EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Project Manager Science-Policy

Mission

The Institutional Affairs Unit supports EPFL Presidency in the national and international positioning of the School, contributes to its development, and helps promote its interests. The position will support science-policy efforts and engagement at the national level, promote EPFL’s various expertise towards national and cantonal policy stakeholders and herewith contribute to EPFL’s impact strategy 2025-2028 and to the implementation of its Axis 5 ‘Increase engagement for policy and diplomacy’.

Main duties and responsibilities

Implement an interface between EPFL’s academic community and policy stakeholders

  • Set up and operate a central institutional access point within the Institutional Affairs Unit and in close collaboration with the Vice-Presidency for Innovation and Impact and Mediacom
  • Define and provide streamlined processes through which researchers can request support and access first-line resources
  • Keep up to date a dynamic mapping of policy stakeholders engaging with EPFL and of EPFL’s experts involved in science-policy
  • Structure and consolidate feedback that informs and feeds into EPFL’s Impact strategy

Advance science-policy efforts through tailored preparation and internal capacity building

  • Based on the monitoring of federal or cantonal policy developments, offer tailored support and preparation for the academic community, including providing background information and drafting reports in coordination with relevant EPFL actors (centers, faculties, vice-presidencies)
  • Organize internal training and workshops to build internal capacity in cooperation with Mediacom

Foster contacts and network building of EPFL’s academic community with policy stakeholders

  • Facilitate regular exchanges between academic experts and policy stakeholders through meetings and other relevant formats
  • Proactively plan events connecting EPFL experts with policymakers on emerging topics to build networks and trusted relationships
  • Ensure coherent representation of EPFL’s academic community as well as coherence with institutional messaging in engagement with national and cantonal political actors, together with the Institutional Affairs Unit
  • Participate in internal working groups

Requirements

University degree Master level or PhD and at least 3 years of professional experience in knowledge brokering, political communication or political affairs, and demonstrated competency in project management and scientific communication.

Profile

  • Professional experience in knowledge brokering, political communication or political affairs, with in‑depth knowledge of Swiss federal and cantonal institutions and the national political landscape.
  • Solid understanding of institutional processes of a higher-education institution, ideally gained through work in academia or related sectors.
  • Excellent understanding of cantonal and federal political processes, especially in domains such as energy, environment, health and digital policy (an asset).
  • Excellent written and oral communication abilities in French and English, and professional proficiency in German.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate engagement activities, manage diverse stakeholders, and structure efficient and coherent institutional processes.

We offer

A stimulating, dynamic, interdisciplinary working environment

The opportunity to be involved in a variety of innovative projects

An inclusive workspace and equal opportunities for all

Remarque

Dans un souci de lisibilité, seule la forme masculine est utilisée dans cette annonce ; elle s’applique à toutes les identités de genre.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 09/01/2026 

Activity Rate Min : 80,00 

Activity Rate Max : 100,00 

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 1 year 

Reference: 2269