Partnership Manager / Partnership Manageress

The University of Zurich

As Switzerland's largest university, the University of Zurich offers a diverse range of attractive positions across various subject areas and professional fields. With approximately 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, UZH fosters an inspiring working environment centered around cutting-edge research and top-tier education. Put your talents and skills to work with us and discover more about UZH as an employer!

Your Responsibilities

We are seeking two Partnership Managers (fixed-term, 80-100%) to champion the development and implementation of UZH's international partnerships and global engagement activities.

Both roles play a pivotal part in coordinating priority partnerships, fostering engagement within institutional networks (Una Europa, Universitas 21, and LERU), and organizing collaborative initiatives with partner universities. They will work closely with colleagues across Global Affairs, UZH faculties, and international partners to enhance UZH's global engagement.

Both roles involve:

• Coordinating activities with international partner institutions and networks
• Organizing meetings, events, partner visits, and collaborative initiatives
• Preparing briefings, documentation, and reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Supporting communication and dissemination of partnership activities
• Maintaining strong relationships with counterparts at partner institutions and UZH researchers involved in collaborations
• Contributing to internal community building around international partnerships and networks
• Collaborating across the Global Affairs office and contributing to the continuous improvement of processes and initiatives

Focus Areas

The two roles differ in their primary focus areas:

Focus Area 1 (Fixed-term until November 2028): European Universities Alliances and EU Collaboration

• Coordinate UZH's participation in the Una Europa European University Alliance, including the corresponding Erasmus+ project
• Manage project implementation, milestones, deliverables, and reporting obligations
• Co-coordinate international project activities with partner universities across the alliance, focusing on societal outreach
• Manage project finances and reporting in line with Movetia, Erasmus+, and UZH requirements
• Support internal engagement with Una Europa across UZH and coordinate participation of academic, professional staff, and students

Focus Area 2 (Fixed-term until November 2027): Strategic Partnerships and Global Network Initiatives

• Manage and further develop the Global Funding Scheme, including calls, selection processes, and financial administration
• Coordinate selected strategic partnerships and related collaborative activities
• Support UZH's participation in the Universitas 21 (U21) network and related initiatives
• Organize governance meetings, delegation visits, and partnership activities with international partner universities
• Support exploratory initiatives aimed at deepening collaboration with priority partners

Both positions offer room for initiative and the chance to actively contribute to the development of UZH's international partnerships and collaboration activities.

Your Profile

You are a pragmatic, relationship-savvy project professional who excels at building credible partnerships and delivering complex initiatives. You blend structure with sound judgment, running processes smoothly, anticipating needs, and communicating clearly with diverse stakeholders to foster trust.

You possess solid experience (3+ years) in an international environment, ideally within higher education, research, the public sector, or another stakeholder-rich context. Comfortable coordinating across organizational boundaries (faculties, central units, external partners), you take ownership and confidently represent your work in meetings. You can adeptly switch between hands-on coordination, stakeholder management, and reporting without compromising quality.

You work proficiently with Microsoft 365; experience with CRM systems, funding workflows, and/or project financial reporting is a plus. Excellent command of English is required, and proficiency in German is advantageous (or a willingness to develop it).

Depending on your strengths, you will primarily contribute in one of two focus areas:

• European Universities Alliances and EU Collaboration (Una Europa / Erasmus+): Coordination of multi-partner projects, deliverables, and reporting in a European higher education context.
• Strategic Partnerships and Funding Initiatives (Global Funding Scheme / U21): Management of partnership activities, funding instruments, and related stakeholder coordination.

Most importantly, you enjoy working in a small, dynamic team and thrive in an environment where priorities shift. You can effectively prioritize, remain flexible during busy periods, and keep projects moving forward while maintaining a sense of humor.

How to Apply

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For inquiries, please contact:

Larissa Nina Albrecht
Engagement and Operations Officer
larissanina.albrecht@uzh.ch