The ETH AI Center is one of the largest university centers in the world for artificial intelligence with over 110 Professors from all 16 departments of ETH Zurich and over associated 1500 PhD students & postdocs. Our purpose is to amplify human potential by fostering breakthrough ideas with interdisciplinary AI research and enabling the path from science to society. We strive to push the boundaries of AI research, foster innovation, and drive impactful projects. As the Industry Partnership Lead, you will have the unique opportunity to work at the forefront of AI research and industry applications.
Project background We are looking for a hands-on leader to own and scale the ETH AI Center's industry engagement function and develop long-term, impactful partnerships. You will operate as a player-coach: driving high-value partnerships end-to-end yourself while building pragmatic structures, processes, and the team setup needed to scale. You should be equally comfortable in a boardroom closing a six-figure collaboration as you are refining a pitch deck, structuring a CRM, or unblocking an internal stakeholder. At the intersection of academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, you will translate cutting-edge AI research into compelling partnership models and build long-term relationships with leading global organizations. You will collaborate closely with ETH AI Center leadership, Swiss National AI Institute (SNAI), and partner institutions such as the EPFL AI Center - engaging daily with ETH professors and researchers, C-suite leaders at partner companies, SNAI and EPFL AI Center counterparts, and innovation leaders across the Swiss and European AI ecosystem.
Job description - Drive revenue growth by owning and expanding third-party funding across the ETH AI Center and SNAI, with clear OKRs tracked monthly, quarterly, and annually - fueling the center's mission to strengthen Switzerland's AI ecosystem.
- Build and close a pipeline of industry partnerships end-to-end, personally leading complex, multi-stakeholder deals with senior industry leaders from first outreach to signed agreement.
- Shape the partner journey by designing how companies mature their AI capabilities over time through the partnership - from first engagement, to becoming AI-native organizations, to leveraging frontier capabilities such as large-scale AI and open-source foundation models alongside ETH researchers.
- Grow and retain long-term partners through regular expectation management and joint goal-setting, helping them navigate AI trends, spot opportunities for joint research, and learn from both leading ETH researchers and peer companies - making them visible in the ecosystem and accelerating Switzerland's transformation into an AI-native economy.
- Lead and scale the partnerships team as a player-coach, setting the standard through execution while building scalable processes, CRM systems, and reporting infrastructure for data-driven decision-making.
- Align internal stakeholders across ETH, SNAI, and partner institutions, and represent the ETH AI Center externally at senior-level meetings and events, positioning it as the leading partner for enabling AI transformation in Switzerland and beyond.
Profile - 6+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, or sales in complex environments (e.g. deep tech, research, enterprise, or startups)
- Entrepreneurial mindset: high ownership, low ego, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves
- Strong ability to operate both strategically and operationally - you think in systems but execute hands-on
- Proven track record of personally closing high-value, multi-stakeholder deals
- Experience building or scaling partnership, sales, or business development functions
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders in industry and academia
- Strong interest in AI and technology, with the ability to translate technical topics into business value
- Experience working across organizational boundaries and navigating complex stakeholder environments
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field; technical background is a plus
- Fluency in English; German is a strong plus
We offer - Access to top researchers and industry players
- Small but dynamic and agile team
- Modern office in Zurich Oerlikon in the heart of tech innovation
- Facilitated access to ETH Infrastructure
If you are a highly motivated individual with a passion for AI and a desire to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field, we would love to hear from you. Join the ETH AI Center and work at the forefront of AI research in Europe, collaborating with leading faculty, global partners, and a rapidly growing ecosystem in Zurich.
The position is limited to a duration of 1 year with the intention to extend.
> Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich We value diversity and sustainability In line with
our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our
Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us - we are consistently working towards a
climate-neutral future.
Curious? So are we. To embark on this exciting journey with us, please submit your online application including:
- Your CV
- Letter of Motivation
- References
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
Further information about the ETH AI Center can be found on our
website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Alexandra Janosi
alexandra.janosi@ai.ethz.ch (no applications).
For recruitment services the
GTC of ETH Zurich apply.
