Project lead - Earth Observation platforms

As a Project lead, you will manage the development and execution of our technical strategy, oversee its implementation, and manage daily operations of our remote sensing services platforms.

You are the driver in an ecosystem of Earth Observation data, workflows and platform technology and ensure project execution from proposal to final review meeting. You work within a team of researchers, IT architects, and software engineers. Together with the team, you translate and shape the project requirements into an efficient and operational service. You scan the market for opportunities to contribute to and execute the internal vision and roadmap in a fast-evolving landscape of technology.

You'll become part of a talented, dedicated team working in a fast-paced, challenging international environment. We thrive to develop added value products on cutting edge technologies that will be used by a broad public, industry, the public sector and universities and to make an impact on the world with expert knowledge.

The Environmental Intelligence unit of VITO processes petabytes of Earth Observation data. We specialize in the extraction of information from vast amounts of incoming images, which are required by our customers worldwide. Our extensive group of customers can be found within the domains of land use, civil infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, water management, and ecological development.

Key Responsibilities

Innovation and Strategy

• Co-define and articulate a robust technical innovation strategy aligned with emerging trends in Earth Observation, including cloud-native processing, artificial intelligence-based analytics, and federated data ecosystems.

• Identify opportunities to advance platform capabilities through integration of novel Copernicus data products, processing algorithms, and user interfaces.

European Project Development and Consortium Management

• Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of project proposals for European Space Agency and Horizon programmes, together with technical and administrative teams

• Build, coordinate, and manage international consortia comprising research institutions, industry partners, and public sector organisations across multiple European countries.

• Negotiate consortium agreements, define work package structures, and allocate resources and responsibilities among partners.

• Maintain and expand strategic partnerships with European research institutions, space agencies, and Earth Observation industry partners to strengthen consortium positions.

• Track relevant calls and funding opportunities, aligning internal roadmaps with European research and innovation priorities.

Project Management and Coordination

• Lead the end-to-end implementation of technical solutions, ensuring timely delivery and optimal resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects.

• Coordinate project activities with European Space Agency technical officers, Horizon Europe project officers, and consortium partners.

• Manage project budgets, ensuring compliance with European Space Agency and European Commission financial regulations and reporting requirements.

• Prepare and deliver project reviews, progress reports, and technical documentation according to programme requirements.

• Serve as the main point of contact between technical teams, management, and external partners, ensuring transparent and effective communication.

Operations and Quality

• Oversee and coordinate daily operational activities to maintain and enhance service quality of Earth Observation platforms.

• Track key performance indicators to evaluate service quality and operational efficiency, initiating improvements as needed.

• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure project stability and continuity.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and adoption of best practices across all technical and operational areas.

• Master's or doctoral degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Geomatics, or a related field.

• Demonstrated track record in working with Copernicus data and services, including practical experience with mission processing, analytics and derived applications.

• Proven experience in writing and coordinating successful European Space Agency or Horizon Europe project proposals.

• Demonstrated experience in managing international consortia, including partner coordination, work package management, and conflict resolution.

• Proven track record in managing digital platforms, data ecosystems, or cloud-based services.

• Familiarity with state-of-the-art Earth Observation platforms and processing environments such as openEO, STAC, and cloud-native geospatial tools is an asset

• Strong presentation skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders at European and international levels.

• Fluency in English required; Dutch is a strong asset.

• Minimum five years of experience in project management within the Earth Observation sector or related domains.

• Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively in rapidly changing and demanding environments.

Offer

• We operate in an activity‑based way, meaning your work activities guide where you work. Our headquarters is located in Mol, and we anticipate an average onsite presence of about 50%. We also support flexibility: part‑time remote work or working from one of our satellite offices in Antwerp‑Berchem, Genk, Ghent, Leuven, Kortrijk or Ostend is possible.

• A competitive salary with a range of benefits, including allowances, insurance, and a modular package of holidays.

• Innovation is our asset, so it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to take additional training courses and stay up-to-date in their field. You will always have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and discover new technologies.

• You will have the opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific consultancy.

• With us, you will contribute directly to sustainable developments at local, national and global level through your innovative applications. You provide answers to contemporary societal challenges.

• Moreover, we highly value a good work-life balance at VITO! This is achieved by adopting a flexible attitude depending on your specific needs.