With around 2,100 Bachelor's and Master's students, ZHdK is one of Europe’s largest and most diverse universities of the arts. Its study and research areas include Art Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre and Transdisciplinary Studies. Located in the heart of Zurich, ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, conduct research and pursue continuing education. The university has numerous exhibition and performance venues where students' project work is shown to the public.
ZHdK is strengthening its strategic effectiveness by introducing Vice-Rectorates. The Vice-Rectorate for Research and Innovation at ZHdK fosters environments for knowledge creation and impact. It strengthens artistic, arts-based and scientific research and promotes excellence and social relevance. To strengthen our Executive Board, we are looking for an inspiring individual as:
Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation (80–100%) – Member of the Executive Board
In this management role, you will play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of research, innovation and transfer in order to strengthen the social impact of ZHdK. You will be responsible for the research infrastructure, develop institutional capacity for third-party funding, actively support researchers and develop the international visibility of ZHdK's research and innovation profile.
Your responsibilitiesIn this challenging management role, you will support the strategic development of research and innovation at ZHdK. Based on the university's overall strategy and in collaboration with the departments, you will continuously develop the university's research and innovation strategy, thereby shaping a coherent and forward-looking research profile that embraces diverse artistic, arts-based, and scientific approaches. By observing national and international developments in higher education, research and innovation policy, you will identify strategic opportunities early on and integrate them effectively into institutional governance. You will also be involved in the university's development and financial planning, be responsible for relevant performance indicators and position ZHdK as an internationally visible, research-active university of the arts.
In collaboration with your team, you will coordinate all internal support services for researchers, from external funding advisory services, open science and research information to innovation support and competitiveness. Together with your team, you will actively support researchers in acquiring third-party funding – in particular for applications to the SNF, Innosuisse, the EU or foundations – thereby strengthening the development of a diverse and promising third-party funding portfolio. At the same time, you will continue to expand the ZHdK's research infrastructure, strengthen open science standards, ethical processes and scientific information systems, and consistently develop research-related indicators, evaluations, reporting processes and research and innovation communication.
Another focus of your work will be in the area of innovation, transfer and cooperation. You will promote the university's innovative strength and actively foster connections between art, science, business and society. You will expand cooperation structures and strategic partnerships, enable entrepreneurial thinking and action, establish fair and transparent cooperation models, and thereby strengthen both ZHdK’s local embeddedness and its international visibility.
Great importance is also attached to promoting early-career researchers and research-based teaching. You are responsible for the coordination of the university-wide PhD programme, professionalising support structures and quality standards for doctoral students, and strengthening a research-friendly and inspiring culture for early-career researchers. In addition, you promote the integration of research and teaching – especially in the field of artistic research and research-oriented curriculum development – and thus contribute to empowering future generations of researchers and artists.
In internal collaboration, you serve as an integrative link between departments, institutes, services, university development and the Vice-Rectorate for Education. You will chair strategically relevant research and innovation committees, lead the Research Commission and actively participate in the management of the university as a voting member of the Executive Board. Through this close networking, you will ensure institutional coherence, efficient processes and a common understanding of quality and development goals in the field of research and innovation.
As a leader, you will have overall academic, personnel and financial responsibility for the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Innovation. You will lead a team responsible for the PhD Office, Grants Office, open science and innovation and transfer departments, and create conditions that enable your staff to perform at the highest level and actively shape the further development of the university.
Your profileYou have a doctorate and a profound understanding of the national and international research landscape in the arts and the relevant transfer contexts. You are also familiar with the dynamics, challenges and potential of artistic, arts-based and scientific research and innovation. Thanks to your many years of leadership experience in higher education or research management, you have an excellent network, are confident in complex institutional contexts and manage change processes in a structured and impact-oriented manner.
Based on your own research experience, you know what enables excellent research and what researchers need to make an impact. With a high level of strategic competence and a broad national and international network, you know how to connect research and innovation topics, initiate collaborations and open up new perspectives.
You think innovatively, act reflectively and communicate clearly, appropriately and convincingly. You can integrate the broad spectrum of ZHdK disciplines, research concepts and researchers into your work and into your collaboration with stakeholders. In doing so, you succeed in inspiring people both internally and externally to engage in research and innovation and in creating spaces where new forms of knowledge, artistic thinking and collaboration can flourish.
What we offerThis is an interesting and challenging role in a vibrant and collegial environment at the Toni-Areal in Zurich. We embrace an inclusive culture and value diversity. Employment conditions are governed by the personnel law of the Canton of Zurich.
Start date: 1 October 2026 or by agreement.
For further information, please contactKarin Mairitsch (
rektorin.zhdk@zhdk.ch), Rector
Interviews will take place on 8 May 2026 (first round of interviews) and 27 May 2026 (second round of interviews).
Additional information about Zurich University of the Arts can be found at
www.zhdk.ch.
We look forward to receiving your complete application documents by 30 March 2026 via the “Apply online now” link at the end of this advertisement. Please note that we only accept online applications for this position via the link (no email applications).