Project Associate / Project Associate

Project Associate Position at D-GESS, Public Policy Group OR University of Lausanne

The Public Policy Group, in collaboration with the Immigration Policy Lab and the Decision Science Laboratory at ETH Zurich, as well as the Labor Group at the University of Lausanne, invites interested candidates to apply for a project associate position, commencing between July 2025 and August 2025.

Path2Work is a data-driven, scalable job search platform developed by researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Lausanne. Our mission is to facilitate the integration of refugees into the Swiss labor market while addressing the ongoing labor shortage in Switzerland. Currently, we are evaluating the platform’s effectiveness through a randomized controlled trial and are in the process of founding a non-profit start-up to ensure the sustainable impact of Path2Work. This project is being developed in close partnership with key national stakeholders, including the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and a wide network of organizations across Switzerland.

Role Overview

We are seeking a dedicated team member who is eager to contribute to an impactful project that supports refugees in their job search in Switzerland. As an active team member, you will collaborate with a dynamic and international team of researchers and web developers to further enhance the platform and support the implementation of new features.

Main Responsibilities

• Project and Logistical Support: Maintain oversight of timelines and deliverables; track tasks; support coordination and logistics for platform rollout.
• Administrative Support: Contribute to financial reporting, fundraising activities, and other operational processes.
• Content Creation and Review: Draft, edit, and review platform texts and newsletter campaigns.
• Translation Management: Oversee translators and ensure quality in translations.
• User and Stakeholder Support: Respond to inquiries from users, Swiss authorities, and NGOs, offering assistance during peak rollout periods; review and enhance public user profiles.

This position can be based either at the Immigration Policy Lab at ETH Zurich or at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne. Regardless of the location, you will collaborate closely with the entire team. The position is initially limited to one year due to third-party funding, with a strong possibility of extension based on performance and project needs. As we work toward establishing an independent non-profit organization, there is potential for a longer-term role. While we cannot guarantee permanent employment at this stage, we are committed to building a sustainable team and hope to offer continued opportunities for strong contributors.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration or a Social Science discipline (Economics, Political Science, Sociology), or a degree from a University of Applied Sciences combined with strong professional experience.
• Previous relevant work experience or internships involving teamwork and project management.
• Excellent command of German and ideally English; ability to write clear, engaging, and well-targeted content for a broad audience. Additional language skills (e.g., Italian, French, Arabic, Farsi, Tigrinya, Turkish, Ukrainian) are a plus.
• Strong organizational skills, reliability, attention to detail, and a high degree of precision.
• Willingness and motivation to thrive in a dynamic, start-up-like environment, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office; skills in Git, data visualization, and data analysis are beneficial.
• Interest in scientific, evidence-based work, including basic statistical reasoning and survey design.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work on an impact-oriented and research-driven project aimed at integrating refugees into the Swiss labor market.
• A highly collaborative work environment within a motivated and supportive team.
• Salary and pension benefits according to ETH and UNIL standards.

We look forward to receiving your online application using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

If you have questions about the position, please contact Dr. Philip Grech, Executive Director of the Immigration Policy Lab, via email at philip.grech@gess.ethz.ch (Subject: Path2Work Project Associate).

Please note that pre-selection will be carried out by responsible recruiters, not by artificial intelligence.

For recruitment services, the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) of ETH Zurich apply.