Project Manager / Project Manageress in Earth Observation and Biodiversity

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Your Responsibilities

This position involves project management for an European Space Agency (ESA)-funded initiative aimed at advancing and operationalizing an existing tool for calculating genetic diversity indicators. This tool supports the implementation of biodiversity monitoring within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) on a global scale. Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the project team
• Collaborating with the ESA technical officer
• Managing interactions with tool users and demonstrating its utility through use cases
• Engaging in outreach activities
• Participating in the larger Genes from Space initiative

Your Profile

The Remote Sensing Spectroscopy group at the University of Zurich (UZH), within the Department of Geography, seeks a scientist who ideally holds a PhD or a master's degree in Earth Observation, Remote Sensing, or a related field. The candidate should have experience in biodiversity, land cover, genetic diversity, and/or satellite Earth observation. Specifically, your profile should include:

• Experience in satellite data processing, particularly with land cover datasets, time series, and large datasets (“big data”)
• Advanced programming skills, preferably in Python or R
• Experience with ESA-type projects and a strong background in project planning and management
• Analytical and systematic thinking with a solid mathematical foundation
• Innovative and creative thinking, curiosity, and motivation to learn
• Strong communication skills for an interdisciplinary team and user-oriented interactions
• Additional experience in biodiversity, genetic diversity, conservation, or (spatial) ecology is preferred

What We Offer

• Integration into a highly motivated, needs-driven, and innovative project team
• Technical development of tools, applications, or software in socially relevant and applied research projects, making Earth Observation data accessible to a wide audience
• A flexible and dynamic work environment that fosters creative ideas
• An interdisciplinary team and a supportive work culture
• Insights into the space and biodiversity networks (e.g., with ESA and GEO BON)
• Opportunities to contribute to outreach activities

Application Process

If you meet the qualifications and are motivated to make a difference in this field, please apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

If you have questions, please contact:

Meredith Schuman
Professor for Spatial Genetics of Ecosystems
044635162
meredithchristine.schuman@uzh.ch