Co-Lead of the Climate Solutions Hub (a, 50%)

Empa; Dübendorf; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rail benefits

Mobile benefits

Childcare facilities

Catering services

Job summary

Empa, together with Eawag, invites applications for a leadership role steering the Climate Solutions Hub. The successful candidate will shape strategy, coordinate cross‑disciplinary teams and engage with academia, industry and public partners to scale climate solutions.

You will manage personnel and budgets, build high‑level networks, and drive funding for multi‑partner projects while representing the Hub to directorates and advisory boards across the ETH Domain.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or shaping inter‑ and transdisciplinary research projects.
• Communication of key results to broad, non‑scientific audiences.
• Institutional judgement across research organisations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the strategy of the Climate Solutions Hub.
• Liaise with researchers at Empa and Eawag, across the ETH Domain and beyond.
• Manage high‑level stakeholder networks in academia and with private/public sector partners.
• Drive project and funding acquisition.
• Represent the Hub to directorates and scientific/impact Advisory Boards.
• Lead the CSH team with three research groups and support staff.
• Manage personnel and budget.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Funding acquisition

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

English & German

Education

PhD in engineering, materials, building sciences, or related fields

Tools

MS Office / Collaboration tools

Job description

Empa and Eawag, two world‑leading research institutes within the ETH Domain, are bundling their expertise to address one of the key questions of our times: How can demonstrated, but under‑utilised, climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies (like NetZero construction, resilient urban water systems, renewable energy, etc.) be scaled up and mainstreamed to reach their full transformative potential?

To tackle this question, we established the Climate Solutions Hub (CSH), a new collaboration platform in which scholars from our two institutes and the ETH Domain more broadly are collaborating with partners from industry, the public sector, and civil society to analyse and support the scaling of innovative climate solutions.

The Hub’s co‑leadership is composed of two representatives, one from each institution, with backgrounds in social sciences and engineering sciences respectively. We are now opening the position that should represent Empa and the domain of engineering, materials, natural and building sciences.

Your main tasks will include

• Development and implementation of the strategy of the Climate Solutions Hub
• Liaison with the research community at Empa and Eawag, across the ETH Domain, and beyond
• Managing high‑level stakeholder networks in academia, as well as the private and public sector
• Project and funding acquisition
• Representing the Hub towards our directorates and scientific/impact Advisory Boards
• Managing the CSH team with three research groups and support staff
• Responsibility for personnel and budget

Your profile

You are a team‑oriented and forward‑thinking person with a strong interest in implementing science‑based measures addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. You have experience with leading and managing projects at the interface of social sciences, engineering and natural sciences and in close collaboration with stakeholders. You are well‑connected in the ETH Domain and with practice partners and have a strong interest in developing the Hub concept further and establishing it within broader ETH Domain strategies.

Your qualifications include

• Experience in leading or substantially shaping inter‑ and transdisciplinary research projects and communicating key results to broad, non‑scientific audiences
• Institutional judgement. Experience in operating within and across research organisations - effectively and constructively navigating diverging cultures, department politics, or directorate priorities.
• PhD in engineering, materials, building sciences, or related fields
• Familiarity with Empa, the ETH Domain, and its broader research and innovation ecosystem.
• Working proficiency in English and German; knowledge of other official languages in Switzerland is a plus. An existing network in Swiss construction, energy or infrastructure sectors - including at cantonal and municipal levels and/or with industry partners is a plus.
• Clear vision for developing an open and inclusive team culture
• A track record of raising third‑party funding for collaborative, multi‑partner projects is a plus.
• Experience in working in co‑leadership arrangements is a plus.

Our offer

We offer a purposeful leadership role within a unique and dynamic research environment that bundles the expertise of multiple ETH Domain Institutes. You will have the opportunity to guide and perform high‑level research with direct impact in practice and play a key role in developing a highly innovative research initiative.

We foster a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities. Our commitment is documented in our Diversity Action Plan and refers to specific goals, which are implemented and further developed on a regular basis.

You don't meet every single requirement? We are aware that particularly women and individuals from minority backgrounds often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. However, we also value motivation, commitment and a willingness to learn. If you see yourself in this role, we would love to receive your qualified application, even if you don't meet 100 % of the requirements.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal until 25 November 2026. Applications by e‑mail and by post will not be considered.

Valérie Kuhn, Head of HR

Questions?

Prof. Dr Tanja Zimmermann
Director

Your future place of work

Empa
Ueberlandstrasse 129
8600 Dübendorf

Empa as an employer

• Innovative, sustainable, meaningful activities
• Creating added value for society
• International, multicultural working environment
• Freedom to create and develop
• Culture of inclusion and respect
• Excellent balance between different areas of life
• Multiple award‑winning and certified employer
• Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.

Good to know

• Empa website
• Working in Switzerland
• Employment process
• Conditions of employment