European Space Agency (ESA)

What is your organization doing to reduce the gender pay gap?

The European Space Agency (ESA) ensures gender equality in compensation, with a salary scale for staff positions established by grade. For reference, ESA salaries by grade and country and the

ESA salaries by grade and country and the ESA Young Graduate (F1) and Research Fellow (F2) salaries are published on the ESA website.

In 2022, the Agency introduced the 'Eight Steps Towards Diversity & Inclusiveness,' highlighting these elements as strategic priorities, with gender balance being one of the main pillars of action. ESA is determined to enhance female representation within its workforce and in leadership positions through several measures, including:

Ensuring gender balanced conditions supporting work-life and career evolution (e.g. flexible working and bonding leave, trainings and mobility opportunities).
Promoting gender diversity on interview boards.
Ensuring the best competencies of candidates, aiming for shortlists to reflect the gender ratio of applicants.
Breaking down gender stereotypes, such as increasing the number of women taking qualifications and working in science, technology, engineering, and math, by launching awareness-raising initiatives and events.

As a member of the ‘EIROforum Ad-Hoc Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion,’ ESA monitors the equal-opportunity measures of other European research organizations to benchmark for potential improvements to its own policies. The Agency is also a corporate member of Women in Aerospace, a global network promoting women’s career advancement in the aerospace industry.

ESA's D&I efforts have been recognized internationally, including receiving the 2020 IAF Excellence in “3G” Diversity Award. In 2021, ESA was certified at the “Assess level” for the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) standards, reflecting its commitment to gender equality.

In what way can EPIC be relevant to your organization?

ESA is delighted to be part of this collaborative network and appreciates the invaluable opportunity to share knowledge and expertise.By joining EPIC, ESA commits to working together with other EPIC members at the global, regional and national levels, and to engage in dialogues on best D&a...