Overview
In this role you lead the GeoLab Forestry Mission to translate forestry challenges into research and product goals, delivering field-tested, scalable solutions. You collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to drive pilots, validation, and adoption of Earth observation–based insights for forest health, resilience and ecosystem services. You shape mission outcomes and governance, ensuring value for Swiss forestry and public authorities. Join a building GeoLab that aims to turn research into practical impact with broad societal relevance.
Verantwortungsbereiche
- Define a cohesive Forestry Mission addressing opportunities in forest health, resilience and ecosystem services
- Identify operational gaps where GeoLab can add distinctive value for Swiss forestry and policy
- Engage with forest owners, authorities, industry, NGOs and researchers to collect needs and incentives
- Translate challenges into clear research, data, product and technical requirements
- Lead field validation, pilots and adoption activities within budget and governance constraints
- Collaborate with GeoLab’s Geo-Intelligence team and external partners on pilots and workflow integration
- Track progress with measurable outcomes, roadmaps and success criteria
- Manage delegated mission budget and report progress to leadership and stakeholders
- Represent ETH Swiss GeoLab in forestry, scientific and policy communities
- Guide and train students and external contributors for knowledge transfer to practice
Zentrale Anforderungen
- Several years of experience in applied research, program delivery or operational implementation in forestry or related fields
- Strong expertise in forest management, ecosystems, and information needs of practitioners and public authorities
- Understanding of Earth observation, geospatial data and data-driven methods for forestry
- Proven ability to translate operational problems into actionable initiatives
- Track record of collaboration in diverse teams and applying research for practical benefit
- Experience in mission/program/applied R&D portfolio design
- Strong project and budget management with transparent reporting tools
- Excellent stakeholder management across practitioners, authorities, academia, industry
- Ability to cross disciplinary boundaries and lead through influence
- Good judgement under uncertainty and constructive challenge of established approaches
- Excellent communication and listening skills; fluency in English and German; French an asset
- Mission-driven, entrepreneurial mindset and appetite for a dynamic, evolving organization
- Stakeholder management
- Strategic thinking
- Adaptability and resilience
- Earth observation understanding
- Geospatial data analysis
- Data-driven methods for forestry
Forestry Mission Lead - Earth Observation, Forest Decision Support and Intelligence in Zürich Arbeitgeber: ETH Zürich
ETH Zürich ist ein hervorragender Arbeitgeber, der Ihnen die Möglichkeit bietet, aktiv an der Gestaltung der Zukunft des Forschungsdatenmanagements mitzuwirken. Mit einem interdisziplinären Arbeitsumfeld, attraktiven Beschäftigungsbedingungen und zahlreichen Vorteilen wie Kinderbetreuung und öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln fördert ETH Zürich nicht nur Ihre berufliche Entwicklung, sondern auch eine inklusive und nachhaltige Unternehmenskultur. Hier haben Sie die Chance, in einer sichtbaren Position mit hoher Verantwortung zu arbeiten und einen bleibenden Einfluss auf die Forschung zu nehmen.
