NCCR CLIM+ Executive Director

NCCR CLIM+ is a newly founded National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) tackling questions on Climate Extremes and Resilience in Swiss Society. The ETH Zurich Executive Director will collaborate with the other NCCR CLIM+ executive director at the University of Bern, and under the supervision of the NCCR-CLIM+ team of directors including Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne (ETH Zurich), Prof. Karin Ingold (Uni Bern), Prof. David N. Bresch (ETH Zurich) and Prof. Olivia Romppainen-Martius (Uni Bern).

The NCCR CLIM+ will establish the first fully interdisciplinary, Switzerland-wide climate research community that tackles pressing issues related to climate extremes such as heatwaves, floods, heavy rainfalls, droughts, wildfires, and further compound events. It will thereby and additionally interact with stakeholders ranging from public health to finance, agriculture, and water management.

By pooling competence from 20 leading Swiss research institutions across multiple natural and social science disciplines, NCCR CLIM+ will combine fundamental knowledge with transformational knowledge. 

Under the lead of ETH Zurich and the University of Bern the newly founded Center for Climate Extremes and Resilience in Swiss Society (CERESS) will connect with numerous further universities and climate centers across Switzerland. CERESS will support nationwide research, co-design living labs, and produce actionable solutions, thus forming a new transdisciplinary nexus between science, society, practice, and politics.

The two NCCR CLIM+ executive directors will assume leadership in the academic development and operational affairs of the respective Management Center at either ETH Zurich, or University of Bern. Both executive directors are furthermore responsible in building up and developing the CERESS Center. 

• The NCCR CLIM+ executive director at ETH Zurich will be closely collaborating with the NCCR CLIM+ co-director Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne and deputy co-director Prof. David N. Bresch at the ETH Zurich
• She/he will lead the NCCR CLIM+ Management Center at ETH Zurich and support the coordination of the logistics and scientific work of the NCCR in collaboration with the NCCR CLIM+ partner executive director at the University of Bern, with a specific focus on research and activities in natural sciences and interdisciplinary topics
• Furthermore, the NCCR CLIM+ Executive Director at ETH Zurich will help to develop and further coordinate the open science strategy and data infrastructures amongst the different relevant institutions within the NCCR CLIM+ and oversee the knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) from NCCR CLIM+, among others based on bespoke storylines
• One important task will be the establishment of the Center for Climate Extremes and Resilience in Swiss Society (CERESS), together with the partner executive director located at the University of Bern

• Candidates should hold a PhD in climate sciences, natural sciences, statistics, or a related field
• They have a demonstrated experience of coordination and management in interdisciplinary research
• Leadership skills as well as experience with transdisciplinary research settings, living labs or other forms of stakeholder interactions are a plus
• We are looking for an integrative personality with outstanding motivation for inter- and transdisciplinary community building in the broad field of climate extremes and society
• The executive director will also oversee several positions, including in IT and communication
• Command of English and at least one of the national languages is a must, and knowledge of a further national language and familiarity with the Swiss academic landscape are an advantage

• ETH Zurich is a dynamic employer offering excellent working conditions and a wide range of continuing education opportunities
• You can look forward to an exciting, diverse, multicultural, and international work environment
• Flexible working conditions

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Motivation letter
• CV
• PhD diploma
• Complete publication list
• One-pager where you outline your project management and coordination experience

Further information about NCCR CLIM+ can be found on our website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne, Write an email and Rahel Buri, Write an email (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

The expected starting date is June 1st, 2026, or upon agreement. The working place is at the ETH Zurich. Interviews for selected candidates are expected to take place from late March to mid-April (March 31st, April 13, or April 16). ETH Zurich has signed the DORA Declaration and is committed to an inclusive and diverse university community. We value the diversity of our teams and to further enhance the diversity of our workforce we particularly encourage women to apply.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

For recruitment services the  GTC of ETH Zurich  apply.