Site and Program Lead - Biopôle office - Innovation Unit

The Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) is a strategic focus area of the ETH domain, with EPFL and ETH Zurich as founding partners, developing into a National Research Infrastructure in 2025. Its mission is to support academic labs, hospitals, industry and public sector stakeholders, including cantonal and federal administrations, through their entire data science journey, from the collection and management of data to machine learning, AI, and industrialization. With a large multidisciplinary team of professionals across three locations (Lausanne, Zurich, Villigen), the SDSC provides expertise and services to various domains, such as health and biomedical sciences, energy and sustainability, climate and environment, and large-scale scientific infrastructures.

Established in 2017, the center has been on a steadfast growth trajectory. This growth has been accompanied by the establishment of a new flagship presence at the Campus Biopôle in Lausanne jointly with a new partnership with Canton Vaud, which requires a Site and Program Lead with excellent leadership capabilities.

The Site and Program Lead will conduct the Biopôle office, establishing it as a dynamic hub and a showcase for innovation in artificial intelligence and data science. As part of the SDSC's Innovation Unit, they will play a pivotal role in fostering collaborations with entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policymakers, and public sector representatives both within the Biopôle ecosystem and beyond, extending to the Canton of Vaud and national stakeholders.

Working closely with the SDSC communications team, the Site and Program Lead will be responsible for enhancing the office's visibility and positioning it as a leading innovation hub. Their operational excellence and strategic alignment with SDSC's goals will be key to ensuring thriving partnerships and long-term success.

• Operations: This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on engagement: the Site and Program Lead will organize and facilitate workshops, coaching sessions, and networking events, ensuring that the Biopôle site becomes a vibrant meeting point for academia, industry, and public entities. They will also manage the flagship collaboration program between the Canton of Vaud and SDSC, overseeing the annual open call for projects and ensuring that funded initiatives deliver high economic or societal impact.

• Performance Metrics: Drive performance measures for operations, review key high-level indicators, and develop improvement proposals as well as decision-making bases for the center's leadership, particularly in regards to the Biopôle office.

• Coordination: Collaborate with different units within the center (R&D, engineering, finance, communication, operations) to enhance and streamline systems, processes, and operational policies in support of the center's mission.

• Strategic Planning: Actively support the leadership in long-term planning, particularly in initiatives targeting operational excellence and focused on (but not limited to) the Biopôle office.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Higher education degree

• Proven leadership experience in a similar role, ideally within an academic or research environment in Switzerland.

• Experience in strategic planning and execution.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.

• Excellent communication skills, fluent in French and English.

• Understanding of Data Science and its applications, particularly in the biomedical domain, is highly appreciated.

• Network and/or direct knowledge of the socio-economic tissue of the Romandie region of Switzerland is highly appreciated.

• A stimulating, collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment in a world-class research institution
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote working, flexible time
• Exciting challenges, varied projects, and plenty of room to learn and grow
• As part of the EPFL, you'll enjoy all the benefits associated with being an EPFL employee, including a supportive work environment and access to various resources.

Detailed information about employment conditions and benefits can be found here

Contract Start Date : 01/06/2025

Activity Rate : 100,00

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 1 year, renewable

Reference: 1461

We look forward to receiving your online application including application letter, CV and diploma(s). Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. For further information about the Swiss Data Science Center please visit our website: www.datascience.ch

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Write an email with the job n° reference

Remark :

Only candidates who applied through EPFL website or our partner Jobup's website will be considered.

Files sent by agencies without a mandate will not be taken into account.