Executive Director / Executive Directress

Join NCCR CLIM+: Executive Director Opportunity at ETH Zurich

NCCR CLIM+ is a newly established National Centre of Competence in Research dedicated to addressing critical questions about Climate Extremes and Resilience within Swiss Society. The Executive Director at ETH Zurich will collaborate with the NCCR CLIM+ Co-Director at the University of Bern and will work under the supervision of a distinguished team of directors, including:

• Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne (ETH Zurich)
• Prof. Karin Ingold (Uni Bern)
• Prof. David N. Bresch (ETH Zurich)
• Prof. Olivia Romppainen-Martius (Uni Bern)

The NCCR CLIM+ aims to forge the first fully interdisciplinary, Switzerland-wide climate research community, tackling urgent issues related to climate extremes such as heatwaves, floods, heavy rainfall, droughts, wildfires, and related compound events. This initiative will also interact with stakeholders across various sectors, including public health, finance, agriculture, and water management.

By leveraging expertise from 20 leading Swiss research institutions across both natural and social science disciplines, NCCR CLIM+ will merge fundamental knowledge with transformational insights.

Center for Climate Extremes and Resilience in Swiss Society (CERESS)

Under the joint leadership of ETH Zurich and the University of Bern, the newly founded Center for Climate Extremes and Resilience in Swiss Society (CERESS) will connect with numerous universities and climate centers across Switzerland. CERESS will support nationwide research, co-design living labs, and produce actionable solutions, thereby creating a new transdisciplinary nexus between science, society, practice, and politics.

Responsibilities

The Executive Directors of NCCR CLIM+ will assume leadership in the academic and operational management of the respective Management Center at either ETH Zurich or the University of Bern. Responsibilities include:

• Leading the NCCR CLIM+ Management Center at ETH Zurich.
• Coordinating logistics and scientific work in collaboration with the partner executive director at the University of Bern.
• Focusing on research and activities in natural sciences and interdisciplinary topics.
• Developing and coordinating the open science strategy and data infrastructures across institutions involved in NCCR CLIM+.
• Overseeing knowledge and technology transfer initiatives from NCCR CLIM+.
• Establishing and developing the CERESS Center in collaboration with the University of Bern.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for candidates who hold a PhD in climate sciences, natural sciences, statistics, or a related field, and possess:

• Demonstrated experience in coordination and management within interdisciplinary research.
• Leadership skills and experience within transdisciplinary research settings, living labs, or stakeholder interactions.
• Strong motivation for fostering inter- and transdisciplinary community building in the expansive field of climate extremes and society.
• Proficiency in English and at least one of the national languages; knowledge of an additional national language and familiarity with the Swiss academic landscape are advantageous.

Working Conditions

ETH Zurich is a dynamic employer that offers excellent working conditions and a wide range of continuing education opportunities. You can look forward to an exciting, diverse, multicultural, and international work environment, with flexible working conditions.

Application Process

To apply, please apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information about NCCR CLIM+, please visit our website. Inquiries about the position can be directed to:

• Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne: sonia.seneviratne@ethz.ch
• Rahel Buri: rahel.buri@env.ethz.ch (no applications).

The expected starting date is June 1, 2026, or upon agreement. The workplace is at ETH Zurich. Interviews for selected candidates are expected to take place from late March to mid-April. ETH Zurich is committed to an inclusive and diverse university community, and we value the diversity of our teams.

We would like to emphasize that the pre-selection is carried out by responsible recruiters, not by artificial intelligence.