Natural Hazards Mission Lead

ETH Zurich is establishing the ETH Swiss GeoLab, a new interdisciplinary unit of ETH Zürich I Space. ETH Space will soon become one of few strategic centres of ETH Zurich, and encompasses overall five units.

The GeoLab is focused on Earth observation and its applications. The GeoLab uses satellite, airborne, ground-based and in-situ observations. To these diverse data sets it applies AI-driven analysis methods and high-performance computing to develop solutions for specific societal and economic challenges.

Located at the D4 Business Village in Root, close to Lucerne, ETH Swiss GeoLab works at the interface of research, technology development and practical application. In its first phase, the GeoLab is focusing on few selected high-impact application areas where Earth observation, geodata and AI-based analytics can create tangible value for Switzerland. The Natural Hazards Mission focuses initially on mass movements, including landslides and rockfalls, with the aim of improving early detection, monitoring, preparedness and decision support for Swiss practitioners, authorities and infrastructure stakeholders. It builds on stakeholder engagement, solution scoping and community-building activities already underway within GeoLab, including contributions from senior domain experts and partners in the Swiss natural hazards community.

The ETH Swiss GeoLab is led by Prof. Dr Verena Griess and Prof. Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, with Dr Felix Seidel as Managing Director, responsible for the day-to-day operations of this exciting activity. The GeoLab will grow into a project-based hub of around 100 experts over the coming years and will collaborate closely with other ETH units, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), Swiss research institutions, public-sector stakeholders, natural hazard organisations, industry partners, start-ups and international stakeholders.

This position is offered as a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of extension.

Job description

As Natural Hazards Mission Lead, you will lead the research and development portfolio, integration and delivery of GeoLab’s Natural Hazards Mission. Initially focused on landslides and rockfalls, and later expanding to other natural hazards, you will help define the mission vision, translate user needs into research and product requirements, and ensure that GeoLab activities create measurable value for Swiss practice and public decision-making. You will build on ongoing interchange with key stakeholders and solution-scoping activities already underway within GeoLab, and work closely with senior domain-relevant partners, technical teams and experts.

You will report to the Managing Director of ETH Swiss GeoLab and work closely with GeoLab’s Natural Hazards Community & Solutions Lead, other GeoLab mission teams, the Research Program Support team, and the Geo-Intelligence team and external partners. You will define priorities, milestones and decision points, lead mission delivery and will have the authority to prioritize, redirect, and pivot or pause activities within your research and development portfolio, the approved mission charter, budget and governance framework.

As part of your role, you will:

• On behalf of the GeoLab leadership team, define an ambitious and coherent research and development portfolio for the Natural Hazards Mission, initially centred on landslides and rockfalls
• Translate identified critical operational gaps into measurable outcomes that create value for practitioners, authorities and decision-makers
• Engage with local, cantonal and federal authorities, infrastructure operators, practitioners, industry and expert communities, in coordination with GeoLab leadership and existing Natural Hazards community activities
• Translate operational challenges into research, data, product and technical requirements
• Establish measurable mission outcomes, roadmaps, assumptions and success criteria aligned with Swiss natural hazard needs and the overall GeoLab strategy; you will also track progress actively against these outcomes
• Manage the delegated mission budget and define priorities, milestones, decision points and success criteria and track finances and successes in that framework, through regular reporting activities to GeoLab leadership and other stakeholders
• Work with the Geo-Lab’s Intelligence team – the team deeply focused on AI and Earth observation foundational models - and external performers to drive pilots, field validation, operational testing and integration into user workflows
• Assess evidence and performance, and recommend continuation, redirection, scaling, pausing or termination of activities
• Identify and mobilise strong ETH groups, research institutions, engineering and geology offices, remote-sensing companies, public agencies and implementation partners
• Represent ETH Swiss GeoLab in Swiss natural hazard, scientific, policy and industry communities, in coordination with GeoLab leadership and existing Natural Hazards community activities
• Communicate mission goals, progress, evidence and lessons learned to internal and external stakeholders
• Guide and train students, researchers and external contributors where required and support the transfer of resulting capabilities into operational practice

Profile

In summary, you understand the needs of practitioners and decision-makers in the field of natural hazards and their relation to Earth observations from space and are motivated by the opportunity to translate research and technology into practical solutions with measurable impact.

Specifically, we are looking for someone with:

• A Master’s or PhD degree (preferred) in natural hazards, geosciences, engineering, risk management or related fields
• Several years of experience in natural hazard practice, applied research, public administration, consulting, engineering or industry, preferably but not necessarily in Switzerland
• Strong expertise and understanding of natural hazards with demonstrated examples of dashboard and tracking tools for others to gain insights in these projects
• Proven ability to identify important operational problems and translate them into actionable initiatives
• With a track-record of successful collaborations in diverse teams and have demonstrated your excitement to not only do research but apply that research to the benefit of others.
• Experience in mission, programme or applied R&D portfolio design
• Strong project, portfolio and budget management skills with demonstrated examples of transparent reporting, dashboard and tracking tools for others to gain insights in these projects
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across diverse public authorities, academia, industry and expert communities
• The ability to work across disciplinary and organisational boundaries and to lead through influence
• Strong judgement skills under uncertainty and the willingness to challenge established approaches constructively
• Excellent communication and listening skills, and great presentation skills in various modalities
• Excellent written and spoken English and German; French is an asset

You are mission-driven, entrepreneurial, a strong learner and comfortable working in a newly established and evolving organisation. You have a track-record of successful team participation and leadership and an excitement for hard and impactful work. You combine scientific credibility with pragmatic decision-making, economic awareness and a clear focus on adoption, operational relevance and measurable value. In doing so, you want to work on the best idea, not necessarily your best idea.

We offer

• A rare opportunity to help build ETH Swiss GeoLab from its early phase and shape a new national initiative for Earth observation
• A mission-driven role with high visibility and strong societal relevance
• The opportunity to develop solutions for pressing natural hazard challenges in Switzerland, and with broad international impact through transferable methods and lessons learned
• A workplace in Root/Lucerne, embedded in an active innovation ecosystem and closely connected to ETH Zurich

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.

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

• Your CV
• Diplomas and work certificates
• A short motivation statement outlining your interest in ETH Swiss GeoLab and the Natural Hazards Mission
• A video (max 2 mins) about you and your motivation for this position

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

Further information about ETH Swiss GeoLab can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr Felix Seidel, Managing Director ETH Swiss GeoLab, felix.seidel@eaps.ethz.ch. 

We look forward to receiving your application!

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.

About ETH Zürich

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