Head of Asylum Center (50%) & Administration Department Support (50%), Zurich (temporary)
Caritas Schweiz
Zürich-Witikon
Key information
- Publication date:22 October 2025
- Workload:50%
- Place of work:Zürich-Witikon
Job summary
Join Caritas Schweiz in leading an asylum center in Zurich. Make a difference in a supportive environment!
Tasks
- Guide and develop staff, overseeing scheduling and team meetings.
- Ensure client care and wellbeing through structured daily programs.
- Manage finances, including budgeting and accounting for the center.
Skills
- Experience in managing an asylum center or similar social facility.
- Strong leadership skills with team development expertise.
- Good financial management abilities, including budgeting and cost control.
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Doing the right thing. In Switzerland and in around 20 countries on four continents. Join us in our commitment to the vision of a solidarity-based society, as
Head of Asylum Center (50%) & Administration Department Support (50%), Zurich (temporary)
Caritas Switzerland has been operating asylum centers at various locations in the canton of Zurich on behalf of the canton since March 2024. From December 1, 2025, and on a temporary basis, we will open a center at Katzenschwanzstrasse in Zurich Witikon. The center offers space for up to 100 refugee male individuals. It is located in an underground facility that meets current requirements for safety, infrastructure, and protection. The premises are functional and purposefully designed to create a pleasant and structured environment for the residents.
We are looking for an experienced leader to manage the center.
Your tasks
- Personnel management and development: Professional and disciplinary leadership as well as promotion of employees in the center including duty planning, team meetings, and development measures
- Ensuring care: Responsibility for the professional implementation of the daily structure, integration, and well-being of clients according to the mandate
- Financial management: Budget responsibility, cost control, accounting, and preparation of financial statements as well as billing for the canton, cash and postal account management
- Preparation of weekly social assistance payments, individual payments, and exit payments
- Compliance with guidelines: Implementation of cantonal and internal regulations (e.g., SKOS, Caritas concept, labor law regulations)
- Representation and networking: Representing the center to authorities, clients, and in the neighborhood as well as cooperation with volunteers and partner organizations
- Taking on shifts with varying times (especially early shifts)
Our requirements
- Experience in managing an asylum center or a comparable social institution with comprehensive leadership responsibility
- Very good German skills in spoken and written form as well as good oral skills in another national language, English, or an asylum language
- Leadership competence and experience in professional and disciplinary team management, including personnel development and quality assurance
- Solid knowledge in financial and budget management, including budget monitoring, cost control, accounting, and preparation of financial statements
- Intercultural competence and interest in the asylum and refugee sector as well as a professional attitude balancing empathy and assertiveness
- Organizational skills and resilience: Ability for efficient self-organization, priority management, and confident handling of stressful situations
- Confident use of digital tools, ideally with the case management software Tutoris, as well as knowledge of AbaPlan and MyAbacus
- Sense of responsibility and decisiveness in implementing guidelines, handling complaints, and emergency situations
Workplace is Zurich
Start date: 01.12.2025 or by agreement, temporary until 31.07.2026
Caritas offers attractive employment conditions and an open working atmosphere in a committed team. For the active development and implementation of digital transformation, we rely on employees with a digital and agile mindset who enjoy participating in change processes.
For information about this position, please contact Mr. Thomas Gasser, Head of Mandate Transit Centers, phone +41 76 347 72 09.
We thank you for your interest and look forward to receiving your application by 2.11.2025 via the online portal.
Start date: 01.12.2025 or by agreement, temporary until 31.07.2026
Caritas offers attractive employment conditions and an open working atmosphere in a committed team. For the active development and implementation of digital transformation, we rely on employees with a digital and agile mindset who enjoy participating in change processes.
For information about this position, please contact Mr. Thomas Gasser, Head of Mandate Transit Centers, phone +41 76 347 72 09.
We thank you for your interest and look forward to receiving your application by 2.11.2025 via the online portal.
