Join the ETH AI Center
The ETH AI Center is one of the largest university centers for artificial intelligence in the world, comprising over 110 professors from all 16 departments of ETH Zurich and more than 1,500 associated PhD students and postdocs. Our mission is to amplify human potential by fostering groundbreaking ideas through interdisciplinary AI research and bridging the gap between science and society. We aim to push the boundaries of AI research, promote innovation, and drive impactful projects. As the Industry Partnership Lead, you will have the unique opportunity to work at the forefront of AI research and industry applications.
Role Overview
We are seeking a hands-on leader to own and scale the ETH AI Center’s industry engagement function and develop long-term, impactful partnerships. You will operate as a player-coach, driving high-value partnerships from inception to execution while building the necessary structures, processes, and team setup needed to scale. Your versatility will allow you to navigate boardroom discussions for collaboration deals as comfortably as refining pitch decks, structuring CRM systems, or unblocking internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive revenue growth by owning and expanding third-party funding across the ETH AI Center and the Swiss National AI Institute, with clear objectives tracked monthly, quarterly, and annually.
- Build and close a pipeline of industry partnerships from start to finish, leading complex, multi-stakeholder deals with senior industry leaders.
- Shape the partner journey by designing pathways for companies to mature their AI capabilities through collaboration — guiding them from initial engagement to becoming AI-native organizations.
- Grow and retain long-term partnerships through regular expectation management and joint goal-setting, assisting partners in navigating AI trends and identifying research opportunities.
- Lead and scale the partnerships team as a player-coach, establishing and executing scalable processes, CRM systems, and reporting infrastructure for data-driven decision making.
- Align internal stakeholders across ETH, SNAI, and partner institutions, representing the ETH AI Center at senior-level meetings and events.
Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, or sales within complex environments (e.g., deep tech, research, enterprise, or startups).
- Entrepreneurial mindset: high ownership, low ego, and readiness to engage in practical tasks.
- Ability to operate both strategically and operationally, thinking in systems while executing hands-on.
- Proven track record in closing high-value, multi-stakeholder deals.
- Experience in building or scaling partnership, sales, or business development functions.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of engaging with senior stakeholders in industry and academia.
- Strong interest in AI and technology, with the capacity for translating technical topics into business value.
- Experience working across organizational boundaries in complex stakeholder environments.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field; technical background is a plus.
- Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in German is a strong advantage.
What We Offer
- Access to top researchers and industry players.
- A small, dynamic, and agile team.
- A modern office located in Zurich Oerlikon, at the heart of tech innovation.
- Facilitated access to ETH infrastructure.
If you are a highly motivated individual with a passion for AI and a desire to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field, we would love to hear from you. Join the ETH AI Center and work at the forefront of AI research in Europe, collaborating with leading faculty, global partners, and a rapidly growing ecosystem in Zurich.
The position is initially for a duration of 1 year, with the intent to extend.
To embark on this exciting journey with us, apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
Contact Information
For further information regarding the ETH AI Center, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Alexandra Janosi at alexandra.janosi@ai.ethz.ch (please do not send applications).
For recruitment services, the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.