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Form of work
SalaryThe UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of National Space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in interNational Space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Background: National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC)
The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) combines and coordinates civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations and protect UK interests in space and on earth from space-related threats, risks, and hazards.
UK Space Agency responsibilities under NSpOC include operating the UK’s uncontrolled re-entry early warning system, the UK satellite collision avoidance system, and the UK in-space fragmentation monitoring service. These responsibilities will expand in 2024/25 to include planetary defence (asteroids and meteors also known as near-earth objects), support to launch operations and support to active debris removal missions.
NSpOC has been in development since 2021 and launches in 2024. On launch NSpOC will be a hybrid organisation with UK Space Agency personnel working from UK Space Agency locations. NSpOC is considering plans for a future combined civil-military location but these have not yet been developed and will not come online within the timeframe of this appointment.
Background: Project Support
The job holder will work jointly on Project Support (70%), Research and Development (20%), and incident management (10%).
NSpOC will have approximately 35 activity/project lines in Financial Year 2024/25. The UK Space Agency budget will be £7m. Whereas each individual project or activity line will have its own dedicated lead and SRO, many (but not all) will require Project Support particularly around procurement, finance and tracking of delivery. The job holder will be responsible for working with NSpOC colleagues from the UK Space Agency to support delivery of NSpOC projects.
The job holder will have the opportunity to involve themselves in other areas of NSpOC work and may be asked to take on other reasonable tasks to support NSpOC’s objectives.
The job holder is also responsible for ensuring that SDA R&D across government is joined up. This will involve engaging with the UK Space Agency grant funding and other teams across government to ensure that SDA and our NSpOC requirements are being appropriately funded via grants.
The job holder is responsible for ensuring NSpOC can effectively respond to incidents arising from threats, risks, and hazards in and from space. You will work closely with NSpOC colleagues from the UK Space Agency and MoD and other UK Space Agency teams including but not limited to the UK Space Agency Security and Resilience Team and cross-HMG partners (e.g. Cabinet Office), to develop plans and protocols for handling incidents. You will lead on exercises and lessons.
You will be joining the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) at its launch and will play a vital role in ensuring NSpOC is successful in its first year.
As NSpOC is a world-first capability we do not expect you to have worked within a similar organisation previously nor do we expect subject matter expertise in space domain awareness. Having a strong focus on the details, supporting complex project delivery, having a flexible and agile approach to changing circumstances, and a good emphasis cross-team working and building and maintaining relationships are the most important factors for success in this role.
Please be aware that job titles may change as we confirm the NSpOC operating model with the MoD.
Responsibilities
- Set an exceptional example of how to work collaboratively and collectively with colleagues from a range of backgrounds across the UK Space Agency, Government partners, industry, and academia to deliver world-leading space protection services.
Project Support
- Lead the procurement cycle for new and existing projects including support to business case production, managing the tender process, managing the assessment and selection process, and managing the supplier onboarding process.
- Support project finance across NSpOC including receiving and receipting of invoices.
- Support the UK Space Agency NSpOC Programme Manager in monitoring project delivery, identifying gaps and risks and developing mitigation strategies.
- Managing our relationship with the commercial team and maintaining our contracts.
- General administrative support to project delivery.
Research and Development
- Support the NSpOC implementation of the sensors and data action plan, including but not limited to supporting feasibility studies for operating satellite tracking sensors on UK Overseas Territories.
- Lead on the identification of possible grant schemes for developing NSpOC.
- Organise and participate in technical demonstration meetings with suppliers showcasing new technologies, recording notes and actions.
- Drive forward R&D programmes and support delivery of grants and associated activities.
Incident Management
- Improve, and where they do not already exist develop, incident response and recovery processes for the civil threats, risks and hazards managed by NSpOC. In 2024/25 this will predominately focus on the implementation of the Planetary Defence year 1 plan.
- Manage cross-HMG and other stakeholder relationships on incident issues.
- Lead on incident exercises and the post exercise lessons learnt process.
Additional
- Work with the NSpOC senior leadership team to help determine the future strategic direction of NSpOC.
- On a voluntary basis, represent the National Space Operations Centre and UK Space Agency at conferences and events and internationally and in the media as applicable.
- Willingly take forward any other reasonable activity in support of our mission to protect UK interests in space and on earth from space-related threats, risks and hazards including but not limited to playing an active role in any incident response. Take an active role as part of the wider UK Space Agency leadership team to make the UK Space Agency a great place to work.
