Senior Project Manager / Senior Project Manageress

Senior Project Manager (KTT Expert) at sus.lab

80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-term

Join us at the Sustainability in Business Lab (sus.lab) at ETH Zurich and help empower leaders in industry, policy, and society to tackle systemic sustainability challenges and facilitate the transition to a net-zero and circular economy.

Project Background

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead two projects, each at a 40-50% level of engagement.

KTT Expert, ACHIEVE consortium: This role primarily focuses on serving as the Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Expert within the ACHIEVE consortium, part of the SWEET funding programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). ACHIEVE is dedicated to supporting Switzerland’s transition to net zero by collaborating with stakeholders from industry, policy, and society to develop scientifically grounded roadmaps. You will ensure that research insights are translated into actionable knowledge and tools for practitioners and decision-makers. Depending on your experience, you will lead or receive support from less experienced colleagues at sus.lab.

Additional sus.lab project(s): The remaining 40-50% of your time will be dedicated to a groundbreaking industry-related sus.lab project, with the specific focus aligned with your skills and experience. Potential projects may include initiatives similar to our recently completed work, such as DemoUpCARMA or the rPET report on the long-term prospects for recycled PET in beverage bottles.

Job Description

KTT Expert, ACHIEVE Consortium

• Overall Project Management: Collaborate closely with the consortium head and scientific integration expert to oversee project execution, ensuring alignment with objectives and outcomes, timely milestone achievements, deliverable submissions, and resource allocation.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Co-creation: Lead the planning and implementation of stakeholder engagement formats, conduct stakeholder mapping, and document knowledge needs and contributions between researchers and stakeholders.
• Communication & Dissemination: Coordinate the preparation and distribution of stakeholder-facing communication materials, including policy briefs, industry briefs, website content, and outreach notes.
• Monitoring & Impact Tracking: Monitor stakeholder uptake and integration of project outputs, including technology adoption, pilot project initiation, and policy developments.

Additional sus.lab Project(s)

• Lead and manage groundbreaking, industry-related projects.
• Oversee, co-develop, and publish project deliverables in collaboration with partners from industry, policy, and society.
• Manage project budgets and teams.
• Develop and secure new projects focused on decarbonization and the circular economy.

Profile

• You hold a Master’s degree (or higher) in sustainability, environmental policy, engineering, environmental science, business, or a related field.
• You have 3-4 years of experience in sustainability consulting, policy analysis, transdisciplinary research, or a related field.
• You excel in stakeholder management and can communicate effectively with leaders from research, industry, and policy.
• You possess strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Excellent command of English and at least one Swiss national language (German, French, or Italian) at C1 level or above, both written and spoken.
• You are based in Switzerland and will work in Zurich upon starting the position (remote work is not available).
• You are able to start by March 2026 at the latest.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and facilitating participatory workshops and dialogues.
• Ability to translate technical content into accessible communication formats (e.g., briefs, presentations).
• Familiarity with climate policy, decarbonization pathways, or carbon capture technologies.
• A network or engagement experience with Swiss policy, industry, or civil society organizations.

Workplace

Sus.lab is a "think-and-do-tank" comprised of highly motivated individuals with diverse backgrounds in engineering, science, management consulting, and entrepreneurship. As part of the Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec) within the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics of ETH Zurich, we foster an entrepreneurial research environment that bridges academic research with industrial application.

We Offer

The contract for this position is initially limited to one year, in accordance with ETH guidelines, with the intention of establishing a long-term employment relationship.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich is committed to an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity and values diversity. We nurture a working environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn more about how we promote an equitable environment. Sustainability is a core value for us, and we are actively pursuing a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

If you are interested in shaping Switzerland's transition to net zero, we welcome you to apply online using the form below. Please ensure that you include your CV, detailing the final overall grades of your degrees.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information about our sus.lab, please visit our website. For questions regarding the position, please reach out to Oliver Akeret at oakeret@ethz.ch (no applications).

About ETH Zurich: ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology. With a reputation for excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and an emphasis on knowledge transfer into society, ETH attracts over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries who seek an environment that fosters independent thinking and inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, we collaborate globally to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.