Head of Surveys

FORS (the Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences) is a legally independent national research infrastructure hosted by the University of Lausanne (https://forscenter.ch/). Founded in 2008, FORS produces survey data, maintains data archives, provides consulting services to the Swiss social science community, and conducts cutting-edge thematic and methodological research in empirical social sciences.

The Survey Unit is at the heart of FORS's mission. It is responsible for the design, coordination and scientific management of major national, as well as the Swiss part of international survey programmes. These include the Swiss Household Panel (SHP), the Swiss Electoral Studies (Selects), the Comparative Candidate Survey (CCS), the European Social Survey (ESS), MOSAICH as part of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), the European Values Study (EVS), and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted in collaboration with the University of Lausanne. In addition, the unit carries out surveys for external partners on a mandate basis. The unit is also strongly involved in thematic and methodological research.

FORS is looking for a new

Head of Unit Survey and member of the FORS Executive Board 100%

Following a planned succession, FORS invites applications for the position of Head of the Survey Unit. This senior leadership position forms part of the FORS management team and reports directly to the FORS Director. The Head of Survey Unit also serves as a member of the FORS Executive Board and plays a central role in shaping the institution’s operational and scientific strategy.

The successful candidate will lead a pluridisciplinary team of researchers, survey methodologists, and project coordinators across four different teams. These teams are responsible for the full lifecycle of survey operations — from design and sampling to fieldwork, data quality management, and data dissemination. In addition, the unit actively contributes to FORS's scientific output and promotes the advancement of research through active engagement in national and international cooperations.

Scientific and operational leadership & strategy

• Lead and develop the Survey Unit's research and operational activities in close collaboration with the FORS Director and senior management.


• Define and implement the scientific strategy for FORS's national and international survey programmes.


• Represent FORS in national and international scientific and policy networks, steering committees, and consortia.


• Foster partnerships with Swiss and international research institutions, national statistical offices, and funding bodies.

Survey Operations & Quality

• Provide strategic leadership to ensure the methodological excellence, integrity, and long-term development of all survey operations under FORS responsibility.


• Set the overarching framework and standards for survey design, sampling strategies, questionnaire development, fieldwork management, and data quality control, in close collaboration with the heads of the groups in the unit.


• Define and drive the unit’s innovative agenda, particularly in areas such as web data collection, data linking and the integration of AI across the data life cycle.


• Ensure institutional compliance with open science practices, research ethics and data protection regulations, while proactively anticipating and addressing emerging standards and challenges.

Team Leadership & Management

• Manage a multidisciplinary team of approximately 35 staff members working across four groups, fostering professional development and long-term capacity building.


• Lead and steer organizational change processes within the unit, including managing the transition associated with the planned succession of the current Head.


• Promote and sustain a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture within the Survey Unit aligned with FORS’s institutional values and objectives.

Oversee the unit’s financial planning and resource allocation, including budget management, acquisition of external funding, and accountability to institutional stakeholders.

Research & Academic Profiling

• Maintain an internationally visible programme of peer-reviewed research in survey methodology and/or social sciences, aligned with FORS’s strategic priorities.


• Provide intellectual leadership in advancing FORS’s publication agenda, including contributions to peer-reviewed outputs, working paper series, and methodological guides.


• Foster the research development and academic progression of junior staff, including supervision, mentoring and the creation of supportive structures for career advancement.

• Several years of experience in managing or coordinating large-scale national and/or international survey research projects; proven leadership skills, including team management and responsibility for research staff.


• Extensive experience in survey research, including both methodological and operational dimensions (design, fieldwork, quality assurance, data management).


• PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., sociology, political science, statistics, survey methodology, social psychology, or a related field).


• Demonstrated track record of internationally recognized peer-reviewed publications and academic research output.


• Strong strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and proven ability to represent an institution in interactions with external partners and funding bodies.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and at least one Swiss national language (French or German); proficiency in a second national language is a strong asset.

Valued Additional Assets

• Experience with change management and institutional transitions.


• Familiarity with the Swiss research landscape, including funding structures of the Swiss National Sciences Foundation (SNSF) and collaboration with federal statistical agencies.


• Knowledge of open science practices and research data management standards.


• An established network within international survey programmes and research infrastructures.  

• A senior academic leadership position within a social science research infrastructure of national and international reputation.


• Direct institutional responsibility within the FORS management structure.


• A stimulating, international, and multicultural academic environment.


• Salary and social benefits in line with University of Lausanne’s and Swiss standards.


• Excellent opportunities for continuing professional development and international collaboration and mobility.


• Access to the University of Lausannes academic community and campus facilities, including sports and leisure amenities.

Starting date: By mutual agreement (ideally 1 January 2027)

Contract: Open-ended full-time position

Location: Géopolis, CH-1015 Lausanne

Application deadline: 15 June 2026

Applications must be submitted via the University of Lausanne recruitment portal until 15 June 2026 [link].

Please include the following documents in a single PDF:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation and how your profile matches the requirements of the position;


• A full curriculum vitae, including a copy of your diploms, a list of publications and the names of two referees that can be contacted for reference.

A brief initial interview with the FORS Director will take place in late June or early July, followed by a longer interview with the search committee in July/August. Shortlisted candidates will be invited in September for an in-depth exchange and an external assessment centre in autumn 2026.

For all enquiries about the position, please contact:

Prof. Georg Lutz, Director of FORS

[email protected]  +41 (0)21 692 37 38