Management of ESA space programs and their interaction with Belgian space actors.
Meetings at ESA and ESA premises. Meeting other people and entities active in space.
The administrative burden.
Free solicitation on a vacancy.
The impact of Newspace (e.g. SpaceX, …) on space and the resulting decreasing importance of institutional (governmental) space. The devastating role the European Commission is playing to dominate the European space scene. The response should be a profound institutional mentality shift and you can help that to happen.
The hard stuff : mathematics, physics, thermodynamics, electronics and chemistry. A profound study of these is strictly necessary to be able to do the job. No pain, no gain. But once you get the hang of it, the real (!) world reveals itself to you in all its magnificent aspects and unlike many other persons, you will understand it !
Social skills. Being able to negotiate. Eliminate emotional choices. Being rational.
Studying mathematics etc definitely helps to develop those other skills. Avoid working in your own little corner.
Working at the cabinet of the State secretary for Science Policy where I helped defining the space strategy.
This one.
Don’t be scared or discouraged by the required difficult science/engineering studies. No pain, no gain. You do not have to be the best. Your motivation and your will to reach the goal is more important.
Working in a federal administration requires a thick skin and a strong personality. If someone of your administrative colleagues ever gives you the compliment that you have become good civil servant, then it is time to quit and to move to the space industry.
Having technical experience and tinkering from your early childhood onwards (Lego, electronics, model airplanes, water rockets, construction works, …) definitely is an asset. The best tennis players started to play at the age of 4.