EJR-Quartz

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: Video producer ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Dirma van Eck | 4 December 2024

***Applications closed*** New Year, new start? We’re looking for an experienced video producer to join our service team for the European Space Agency, working full-time on site at ESA/ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. We seek a highly creative individual who is able to present complex scientific and technical topics in an approachable way, as well as collaborate with various teams in a fast-paced international environment (working language English).

The successful candidate will have:

Minimum of four years’ professional experience in video and TV production, including experience in presenting scientific and technical topics
A degree in communications, media studies or other relevant discipline
Great communication, planning, organisation and networking skills
Demonstrable knowledge of communications strategy
Familiarity with online publishing and video editing tools
Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, both independently and as part of a team
Fluent English and knowledge of Italian and/or French. The working language at ESA is English and most products are required to be produced in English
Knowledge of European space programmes an advantage

Tasks

The video producer will support the ESA Video Production Officer in ensuring the planning, production and publishing of ESA’s corporate video content, including streaming content and live feeds on ESA Web TV and YouTube.

Tasks include:

Devising or commissioning both on-demand and web streamed video content content in line with the Communication strategy and planning, for all of ESA’s corporate video channels
Supporting the ESA Video Production Officer in coordinating video production resources across ESA establishments
Coordinate logistics for video shoots and support technical teams on-location, when required
Commissioning script writing/editing by the editorial team
Ensuring adherence of all video productions to the ESA Brand
Ensuring approvals of all material according to agreed processes
Liaising closely with video distribution colleagues and social media managers to ensure publication on appropriate channels
Ensuring ESA Web TV implementation, under the instruction of the Video Production Officer and Head of Digital and Print Production
Preparing programme schedules, in line with the communications plan themes or campaigns
Guiding the overall direction of the ESA Web TV channel
Ensuring the workflow and processes for the smooth running of the channel
Directing the day-to-day production of the ESA Web TV channel
Acting as anchor/writer for ESA Web TV or assigning presenters as required
Coordinating live webstream schedules and commissioning technical support
Ensuring promotional materials for coherent publicity across all channels

Contractual matters

The successful candidate will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz srl, or one of its partners, as part of our communications service team for ESA. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in Italy and be able to work full time on site at ESA/ESRIN, Frascati. This is a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal. The start date is 1 January 2025.

Closing date: 18 December 2024

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

Find out more about our company and meet our multinational team at: www.ejr-quartz.com

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

Insights from the AI for Good Conference

Dirma van Eck | 7 November 2024

“What’s your opinion on AI?” seems to be the main question circulating office corridors these days. I was, until recently, unaware there was such a strong divide and unsure of whether to jump on the bandwagon or dismiss the whole concept.

There’s no doubt about it: artificial intelligence is on the verge of transforming the way we do business. It has already crept from research labs into business, industrial and professional applications. But AI still has a long way to go.

Curious, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I recently attended the AI for Good Global Summit, organised by the International Telecommunication Union. Held in Geneva each year, the summit focuses on how AI can be used to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as promoting clean energy, climate action, sustainable infrastructure and other global development priorities.

The conference showcased a myriad of applications on how AI can be harnessed for the betterment of society, from advancements in human robotics and healthcare to innovations in vision and language processing.

There seems to be one common outcome: AI can increase productivity and efficiency across a range of sectors. During his opening speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres specifically mentioned education, healthcare and planetary health as sectors for increased efficiency.

The conference featured quite a few sophisticated robots, some shaped like dogs or cats, others humans, designed to assist us in our everyday tasks to improve our quality of life. But AI is doing so much more than that.

“Robot dogs are very impressive breakthroughs of science technologies. But what problems are they solving?” said Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO of Lelapa AI – a startup building AI for African languages.

Among some of the groundbreaking technologies showcased was the AI-powered exoskeleton developed by Wandercraft, which aims to transform the lives of people with paralysis.

Leveraging advancements in robotics and AI, Wandercraft’s exoskeleton enables those with mobility impairments to ‘walk’ again.

As Earth Observation Editor at EJR-Quartz, I was particularly interested in how developments in AI can help create a more sustainable world. One of the presentations highlighted GraphCast, a state-of-the-art AI model able to deliver 10-day weather predictions in under a minute.

GraphCast claims to take a significant step forward in AI for weather prediction, offering more accurate and efficient forecasts, and opening paths to support decision-making critical to the needs of our industries and societies.

Pioneering the use of AI in weather forecasting will benefit billions of people in their everyday lives. By developing new tools and accelerating research, Google DeepMind hopes AI can empower the global community to tackle our greatest environmental challenges.

Anna Koivuniemi, Head of Google DeepMind Impact Accelerator, said, “AI can’t save climate change. But humans can.“

Another presentation showcased Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE) which uses AI to unleash the vast amounts of information encoded in the most advanced digital representations of the Earth, aiming to empower people to respond to the urgent challenge of climate change.

Despite AI’s seemingly countless benefits, it also comes with its risks. There were other interesting speeches about AI is doing the exact opposite of what the conference proposes.

While AI technologies continue becoming highly sophisticated, the security concerns linked with their use and the possibility for misuse also rise. Threat actors can leverage the same AI tools meant for human good to commit malicious acts like scams, fraud, deepfakes and more.

In addition, the development, maintenance and disposal of AI technology also comes with a large carbon footprint. The power demands of the huge data centres that underpin the AI revolution will only keep growing.

Nearly half of the global population cannot participate in the AI leap due to technological disparities between advanced and developing economies.

Doreen Bogdon-Martin, head of the UN International Telecommunications Union, commented, “In 2024, in the age of AI, in the age of unimaginable opportunities, one-third of humanity remains completely offline, excluded from the AI revolution without a voice. What we in this room take for granted remains completely foreign to 2.6 billion people around the world.“

Written by a human being

(Credit images: ITU Pictures, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) )

Federico presents his latest comic book!

Dirma van Eck | 31 October 2024

As the 75th International Astronautical Congress unfolded last week, ESA hosted a series of events beyond the conference centre, transforming Milan into a vibrant space hub for celebrating space in various ways. Among these activities was Cosmic Synergies, which featured the presentation of ‘La terra si frantuma!‘, a new comic book starring the Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano alongside the character Nathan Never, published by Bonelli Editore.

At the Cosmic Synergies event, Federico – young autistic comic illustrator working at EJR-Quartz for ESA in ESRIN – had the unique opportunity to introduce himself to the public in a dynamic format: a short animation (you can watch the video here). Through an engaging hand-crafted video, which featured a cartoon version of himself, Federico introduced his latest project, ‘Mission Moon‘, the second episode of the Fede’s SpaceToon saga.

Published by Officina Animata, the first edition of Fede’s SpaceToon adventures was released in 2022. The second episode of Federico’s comic book once again stars ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, this time embarking on a mission to the Moon. With his unique artistry, the presentation showcased not only his current artwork but also his exceptional perspective as an autistic artist, adding a special spark that brought depth and emotion to the event’s stellar lineup.

Federico shared some impressions of his experience at the Cosmic Synergies event with us: “It was thrilling to see my video projected on the big screen. Since the first volume of Fede’s SpaceToon, I’ve dreamed of creating a new story that still features Luca Parmitano. I’ve been a big fan of Luca since I first met him in 2018, and I still remember his words of encouragement for the 2019 Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, where I competed. The dream of becoming a cartoonist has been with me for as long as I can remember, along with my love for ESA’s characters like Paxi and AstroGNAT. I’m so happy to have them meet my own comic characters, like Stuart the dragon and Buk the Space lizard.“

About Federico

Federico Badessi joined EJR-Quartz in January 2024, as a junior graphic designer. He was previously an ESA trainee at ESRIN, during which time he produced a comic book ‘Fede’s SpaceToon – Mission Space‘ (ISBN 978-88-946233-3-8) on a fantasy space mission on the International Space Station involving Luca Parmitano. The first edition of his book, published by Officina Animata, was available on the Special Olympics Italia website.

Federico is an autistic person, comic illustrator and Special Olympics athlete (swimming). He graduated from the art school ‘Istituto C.G. Argan of Rome’ in 2017, and then completed a three-year illustration course of the international school of Comics in Rome, graduating in 2020. Federico’s artwork can be seen on his digital portfolio on Behance.

(Credits banner: Fede’s Comics Channel on YouTube)

Vacancy: Support for Danish astronaut mission

Dirma van Eck | 18 September 2024

***Applications closed*** Do you have excellent writing skills and a flair for digital storytelling? Are you a native Danish speaker with excellent English and some time on your hands? Our team needs short-term support with the day-to-day writing, editing and social media implementation of the post-flight activities of Andreas Mogensen.

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated social media and digital content editor with an interest in science and space exploration. You will be part of our communications service team for the European Space Agency (ESA).

We’re looking for someone with:

Native Danish and mother-tongue standard English
2+ years of hands-on experience running social media and creating digital content for an organisation with a significant public presence, preferably in the aerospace or environment field;
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, digital media communications or related field and/or scientific or technical subject
Strong communication and editing skills with a flair for science storytelling
Understanding of what it takes to execute social media strategy within the wider framework of a corporate communications strategy
1+ year’s experience using video, audio, and other multimedia elements on social media
Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, as part of a social media team
Experience with photo and video editing tools, such as Adobe PhotoShop, Final Cut, or Adobe Premiere, as well as social-only tools for GIFs, etc.

Working within the Human and Robotic Exploration communication team, your tasks will be to:

Produce and publish social and other content for Andreas Mogensen’s post-flight and related ESA activities
Participate and actively contribute to meetings
Write and review recorded message scripts
Edit and write in Danish and English and translate between the two languages where needed
Support HRE activities by producing and publishing editorial and social media content

Contractual matters

The position is off-site and for 0.3-0.4 FTE (12-16 hours per week). The position ends on 31 December 2024. Your contract will be a freelance contract with a limit of liability for a maximum of 200 hours.

Closing date: 30 September 2024

Start date: 1 October or as soon as possible

Hourly freelance rate: 38-48 EUR, depending on experience (including all fees, excluding VAT)

Find out more about our company and meet our multinational 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

Or reach out to us on LinkedIn or social media and let’s talk!

(Banner: Astronaut basic training: spacewalk simulation. Credit: ESA)

Proud of our colours

Dirma van Eck | 10 September 2024

As an equal opportunities employer, we have a diverse workforce from all over the world and we strive to make our workplace an inclusive one. We were therefore very excited to be a sponsor of this year’s Leiden Pride.

Having grown from a two-person business into a 70-person family, our company has seen many changes over the past 25 years. EJR-Quartz is all about people: our strength is our team and everyone on the team provides a wealth of experience and commitment. We select employees on the basis of their merits, and the key to our success is respect for diversity.

Last year, at Leiden’s first ever Pride celebrations, we scouted out the festivities with a small group of our Leiden office team. We watched the colourful boats go past on the canal and celebrated our diversity at the live music festival on the Beestenmarkt.

This year we wanted to go a step further and decided to become a a sponsor. This put us in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the boat parade and the celebrations on the Lammermarkt in Leiden and allowed us to openly be proud of our colours.

And who knows, maybe next year we will make it onto a boat of our own? Watch this space…

Vacancy: Outreach expert at ESOC

Dirma van Eck | 10 September 2024

***Applications closed*** We’re looking for an enthusiastic and organised Outreach expert to support outreach activities at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), as part of our Communications Service Provision team for ESA.

As an Outreach expert, you will be responsible for organising events, supporting ESA astronaut outreach, and promoting ESOC activities to the public and key stakeholders, at ESOC and in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. You’ll collaborate closely with various departments and teams within ESA, ensuring a strong and consistent message across national web pages, social media, and events.

We’re looking for someone with…

The capacity to write and edit in mother-tongue level German
At least four years’ experience working in a similar role, preferably for a communications team of a large international organisation.
A degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field. Alternatively, a background in space science or engineering with a passion for public engagement is also welcomed.
Excellent communication and networking skills in English and German,
The capacity to engage and work effectively with people at all levels of an organisation.
Demonstrable ability to organise large events and manage complex logistics.
The ability to help plan and implement communication strategies and campaigns.
A proactive approach to managing projects and the ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines
An eye for detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Adequate proficiency in social media and content management tools

We also value…

A solution-oriented mindset and readiness to take initiative.
The ability to operate in a friendly, client-focused, professional and discreet manner at all times.
The ability to communicate complex topics to a broad audience in an engaging manner.
Proactive problem-solving with a willingness to take on new challenges.
Experience working in an international environment with governmental organisations
Knowledge of the Polish or Czech language and culture

Your tasks will include to:

Build and maintain strong relationships with national space agencies in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic to support joint outreach efforts.
Expand partnerships in these countries by working closely with relevant ESA offices.
Write articles in German for the ESA portal and Intranet and help with project reports.
Keep national web pages and social media channels up to date with relevant content.
Collaborate with the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) to support outreach activities of ESA astronauts from Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Organise outreach events at ESOC, including public visits and school tours, coordinating all logistics and liaising with the necessary teams.
Manage visitor requests, security arrangements, and provide support for lectures and distribution of materials at ESOC.
Ensure promotional materials are available for ESOC events and work with the ESOC Space Shop for merchandising needs.
Plan and manage ESOC events, from organising agendas to handling follow-ups.
Support social media campaigns and coordinate with ESA departments to promote events and initiatives.

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 2024, with a strong possibility of renewal.

The optimal start date is 7 October 2024

Closing date: 18 September 2024, 12:30 CEST

Salary range: 3800-4400 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: vacan cy@ejr-quartz.com

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

EJR-Quartz for EUMETSAT

Dirma van Eck | 2 September 2024

We are delighted to be able to announce that we have been awarded a contract with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to support their communication needs.

EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation that currently boasts 30 member states. Based in Darmstadt, Germany, they operate a number of meteorological satellites, such as Meteosat-9, -10 and -11, two Metop polar-orbiting satellites and the Meteosat Third Generation – Imager 1. Their data and products are vital to weather forecasting and, having been entrusted by the European Union with exploiting four Sentinel missions of the Copernicus space component, EUMETSAT contributes to the monitoring of changes in Earth’s environment.

Having already been involved in the communication of other Copernicus services over the past 8 years, and of course adding our 25 years of experience in supporting the European Space Agency’s communication activities to this, we look forward to taking EUMETSAT’s communication to the next level.

Having started in the first week of September we will be supporting their team with their various publication needs, including writing content for their website, social media channels, printed publications and supporting media relations as well as corporate communications.

We hope to have a fruitful collaboration and look forward to supporting the communications team at EUMETSAT.

(Banner: EUMETSAT headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: EUMETSAT)

Vacancy: EO social media editor, ESRIN, Italy

Dirma van Eck | 23 July 2024

***Applications closed*** Do you have excellent social media skills and a passion for digital storytelling? Then we’d like to hear from you! We’re looking for an experienced and highly motivated social media and digital content editor with an interest in science and aerospace.

You will be part of our service team that supports the European Space Agency (ESA) with their Agency-wide communication needs. Your role will be to support social media related to ESA’s Earth Observation (EO) Programme activities.

We’re looking for someone with:

Deep familiarity with major social media platforms and content management platforms
2+ years of hands-on experience running social media and creating digital content for an organisation with a significant public presence, preferably in the aerospace or environment field;
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, digital media communications or related field and/or scientific or technical subject
Strong communication and editing skills (mother-tongue English standard) with a flair for science storytelling
Understanding of what it takes to execute social media strategy within the wider framework of a corporate communications strategy
2+ years of experience working with social media management tools, running successful campaigns and assessing metrics/analytics
1+ year’s experience using video, audio, and other multimedia elements on social media
Experience and expertise with photo and video editing tools, such as Adobe PhotoShop, Final Cut, or Adobe Premiere, as well as social-only tools for GIFs, etc.
Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, as part of a social media team

Working with the Earth Observation Social Media Strategist, your tasks will be to:

Implement the ESA EO social media strategy
Run EO social media channels based on EO content
Source, write and edit content daily to support the digital strategy
Investigate ways for EO to partner, engage, reach out to and with various platforms
Work as part of the EO communications team, under the responsibility of the EO Communications Officer
Liaise closely with the ESA-wide social media team to achieve the highest visibility for EO activities on the ‘corporate’ channels
Support the Social Media Strategist in collaborating with appropriate external entities/partners/agencies
Search for opportunities to tell Earth observation stories
Report on EO social media in line with best practice in order to show return rate on a weekly/event basis
Stay abreast of social media developments/new channels and make recommendations on their use for Earth Observation
Propose and support targeted EO social media campaigns
Engage with the EO social media community and influencers

Contractual matters

The position is full-time and on-site at ESRIN, ESA’s establishment in Frascati, Italy. You therefore must have the right to live and work in Italy. You will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz srl, within our communications service team for ESA. It will normally be a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal.

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.

Closing date: 10 August 2024

Start date: January 2025.

Salary range: 2900-3200 EUR gross per month (based on 14 monthly payments per year)

Find out more about our company and meet our multinational 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

Or reach out to us on LinkedIn or social media and let’s talk!

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

Vacancy: Science editor/writer

Dirma van Eck | 23 July 2024

***Applications closed*** Do you like writing about exciting new developments in space? Do you have a flair for science storytelling and a degree in science or science communication? Then we are looking for you!

We have several vacancies for mother-tongue (or equivalent) English writer/editors in the UK, the Netherlands and Italy, working onsite as part of our communications service team for the European Space Agency (ESA).

We support ESA’s communication strategy, across all programmes, including space science, human and robotic exploration, Earth observation, satellite navigation, space transportation, technology, operations and connectivity.

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 UK, Italy or the Netherlands
An Honours degree in science, engineering or communications/journalism
Minimum of three years’ experience in writing and editing
A flair for science storytelling
Demonstrable experience in presenting scientific and technical subjects in a style accessible for general public
Hands-on experience of planning and running social media/digital campaigns
Familiarity with space topics an advantage
Knowledge of a second European language is an asset

Job description

The editor will write, edit and publish articles and other content on ESA’s activities in mother-tongue English for ESA’s online channels. This may include script-writing and storyboarding, and social media campaigns.

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

Write and edit content in English on topics relevant to ESA’s activities
Ensure that all content published is in English and compliant with ESA editorial guidelines and agreed approval processes
Ensure content publishing on the ESA online channels
Support social media campaigns and channels
Liaise with other ESA social media team members
Support the communications officer in executing communications plans and campaigns, and provide input to communications plans
Liaise closely with the rest of the communications team to ensure coherence and maximum visibility of the activities

Does this sound like you? Tell us why you think you are the right fit for one of these roles. 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 or LinkedIn.

Contractual matters

You’ll be based onsite in ECSAT (Harwell, UK), ESTEC (Noordwijk, the Netherlands), or ESRIN (Frascati, Italy) and therefore you must have the right to work in the country that you are applying for. This will be a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal.

Start date: 1 January 2025

Closing date: 10 August 2024

Salary range: 46kEUR-50kEUR annual gross wage (£48,000-£52,000), 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.

(Banner: ESA’s ECSAT facility in Harwell, UK. Credit: ESA)

Vacancy: Editor with print experience, at ESA/ESRIN

Dirma van Eck | 12 July 2024

***Applications closed*** Do you have an eye for detail and a passion for science storytelling? Then come and join our editorial team for ESA/ESRIN in Italy! We have an opening for an English editor experienced in writing for print and digital publications and able to present scientific and technical topics in a style accessible for the general public. The position is full-time for EJR-Quartz, as part of our Communications service team for the European Space Agency, onsite at ESA ESRIN in Frascati, Italy.

We are looking for

We are looking for a mother-tongue (or equivalent) English editor, with a minimum of three years of demonstrable experience in writing and editing for print and managing print and digital productions. Candidates must have experience in presenting scientific and technical subjects in a style accessible for the general public and meticulous editing skills.

The successful candidate will have:

Mother-tongue level of English
A minimum of 3 years of writing/editing experience
Excellent writing, editing and proof-reading skills
Honours degree in journalism/communications, science or engineering
Demonstrable skill in presenting scientific and technical subjects in an accessible way
Experience in following print products throughout the entire publishing cycle
Experience with InDesign and similar tools
Italian residence and work permit

The fine print

The Print Editor is responsible for writing and editing a range of print and digital content, in mother-tongue English. Tasks include:

Writing and editing of material for ESA’s print and digital productions, in mother-tongue English
Supporting the Head of Office in maintaining a catalogue of print publications to be produced by ESA
Overseeing creation and production of print publications from conception to distribution: managing the schedule and approvals, interfacing with authors and customers, editing content, working closely with designers
Researching images, fact-checking and writing accurate captions for all products
Ensuring that all material is in line with ESA editorial house style and approved according to agreed processes

Contractual matters

Our new team member will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz srl, as part of our Communications Service contract for ESA, working onsite at ESA ESRIN in Frascati, Italy. An Italian residence and work permit is obligatory. This is a one-year contract, with possibility of renewal. The start date is 1 January 2025.

Closing date: 10 August 2024.

Salary range: 3300-3400 EUR gross per month ×14 months, based on full-time position (40 hrs per week)

If you think this is for you, tell us why you’d like to work with us. Please send your cover letter, CV and references to: vacancy@ejr-quartz.com or reach out via social media to @ejrquartz

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

Our company

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

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.

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

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

Vacancy: Communication specialist for ESA’s human resources activities

Dirma van Eck | 12 July 2024

***Applications closed*** We are looking for a communications specialist with experience in human resources/internal communications. As part of the EJR-Quartz communications service team for the European Space Agency (ESA), you will be working within the Talent Acquisition team to help develop and implement internal HR communication strategies in line with business needs and existing policies.

We’re looking for someone with…

At least four years’ experience working in a similar role, preferably for a communications team of a large international organisation
Master’s degree in communications, human resources management, business administration or equivalent studies
Excellent communication and networking skills in English
The capacity to engage and work effectively with people at all levels of an organisation
Flexibility and a capacity to adapt to changing circumstances
Ability to work calmly under pressure
The ability to help plan and implement communication strategies and campaigns
A proactive approach to managing projects and the ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines

We also value…

A positive approach with a can-do attitude
A solution-oriented mindset and readiness to take initiative
The ability to operate in a friendly, client focused, professional and discreet manner at all times
Experience working in an international environment with government organisations
Knowledge of French an advantage

Your tasks will include:

Supporting the preparation and implementation of internal communication strategies for ESA’s Human Resources department
Working with the corporate internal communications team to maximise synergies
Supporting HR change management projects and development activities
Developing relevant communications campaigns and providing expert advice
Keeping up-to-date with changes in communication policies and processes likely to impact HR activities
Coordinating and implementing communication activities on HR topics, including potentially sensitive issues and crisis communications
Monitoring and evaluating the impact of campaigns

Contractual matters

The successful candidate will be employed directly by EJR-Quartz. The position is part-time (0.5 FTE) and off-site but occasional presence at one of the ESA sites would be appreciated. This is a temporary contract until 31 December 2024, with possibility of renewal. The optimal start date is 1 September 2024 or as close to this date as possible.

Closing date: 10 August 2024 at 12:30 CEST.

Salary range: 1800-2000 EUR gross per month based on 0.5 FTE, 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 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)