Strategic Projects - UZH.ai
Industry & Partnership Manager UZH.ai 80 - 100 %
Start of employment as soon as possible, for 12 months initially, with high chance of continuation, temporaryUZH.ai is the AI Hub of the University of Zurich - one of Europe's leading comprehensive universities, spanning 7 faculties from medicine and law to the natural sciences and social sciences. We connect over 200 researchers across disciplines, co-organize AI+X, support the growing UZH.ai community, and are building the UZH.ai Fellowship Program to support outstanding PhD researchers working at the intersection of AI and society.
The Hub is a one stop shop for everything AI at the University of Zurich. Teachers and staff find tools, courses and inspiration on the usage of AI, external partners find (research) collaborations through UZH.ai and the initiative promotes the safe and responsible use of AI in research, teaching and among UZH staff colleagues.
Your responsibilities
- Build and manage a pipeline of industry partners and fellowship sponsors across pharma, finance, tech, and public sector. You will have clear annual revenue targets for fellowship sponsorships and industry programs.
- Design, pitch, and close tailored partnership agreements - from first conversation to signed contract
- You are comfortable operating as a player‑coach: personally driving key deals while shaping our partnership strategy and basic processes (CRM, reporting).
- Own the industry-facing dimension of the UZH.ai Fellowship Program, including coordination with the UZH Foundation
- Develop new partnership formats and translate UZH.ai's research offering into compelling value propositions
- Represent UZH.ai at key ecosystem events and help organize our flagship events (AI+X Summit, AI Town-halls)
- Contribute to grant applications and strategic planning as part of a small, collaborative team
- Report regularly on pipeline, probability‑weighted revenue, and partner retention, and adjust your approach based on data
Your profile
We are looking for an Industry & Partnership Manager who knows how to turn world-class research into partner-ships that industry actually wants to sign. Your primary mandate: build UZH.ai's industry revenue base - through fellowship sponsorships, corporate affiliate programs, and tailored research collaboration formats - and make sure partners stay engaged and see real value.
You will own the full partnership cycle: identify prospects, build relationships, design the offer, negotiate, close, and retain. The main selling point is the UZH.ai Fellowship Program - co-funding outstanding AI researchers in exchange for research collaboration and talent access - but we're looking for someone creative enough to de-velop new formats and connect UZH's unique interdisciplinary AI strength (AI & medicine, AI & law, AI & finance, AI & society and more) to what industry actually needs.
Because we're a small team, you'll also contribute to events, community activities, and other project tasks. We're looking for someone who is energized by that, not put off by it.
You will own the full partnership cycle: identify prospects, build relationships, design the offer, negotiate, close, and retain. The main selling point is the UZH.ai Fellowship Program - co-funding outstanding AI researchers in exchange for research collaboration and talent access - but we're looking for someone creative enough to de-velop new formats and connect UZH's unique interdisciplinary AI strength (AI & medicine, AI & law, AI & finance, AI & society and more) to what industry actually needs.
Because we're a small team, you'll also contribute to events, community activities, and other project tasks. We're looking for someone who is energized by that, not put off by it.
Information on your application
Questionnaire, CV, motivation letter and references, via the job portal.What we offer
Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. Find out more: https://www.uzh.ch/de/explore/work.html.
What we offer
Further information
Questions about the job
Christy Aerne Community, Communication and Events lead
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Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
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