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Working at ESO
Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.
ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal, and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.
At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.
For its Operations Support Group, within the Directorate of Operations at its headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, ESO is advertising the position of
The Operations Support Group (OSG), as part of the User Support Department (USD), provides science operations services to the USD and other units responsible for supporting and operating the La Silla Paranal Observatory. The department belongs to the Data Management and Operations Division (DMO), which provides high-reliability support to the operation of the ESO facilities and their community of users, and maintains the data archive facility as a powerful resource for scientific and operational use.
The Visiting Astronomer Travel Office (VA Travel Office), located within the OSG/USD, is an important interface between ESO and its community. The VA Travel Office is responsible for organising the travel arrangements for the Visiting Astronomers traveling to ESO's observatory in Chile, amounting to approximately 450 trips per year. It also provides administrative services to approximately 40 staff members within DMO.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The core function of this role is to manage and coordinate all travel arrangements for Visiting Astronomers from the community and from ESO, who are traveling to the observatory sites in Chile for their observing runs. This includes acting as the primary point of contact for astronomers and efficiently organising their travels in close collaboration with the in-house travel agency and with the personnel responsible for logistics at the observatory sites in Chile. The responsibilities entail:
- Creation, maintenance, and publication of the list of astronomers travelling to the sites of the ESO observatories using dedicated tools.
- Timely maintenance of documentation available to Visiting Astronomers for the preparation of their trip to the ESO observatories, including the maintenance of a dedicated web site.
- Management of the ESO budget devoted to the travels of Visiting Astronomers and subsequent reporting.
- Preparation of purchase orders and internal financial commitments.
- Support for the organization of meetings and workshops for the user community, including oversight of and assistance with logistics and practical details before, during, and after meetings, as well as budget management.
- Provision of assistance to the staff within the Data Management and Operations Division with day-to-day administrative tasks.
The above responsibilities are not exhaustive. A flexible approach and willingness to adapt to unexpected needs is required.
Reports to:
Head of the Operations Support Group within the User Support Department.
Key Competences and Experience:
Demonstrated experience (a minimum of 3 years) as an administrative assistant, and experience in coordinating and managing international travel arrangements for a large number of travellers are required. Working experience in an international scientific environment will be an asset.
The successful candidate for this position will take complete ownership of the role and possess the following key competences and past experience:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a friendly, service-oriented attitude.
- Self-directed and highly motivated, with attention to detail and problem-solving mindset.
- Ability to build strong and effective links with internal teams and external partners, optimising communication flows between Garching and Chile and between ESO and its community.
- Solid proficiency with standard office software and dedicated web applications, including content management systems.
- Proven ability to manage and monitor budgets effectively.
- Capacity to provide clear, concise, and timely oral and written communications.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively balance competing demands, prioritizing daily operational responsibilities while maintaining focus on longer-term objectives and deadlines.
- Able to make decisions in an objective and fair way, complying with corporate rules and boundaries.
Desirable Competences and Experience:
- Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications and Document Management Systems.
- Experience in reviewing processes and implementing improvements to enhance services.
Qualifications:
Secondary school education and a secretarial/administration diploma or equivalent.
Language skills:
The position requires an excellent working knowledge of English (oral and written). Communication skills in Spanish will be an asset.
Remuneration and Contract:
We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (free of income tax for applicants from ESO member states), comprehensive pension scheme and medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial help in relocating your family and support to place your child/children in daycare.
Our Salary Structure
ESO's salary structure is based upon a range of career paths which reflect the nature and level of our jobs. Each career path is made up of two or three grades which are used to further reflect experience.
Please follow this attached link for more details https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/salary-structure/
ESO aims to support members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#work-life-balance) between their professional and private life. ESO is also committed to offering family-friendly support (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#family-friendly-support), creating a work environment and policies which allow staff to balance their professional and private responsibilities through flexible working arrangements and financial support for families.
The contract is for a fixed term duration of three years and is subject to successful completion of the probation period. There may be a possibility of extension(s) subject to individual performance and organisational requirements, and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. For any further information, please visit ESO's conditions of employment (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/). Please note that the contract policy and in particular the regulations concerning fixed-term and indefinite contracts are currently under review which may lead to changes in the contractual conditions applicable to this position.
Duty Station:
Garching near Munich, Germany.
Career Path: II
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV. Within your CV, please provide the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter upon request. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
Deadline for applications is 4 May 2026.
Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.
ESO Values
An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.
The ESO values are:
ESO strives for excellence through innovation.
ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.
ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.
ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.
Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.
Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.
Diversity
ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.
Nationality
No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, recruitment preference will be given to nationals of our Member States, host states and strategic partners: Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.