The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.
The Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation is a joint initiative of WSL, ETH Zürich and Eawag. It aims at developing - in close collaboration with stakeholders - synthesis products that are relevant for conservation management in Switzerland. The WSL Research Unit Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is searching by January 1, 2027 or upon agreement, for the duration of 2 years (with the option of 1 year extension), a
Manager Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation (scientific collaborator) 80% (f/m/d)
As Centre Manager you have several tasks. You organize and manage the Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation on a day-to-day basis together with the Centre’s Board and a team of four scientists. In addition, you are responsible for diverse activities of the Centre such as joint publications, reporting, the Centre’s webpage or for stakeholder management. Synthesis products targeted to practice are developed in working groups equally composed of stakeholders and scientists. You also lead working groups, produce synthesis products and actively disseminate them among stakeholders. The Centre also offers services such as the moderation of stakeholder-events or commissioned reports for federal and cantonal authorities. You help with the development of such services.
You have a PhD in biology, environmental sciences or similar, or a PhD in social sciences, or you have a MSc degree with several years of professional experience and further education in conservation practice. You are motivated to work at the interface between science and practice. You have good knowledge of biodiversity conservation and its implementation in practice and/or of social sciences methods and approaches. You are open to new challenges, you like to work in transdisciplinary teams and you have strong writing and excellent communication capabilities. Good knowledge of at least one of the national languages of Switzerland and fluency in English are mandatory.
Please send your complete application to Michèle Bucher, Human Resources WSL, by uploading the requested documents through our webpage. Applications via email will not be considered. Rolf Holderegger, phone +41 (0)44 739 25 27, will be happy to answer any questions or offer further information. Review of the applications will begin on September 28, 2026. The job advertisement remains online until the position is filled. WSL is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote gender equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.
Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf
