, mainly in the aerospace sector.

Like every good company, EJR-Quartz is all about people. We are very proud of our employees and the fact that we have such a diverse team of highly dedicated staff. As an equal opportunity employer our team brings together a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills and we firmly believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Learn more about our company and meet the team at: www.ejr-quartz.com