Domain Manager (80-100%)

With 21,000 students across 28 universities of applied sciences spread over the seven cantons of Western Switzerland, HES-SO is the largest university of applied sciences in Switzerland. A reservoir of skills, ideas, innovations, creativity and knowledge, HES-SO plays a key role in the country’s economic, social and cultural development.

To support the developments in the Engineering and Architecture domain and to strengthen academic coordination at the national and intercantonal level, HES-SO is advertising the position of:

Your missions

Reporting to the Rector and a member of the HES-SO Executive Committee, you ensure the academic and strategic leadership of the Engineering and Architecture domain and actively contribute to its prominence at the regional, national and international levels.

As head of the Engineering and Architecture Domain Council, you coordinate issues related to basic education, applied research and innovation (R&I), continuing education as well as national and international collaborations.

In close collaboration with the management of the domain’s universities of applied sciences, programme leaders, academic circles and economic and institutional partners, you:

• lead strategic reflections and development projects for the domain;
• steer the evolution of the Bachelor, Master and postgraduate training portfolio taking into account societal, economic and technological needs;
• promote synergies between universities of applied sciences, interdisciplinary collaborations and the development of joint projects;
• support the development of applied research, innovation, knowledge and technology transfer as well as Open Science;
• contribute to strengthening the academic and scientific positioning of the domain;
• represent HES-SO and the Engineering and Architecture domain within national and international strategic bodies;
• develop and maintain partnerships with academic, scientific, economic and institutional circles;
• ensure anticipation of changes in professions, skills and training needs in the engineering and architecture sectors.

Your profile

• You hold a Master’s level qualification. A doctorate is an asset;
• You have proven experience in higher education, ideally as a HES professor or in a comparable academic role;
• You have significant experience in strategic management, leadership or direction in a complex academic or institutional environment;
• You have an excellent understanding of the challenges of education, applied research and innovation;
• You have experience in developing collaborations with academic, scientific, institutional and economic partners;
• You have a strong interest in the Swiss education system and in universities of applied sciences in particular.

Your skills

• Your academic leadership and ability to unite enable you to mobilise stakeholders with sometimes divergent interests around common goals;
• You operate comfortably in complex environments with a strong institutional and political dimension;
• You have excellent communication, representation, negotiation and networking skills;
• You demonstrate strategic vision, anticipation skills and decisiveness;
• You have solid experience in change management and leading complex organisations;
• You combine organisational rigour, a sense of responsibility and ease in financial management;
• You are fluent in French and have excellent knowledge of German and English, both spoken and written.

We offer you

• A strategic role at the heart of training challenges in French-speaking Switzerland;
• A stimulating, collaborative environment with strong interaction with numerous partners;
• The opportunity to actively contribute to the evolution of professions in the engineering and architecture domain, as well as the missions of universities of applied sciences;
• Attractive working conditions and great autonomy in the exercise of the role.

Work rate: 80-100%

Contract duration: Fixed-term contract of 4 years renewable

Start date: From 01.03.2027 or to be agreed

Workplace: Delémont or Lausanne with travel in French-speaking Switzerland

Application deadline: 31 August 2026

HES-SO adopts a recruitment policy favouring equal opportunities. We look forward to receiving your complete application file (cover letter, CV and copies of diplomas and work certificates) via our platform. Only applications received through this channel will be considered. Contact possible with Luciana Vaccaro (luciana.vaccaro[a]hes-so.ch), or Maude Michaud, Human Resources Manager (maude.michaud[a]hes-so.ch).