Administrative Assistant

Job Introduction

For more than half a century, Serco has walked alongside the pioneers of space. Serco has supported over 50 ESA missions where our teams have helped launch satellites, guide spacecraft across the void, and turn data into discoveries that reshape our world.
With thousands of specialists contributing across the entire space lifecycle from satellite testing to launch services, LEOP to operations and surveillance, we’ve become a trusted force in national And European space strategies. And now, the next chapter could include you.
As part of our long-standing partnership with the European Space Agency, we’re seeking an Administrative Assistant to join us onsite at ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart in Noordwijk. This is the place where Europe’s missions are born, where engineers, scientists, and innovators gather to turn bold ideas into the spacecraft that will explore our planet, our solar system and beyond.

The Community You’ll Step Into
You will join a dynamic and international environment inside ESA-ESTEC, where engineers, project teams, managers and support staff work together on some of Europe’s most important space programmes. Daily interactions involve colleagues from different departments, nationalities and disciplines, and the pace is fast, collaborative and detail-driven.
As part of the Serco team on site, you will work closely with division and department heads, helping them stay organised and supported. This role sits at the centre of daily coordination, communication and logistics, and contributes directly to a smooth and efficient working atmosphere.

The Difference You Will Make
Your work has a direct impact on how effectively the teams function. By managing schedules, travel, documentation and daily office operations, you create the structure that allows technical teams to stay focused on their real priorities. When information flows correctly, meetings run on time, documents are handled properly and staff have the support they need, the whole organisation benefits.
This reliability strengthens Serco’s partnership with ESA. Your contribution helps ensure that the service remains stable, professional and trusted, which supports current activities and future opportunities. Your work improves efficiency, reduces friction and makes the day-to-day environment easier for everyone involved.

Your Mission

In this role you will support the daily rhythm of the department and help everything run smoothly around the people you work with. You will organise calendars, coordinate schedules and keep track of requests that come through email and phone, making sure the right information reaches the right person at the right time. Travel arrangements, mission requests and claims will go through you, and you will help colleagues prepare for their trips and return with everything properly handled.

You will prepare meeting materials, draft minutes and follow up on action items so conversations turn into clear next steps. You will help set up meetings, workshops and VIP visits, whether these are on site or off site, and you will make sure rooms, access and logistics are in place. You will take care of documentation by editing, formatting, registering and archiving files, and you will keep SharePoint and Teams folders organised and updated. You will also support office operations by arranging access for newcomers, managing workspace changes, ordering supplies, handling small purchases and keeping daily tasks moving. When coordination with other ESA departments is needed, you will be the link that keeps communication smooth and practical.

What You Bring

You bring experience from administrative or secretarial work and feel comfortable supporting a busy team with many moving parts. You are confident using Microsoft Office tools, and you enjoy keeping information, documents and schedules organised so that others can rely on you. You communicate clearly, stay calm when priorities shift and handle sensitive information with care. You have an eye for detail, a professional attitude and a friendly approach when dealing with colleagues, visitors and external contacts.

You are someone who takes initiative, notices what needs to be done and acts without needing constant direction. You can work independently while still being a supportive team member, and you adapt easily to changing situations. You enjoy helping people and keeping an office running efficiently, and you bring the kind of reliability that a technical and international environment appreciates. To work on the ESA-ESTEC site, you also need to hold EU nationality.

What We Offer: More than just a job

At Serco, we believe that a career should come with more than just a paycheck, it should provide support, security, and a sense of balance in your life. Your salary will be paid promptly on Fridays before the 28th of each month, giving you peace of mind about your finances. To recognize your dedication over the year, you’ll also receive a Holiday Bonus, calculated as 8% of your basic gross salary, adding an extra boost when you need it most.
We support your daily life and commute in practical ways. If you travel to work, you can claim a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometre for up to 150 km, or you can have your public transport fully reimbursed. For those working from home, there’s a small daily allowance of €2 to cover extra costs, and new employees can be reimbursed up to €500 for a desk or chair to make their home workspace comfortable.
When your work takes you on missions or travel, all business-related expenses are fully covered, and for peace of mind during tax season, our appointed advisor will assist you in completing your income tax forms. If you enjoy cycling, our bicycle scheme allows you to benefit from a tax-efficient allowance of up to €749, one year of full insurance with an additional €89 per year for accessories.
Serco also cares about your long-term security. All employees are covered under a collective life insurance scheme, and our health insurance partnership with Zilverenkruis Achmea offers discounts of 5% on basic coverage and up to 10% on additional plans. Our company pension scheme, managed via Nationale Nederlanden, follows the Dutch State Pension framework, ensuring you can plan confidently for the future.
In addition, in emergency situations, you may request an advance salary payment of up to one month’s net salary at the discretion of your line manager. To support your wellbeing and daily work, we offer up to €250 reimbursement for work glasses to reduce blue light strain and provide access to Benefits & Work, offering multiple discounts for online shopping. For lifelong learning, all employees receive a 35% discount on programs at Webster University.
At Serco, our benefits are designed to make your life easier, healthier, and more flexible, so you can focus on contributing to groundbreaking space missions while feeling supported every step of the way.

Relocation
The Netherlands' central location in Europe makes it an ideal base for travel and business within the EU. Major cities are well-connected by road, rail, and air with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport one of Europe's busiest and most well-connected airports, facilitating easy international travel.
Serco offers relocation support for all EU passport holders that are planning to relocate to the Netherlands and work for Serco B.V.