Industry & Partnership Manager UZH.ai

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 200+ researchers across disciplines, run flagship events like the AI+X Summit, and are building the UZH.ai Fellowship Program to support outstanding PhD and PostDoc researchers working at the intersection of AI and society. We are a small, agile team in an active build phase: well-funded through 2029 and on a clear path toward becoming a permanent, cash-independent centre within UZH. This is a rare opportunity to help shape an AI hub from the inside.

THE ROLE

We are looking for an Industry & Partnership Manager to build UZH.ai's industry revenue base. Your primary mandate: develop and close partnerships that generate direct income — through fellowship co-sponsorships, a corporate affiliate programme, and tailored research collaboration formats — and ensure partners see lasting value.

You will own the full partnership cycle: identify prospects, build relationships, design the offer, negotiate, close, and retain. The anchor product is the UZH.ai Fellowship Program — co-funding outstanding AI researchers in exchange for research collaboration and talent access. We are looking for someone creative enough to develop new formats and translate UZH's unique interdisciplinary AI strengths (AI & medicine, AI & law, AI & finance, AI & society) into compelling propositions for corporate partners. Because we are a small team, you will also contribute to events, community activities, and project planning besides delivering on partner promises.

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 Townhalls)
• 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

PROFILE

• 5+ years of concrete experience in business development, partnership management, or a similar role — ideally in a university, research, or knowledge-intensive environment, including experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder deals.
• A proven track record of closing partnerships: we will ask for examples and references. You can show at least two concrete examples where you personally initiated, structured, and closed a partnership or sponsorship above CHF 50’000,-
• Experience shaping and packaging complex offerings (research programs, academic collaborations, sponsored initiatives) into something industry is willing to pay for
• Entrepreneurial mindset — you thrive in ambiguity, take ownership, and don't wait to be told what to do. You are motivated and self-starting in reaching and exceeding your goals.
• A genuine team player: in a team of 2–3 people, everyone pitches in
• Strong communicator in both English (C2) and German (C2)
• Interest in AI and its societal applications — you don't need to be a technical expert, but you need to engage credibly with professors and corporate innovation leads in the same room

WHAT WE OFFER

• A genuinely exciting mission at the intersection of AI research, education, and societal impact
• A small, high-trust team with real ownership and direct access to UZH leadership
• Access to one of Europe's broadest AI research communities across 7 faculties
• The chance to build something from scratch — this role will shape how UZH.ai engages with industry for years to come
• Modern working environment in central Zurich with flexible, hybrid arrangements
• UZH employment conditions including pension, social insurance, and professional development support

UZH is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.