Group Leader Systems Operations
80%-100%, Zurich, permanent
The ETH Zurich technology platform NEXUS Personalized Health facilitates discovery and translational research for personalized health. We offer a broad range of expertise across Clinical Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Software Engineering, Systems Operations, and Screening & Lab Automation.
Systems Operations bridges the gap between system development and reliable operation in real-world research and clinical contexts. Our team, currently comprising 5 members, is intentionally diverse, embracing roles from site reliability engineering to operational profiles involved in clinical study execution. As systems mature from development into real-world use, our group also prioritizes operational needs that arise across NEXUS.
Job Description
As the Group Leader of Systems Operations, you will lead a diverse team and define how NEXUS operates systems for internal use and in collaboration with users and partners. Your role will involve creating clarity across responsibilities, reducing friction, and establishing predictable service delivery that enables project success.
- Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team with various professional backgrounds and working styles.
- Operational Ownership: Ensure reliable operation of internal and partner-facing systems, including deployments, environments, access patterns, and day-to-day stability.
- Transition and Lifecycle Management: Define and manage transitions from development to controlled test phases and long-term operations, including acceptance criteria, documentation, and ownership boundaries.
- Regulated and Structured Execution: Coordinate work requiring regulatory awareness, certification constraints, validated processes, or strict documentation, particularly in clinical study settings.
- Stakeholder and Expectation Management: Proactively manage expectations, resolve conflicts, and facilitate understanding between technical realities and user needs.
- Service Delivery and Prioritization: Oversee intake, triage, and prioritization across multiple demands, balancing urgency, risk, and value with transparent decision-making.
- Reliability Practices: Establish practical standards for monitoring, backups, change management, and access control.
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with Software Engineering, Clinical Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and Screening & Lab Automation to ensure coherent end-to-end delivery.
- Process Improvement: Simplify and standardize processes where feasible, avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Resource Management: Plan capacity, priorities, and reporting for the group across a growing portfolio of operational commitments.
Quick Self-Check
You will thrive in this role if:
- You enjoy stabilizing, operating, and continuously improving systems over time.
- You create clarity, calm, and reliability in complex stakeholder environments.
- You are adept at navigating difficult conversations and resolving conflicts constructively.
- You proactively clarify ownership and are willing to define and enforce it when necessary.
- You balance technical depth with strong people skills and structured execution.
- You take responsibility for both people and service outcomes.
- You prefer building operational processes that reduce friction without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- You can collaborate effectively across various professional profiles.
Profile
Non-Negotiables:
- Proven leadership experience in operations, platform engineering, site reliability, clinical operations, or comparable roles.
- Strong stakeholder skills to align expectations and resolve conflicts constructively.
- Experience in environments focusing on reliability, documentation, and access control.
- Able to translate between technical teams and users effectively.
- Solid technical foundation to engage with engineers regarding systems and operational reliability.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
Strongly Expected:
- Experience in defining operating models, handover criteria, and service boundaries.
- Comfort with structured documentation and traceability when necessary.
Advantageous:
- Experience in healthcare, clinical research operations, or hospital environments.
- Familiarity with security-conscious deployments and pragmatic risk management.
- Knowledge of German.
Workplace
At NEXUS, we value knowledge exchange and collaboration, where each team member contributes their expertise. We promote flat hierarchies and a proactive mindset. Flexible working hours, family-friendly models, and training opportunities are also part of our offerings.
We Value Diversity and Sustainability
In support of our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture. We advocate for equality of opportunity, appreciate diversity, and nurture an environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Sustainability is a core value; we continuously strive towards a climate-neutral future.
Curious? So Are We.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
For more information about NEXUS Personalized Health, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Daniel Stekhoven at stekhoven@nexus.ethz.ch and David Meyer at meyer@nexus.ethz.ch. Note that we do not accept applications via email.
About ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for its excellent education and cutting-edge research, we empower over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries to engage in independent thinking and promote excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, we aim to develop solutions for global challenges today and in the future.