Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
Zürich
13 hours ago
Vice-Rector Education (100%) – Member of the University Management
- 05 March 2026
- 100%
- Permanent position
- Zürich
Job summary
The ZHdK is one of Europe’s largest art schools, housing 2100 students. It offers a vibrant work environment with diverse opportunities.
Tasks
- Lead the strategic direction of educational offerings at ZHdK.
- Oversee curriculum development while ensuring quality in teaching.
- Foster an innovative learning culture, enhancing student experiences.
Skills
- PhD or equivalent experience in arts education and curriculum development.
- Strong leadership experience in higher education institutions.
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
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About the job
ZHdK is one of the largest and most diverse art universities in Europe, with around 2100 bachelor’s and master’s students. The study and research areas include Art Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre, and Transdisciplinarity. Located in the heart of Zurich, ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, research, and continue their education. The university includes numerous exhibition and performance venues where students’ project works are publicly presented.
ZHdK strengthens its strategic effectiveness through the introduction of vice-rectorates. The Vice-Rectorate for Education will be the central strategic steering, development, advisory, and organizational unit for all matters related to study, teaching, learning, and continuing education at ZHdK. It shapes and coordinates the university-wide development of the ZHdK educational landscape. The focus is on enabling excellent educational experiences, further developing the ZHdK-specific understanding of teaching and learning, and promoting individual and collective educational processes in a changing world. To strengthen our university management, we are looking for an inspiring personality as:
ZHdK strengthens its strategic effectiveness through the introduction of vice-rectorates. The Vice-Rectorate for Education will be the central strategic steering, development, advisory, and organizational unit for all matters related to study, teaching, learning, and continuing education at ZHdK. It shapes and coordinates the university-wide development of the ZHdK educational landscape. The focus is on enabling excellent educational experiences, further developing the ZHdK-specific understanding of teaching and learning, and promoting individual and collective educational processes in a changing world. To strengthen our university management, we are looking for an inspiring personality as:
Vice-Rector Education (100%) – Member of the University Management
In this leadership role, you will shape the strategic direction of ZHdK’s educational offerings together with an experienced team. You will profile, steer, and develop ZHdK’s transversal educational offerings and represent the institutional perspective on artistic education within the university as well as towards external stakeholders.
Your tasks
As Vice-Rector Education, you take overall strategic responsibility for teaching at ZHdK and significantly shape its further development. You develop the educational strategy in line with the university’s overall strategy and ensure that national and international educational policy developments are taken into account early. As a member of the university management, you share responsibility for the strategic development and leadership of ZHdK. Together with the relevant departments, you contribute to ZHdK’s development and financial plans and are responsible for defining and monitoring key performance indicators.
As Vice-Rector, you promote an innovative teaching and learning culture, ensure the quality of teaching, and further develop the ZHdK study model and portfolio. You are responsible for normative requirements and their compliance, steer core processes of study and teaching, and ensure further professionalization of the process organization in the student life cycle. You support departments in program and curriculum development and promote the development of teaching practice. Your responsibilities include all topics related to study and students, including administration of the entire student life cycle as well as responsibility for student advising and the Mobility Office. In addition, you are responsible for transversal minors and the Continuing Education Center, integrate sustainability into educational offerings, and coordinate cross-departmental projects that support the university’s further development.
As Vice-Rector Education, you take overall strategic responsibility for teaching at ZHdK and significantly shape its further development. You develop the educational strategy in line with the university’s overall strategy and ensure that national and international educational policy developments are taken into account early. As a member of the university management, you share responsibility for the strategic development and leadership of ZHdK. Together with the relevant departments, you contribute to ZHdK’s development and financial plans and are responsible for defining and monitoring key performance indicators.
As Vice-Rector, you promote an innovative teaching and learning culture, ensure the quality of teaching, and further develop the ZHdK study model and portfolio. You are responsible for normative requirements and their compliance, steer core processes of study and teaching, and ensure further professionalization of the process organization in the student life cycle. You support departments in program and curriculum development and promote the development of teaching practice. Your responsibilities include all topics related to study and students, including administration of the entire student life cycle as well as responsibility for student advising and the Mobility Office. In addition, you are responsible for transversal minors and the Continuing Education Center, integrate sustainability into educational offerings, and coordinate cross-departmental projects that support the university’s further development.
In this role, you advise and support departments in all matters of study program development, curriculum development, and university didactics. You coordinate and moderate the relevant professional committees and ensure smooth, transparent exchange. You work closely with department heads, central services, the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Innovation, and the Rectorate, promoting integrative, cross-departmental collaboration.
Your profile
For this senior position in an art- and design-oriented university environment, we are looking for a strong leader with a doctorate or equivalent qualification. You have solid knowledge and relevant experience in artistic and design-oriented higher education, curriculum development, and quality assurance of study and teaching, and are well acquainted with the specific teaching and learning cultures in the arts. You possess a profound understanding of the Swiss and European higher education systems as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant higher education policy and structural frameworks. Experience in process and system management in study and teaching operations, business management know-how, and a keen sense for the dynamics of the art, design, and cultural market complement your profile.
You bring several years of leadership experience at a university, a sustainable network in university and educational management, and your own teaching experience. Successes in developing study programs, teaching strategies, and governance structures distinguish you, as does experience in interdisciplinary and complex steering processes.
For this senior position in an art- and design-oriented university environment, we are looking for a strong leader with a doctorate or equivalent qualification. You have solid knowledge and relevant experience in artistic and design-oriented higher education, curriculum development, and quality assurance of study and teaching, and are well acquainted with the specific teaching and learning cultures in the arts. You possess a profound understanding of the Swiss and European higher education systems as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant higher education policy and structural frameworks. Experience in process and system management in study and teaching operations, business management know-how, and a keen sense for the dynamics of the art, design, and cultural market complement your profile.
You bring several years of leadership experience at a university, a sustainable network in university and educational management, and your own teaching experience. Successes in developing study programs, teaching strategies, and governance structures distinguish you, as does experience in interdisciplinary and complex steering processes.
As an integrative, communicative leader, you act in a structured manner, moderate demanding development processes confidently, and combine strategic foresight with operational implementation strength. Excellent English skills, both spoken and written, complete your profile.
What you can expect from us
We offer you an interesting and challenging role in a lively and collegial environment at the Zurich Toni-Areal. We live an inclusive culture and value diversity. Employment conditions are based on the personnel law of the Canton of Zurich.
Interviews will take place on May 19, 2026 (1st round) and May 29, 2026 (2nd round).
We offer you an interesting and challenging role in a lively and collegial environment at the Zurich Toni-Areal. We live an inclusive culture and value diversity. Employment conditions are based on the personnel law of the Canton of Zurich.
Start date October 1, 2026, or by agreement.
Your contacts for further information
Karin Mairitsch ( rektorin.zhdk@zhdk.ch ), Rector Interviews will take place on May 19, 2026 (1st round) and May 29, 2026 (2nd round).
Please submit your complete application documents by March 30, 2026, via the "Apply online now" link at the end of this advertisement. Please note that we only consider online applications via the link (no email applications) for this position.
