EJR-Quartz

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.

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, 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.

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: 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

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

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