Senior AI Engagement Lead

ABOUT UZH.AI

UZH.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.

We are looking for a Senior AI Engagement Lead to act as a highly credible, externally visible figurehead for UZH.ai in the Swiss AI ecosystem and key international fora. You will operate at the interface of academia, startups, industry, and policy‑making, using your personal track record and network to open doors, build alliances, and help position UZH as a shaping voice in AI strategy, funding, and ecosystem development.

This is not a communications role. You will operate at the interface of academia, policy, and the AI ecosystem: building relationships with federal and cantonal actors, international AI initiatives, and funding bodies; preparing UZH’s presence at key AI policy fora including the Global AI Summit 2027; and driving a pipeline of external grants and consortia. You are motivated by impact on the ecosystem and public good and will work closely with the UZH.ai

Project Lead, the Digital Strategy Board, and UZH leadership.

• UZH (or other Swiss university) alumni who have founded, scaled, and successfully exited a tech startup, and now want to give back to the Swiss AI ecosystem.
• Senior ecosystem or policy leaders with 10–15+ years of relevant experience who wish to take on a strategic, part‑time role alongside other activities.

• Act as a high‑credibility external representative of UZH.ai in the Swiss and European AI ecosystem (federal and cantonal actors, funding agencies, startup hubs, industry associations, international AI initiatives).
• Map and regularly update UZH.ai on strategically relevant AI policy processes, funding programmes, and large‑scale infrastructure initiatives (Swiss, EU, international), highlighting concrete opportunities and risks.
• Map and regularly update UZH.ai on strategically relevant AI policy processes, funding programmes, and large‑scale infrastructure initiatives (Swiss, EU, international), highlighting concrete opportunities and risks.
• Represent UZH and coordinate its presence at key AI policy events, working groups, and ecosystem fora (digitalswitzerland, federal AI groups, Geneva AI governance fora, etc.)
• Lead preparation and delivery of UZH’s engagement at high‑profile events such as the Global AI Summit 2027 (programme contributions, side events, delegation, and messaging), together with UZH leadership and the Digital Strategy Board.
• Identify and orchestrate UZH participation in large AI consortia and infrastructure initiatives (including “CERN‑for‑AI”-type proposals), coordinating faculty contributions internally.
• Drive 2–3 priority external funding applications per year, leading the political, ecosystem, and stakeholder‑engagement components in collaboration with PIs, UZH.ai, DSI, and the UZH Research Office.
• Provide short, structured, and occasionally time‑critical briefings to the Digital Strategy Board and UZH leadership, including clear recommendations.
• Support UZH.ai’s positioning in national and international AI collaborations with other universities, public bodies, and industry.

• Master's degree or PhD, ideally from UZH or another Swiss university, in a relevant field (e.g. computer science, data science, engineering, economics, law, political science).
• Either:
  • You have founded and scaled a tech or AI‑related startup and successfully exited (trade sale, IPO, or equivalent), or
  • You have at least 10–15 years of experience in senior roles in AI‑related policy,…