Natural Hazards Mission Lead / Natural Hazards Mission Leadess

Join ETH Zurich's Swiss GeoLab

ETH Zurich is establishing the ETH Swiss GeoLab, a new interdisciplinary unit within ETH Zürich I Space. As a strategic center, ETH Space comprises five units dedicated to advancing research and technology.

About the GeoLab

The GeoLab focuses on Earth observation and its practical applications, utilizing satellite, airborne, ground-based, and in-situ observations. By employing AI-driven analysis methods and high-performance computing, it develops innovative solutions for pressing societal and economic challenges.

Based in the D4 Business Village in Root, near Lucerne, the ETH Swiss GeoLab operates at the nexus of research, technology development, and application. Initially, the GeoLab will concentrate on selected high-impact application areas where Earth observation, geodata, and AI-based analytics can provide tangible benefits for Switzerland. The Natural Hazards Mission will focus on mass movements, such as landslides and rockfalls, aiming to enhance early detection, monitoring, preparedness, and decision-making for Swiss practitioners, authorities, and infrastructure stakeholders. This initiative builds upon stakeholder engagement, solution scoping, and community-building activities already underway within the GeoLab, with contributions from leading domain experts and partners in the Swiss natural hazards community.

Leadership

The ETH Swiss GeoLab is guided by Prof. Dr. Verena Griess and Prof. Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, with Dr. Felix Seidel serving as the Managing Director responsible for the organization's daily operations. Over the coming years, the GeoLab will evolve into a project-based hub of around 100 experts, collaborating closely with various ETH units, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), Swiss research institutions, public-sector stakeholders, natural hazard organizations, industry partners, start-ups, and international collaborators.

Position Overview

This position is a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of extension. As the Natural Hazards Mission Lead, you will oversee the research and development portfolio and delivery of GeoLab’s Natural Hazards Mission. Initially focusing on landslides and rockfalls, you will also expand to address other natural hazards.

Your Responsibilities

• Define an ambitious research and development portfolio for the Natural Hazards Mission, centered on landslides and rockfalls.
• Translate identified operational gaps into measurable outcomes that deliver value for practitioners, authorities, and decision-makers.
• Engage with local, cantonal, and federal authorities, infrastructure operators, industry, and expert communities, in alignment with GeoLab leadership and Natural Hazards community activities.
• Translate operational challenges into research, data, product, and technical requirements.
• Establish measurable mission outcomes, roadmaps, and criteria aligned with Swiss needs and overall GeoLab strategy.
• Manage the mission budget and define priorities, milestones, and success criteria, ensuring consistent tracking of finances and achievements via regular reporting.
• Collaborate with the Geo-Lab’s Intelligence team and external partners to drive pilots, field validation, and user workflow integration.
• Assess performance to recommend the continuation, redirection, or termination of activities as necessary.
• Mobilize strong ETH groups, research institutions, engineering offices, and public agencies for project support.
• Represent ETH Swiss GeoLab in Swiss natural hazard, scientific, policy, and industry communities.
• Communicate mission goals, progress, evidence, and lessons learned to stakeholders.
• Guide and mentor students, researchers, and external contributors as needed, facilitating the transfer of capabilities into operational practice.

Your Profile

We are looking for candidates who possess the following:

• A Master’s or PhD degree (preferred) in natural hazards, geosciences, engineering, risk management, or related fields.
• Several years of experience in natural hazard practice, applied research, or related fields.
• Strong expertise in natural hazards with examples of dashboard and tracking tools.
• Demonstrated ability to translate operational issues into actionable initiatives.
• A history of successful collaborations in diverse teams.
• Experience in mission or applied R&D portfolio design.
• Strong project management and budget management skills with transparent reporting capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across various sectors.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities in English and German; knowledge of French is an asset.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to contribute to the foundation of ETH Swiss GeoLab and shape a national initiative focused on Earth observation. You will have a high-impact role with societal significance, developing solutions to address pressing challenges posed by natural hazards in Switzerland.

If you are passionate about translating research into practical solutions with measurable impact, we invite you to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Further Information

For additional details about the ETH Swiss GeoLab, please visit our website. If you have questions regarding the position, feel free to contact Dr. Felix Seidel, Managing Director ETH Swiss GeoLab, at felix.seidel@eaps.ethz.ch.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please note that pre-selection is conducted by our recruiters, not by artificial intelligence.