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Project Associate in Social Impact Project - Job Opportunity at ETH Zürich

Zurich, Switzerland
Part-time
Entry-level
Posted: June 19, 2025
Hybrid
CHF 60,000 - 80,000 annually (approximately USD 67,000 - 89,000), reflecting Swiss academic institution standards for project associate roles, with potential for growth as the initiative transitions to non-profit status

Benefits

Competitive salary and pension benefits according to ETH Zurich standards, providing financial security and long-term retirement planning aligned with Switzerland's premier research institution
Opportunity to contribute to high-impact social research addressing refugee integration and labor market challenges, offering meaningful career development in the growing social impact sector
Access to ETH Zurich's extensive research network and resources, providing professional networking opportunities with leading academics and policy makers
Collaborative work environment within a motivated international team, fostering cross-cultural competencies and global perspective
Potential for role extension and transition to independent non-profit organization, offering unique entrepreneurial experience in social enterprise development
Inclusive workplace culture with strong commitment to diversity and equal opportunities, supporting professional growth in a respectful environment

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic project coordination and oversight of critical timelines and deliverables for Path2Work platform, ensuring successful implementation of Switzerland's innovative refugee integration initiative
Drive administrative excellence through financial reporting and fundraising activities, contributing directly to the sustainability and growth of this pioneering social impact venture
Develop and manage high-quality content creation including platform communications and newsletter campaigns, shaping the public narrative around refugee integration and labor market solutions
Oversee translation management processes ensuring quality multilingual communication, facilitating effective outreach to diverse refugee communities across Switzerland
Provide strategic user and stakeholder support to Swiss authorities and NGOs, serving as a key liaison in this nationally significant integration project
Contribute to platform development and feature implementation working alongside researchers and developers, influencing the technical direction of this data-driven solution

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration or Social Science disciplines such as Economics, Political Science, or Sociology, or degree from University of Applied Sciences or completed apprenticeship with Berufsmatura in commercial administration, mediamatics, or IT

Experience

Previous relevant work experience or internships involving teamwork and project management

Required Skills

Excellent command of German and ideally English Ability to write clear, engaging, and well-targeted content for broad audiences Strong organisational skills, reliability, attention to detail, and high degree of precision Willingness to thrive in dynamic, start-up-like environment Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams Good IT skills including Microsoft Office Interest in scientific, evidence-based work including basic statistical reasoning and survey design Additional language skills in Italian, French, Arabic, Farsi, Tigrinya, Turkish, or Ukrainian are beneficial Git, data visualization, and data analysis skills are beneficial
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The social impact and refugee integration sector is experiencing unprecedented growth as European governments increasingly recognize the economic necessity of successful migrant integration, with Switzerland leading innovative approaches that combine academic research with practical policy implementation. Digital platforms for job matching and skills assessment are becoming critical infrastructure in labor market policy, particularly as Switzerland faces significant skilled worker shortages that could be addressed through better refugee integration programs. The intersection of academic research and social entrepreneurship is creating new career pathways, with increasing demand for professionals who can bridge research methodology with practical implementation in social impact initiatives.

Role Significance

Small, agile team of 8-12 professionals including researchers, developers, and policy specialists, offering significant visibility and opportunity for cross-functional collaboration in a startup-like academic environment
This is a strategically important entry-to-mid level position that offers significant autonomy and direct impact on national policy outcomes, providing exposure to high-level stakeholders including federal government agencies and establishing the foundation for leadership roles in social impact

Key Projects

Implementation and scaling of Path2Work platform across Swiss cantons Development of evidence-based integration metrics and evaluation frameworks Creation of sustainable funding models for social impact technology platforms Design of multilingual communication strategies for diverse refugee populations

Success Factors

Ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships including federal agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions while maintaining project momentum and achieving measurable integration outcomes Strong cultural competency and sensitivity when working with refugee populations, combined with practical project management skills to ensure platform usability and effectiveness Capacity to work effectively in the unique environment where academic rigor meets startup agility, requiring both attention to research methodology and entrepreneurial problem-solving approaches

Market Demand

High demand driven by Switzerland's urgent need for innovative integration solutions and the growing recognition of refugee populations as valuable human capital for addressing labor shortages

Important Skills

Critical Skills

German language proficiency is absolutely essential as this role requires direct communication with Swiss federal agencies, cantonal authorities, and German-speaking refugee populations, making fluency non-negotiable for success in stakeholder management and user support functions. Project coordination and organizational skills are fundamental given the complex multi-stakeholder environment involving federal agencies, academic institutions, and NGOs, where the ability to maintain oversight of timelines and deliverables directly impacts the success of this nationally significant initiative. Cultural sensitivity and communication abilities are crucial for working effectively with refugee populations and diverse stakeholders, requiring the ability to adapt communication styles and demonstrate empathy while maintaining professional effectiveness in sensitive integration contexts.

Beneficial Skills

Additional European languages, particularly Italian and French, significantly enhance value given Switzerland's multilingual context and the diverse linguistic backgrounds of refugee populations served by the platform. Data analysis and visualization capabilities using tools beyond basic Microsoft Office provide competitive advantage in this research-driven environment where evidence-based decision making and platform optimization require analytical skills. Experience with startup environments or social entrepreneurship offers valuable perspective for the transition to non-profit organization, helping navigate the unique challenges of scaling social impact initiatives from academic research foundations.

Unique Aspects

Direct involvement in founding and structuring a non-profit startup emerging from academic research, providing rare entrepreneurial experience within an institutional framework
Opportunity to influence national policy on refugee integration while working with federal government agencies and contributing to Switzerland's reputation as a leader in innovative integration approaches
Access to cutting-edge research methodologies including randomized controlled trials and data-driven platform development, bridging academic rigor with practical social impact
Multilingual work environment requiring cultural competency across diverse refugee populations and Swiss institutional stakeholders

Career Growth

2-4 years to senior program roles, with accelerated progression possible given the high-visibility nature of this national initiative and the growing demand for refugee integration expertise

Potential Next Roles

Program Manager for international development organizations Policy Analyst for government agencies focused on migration and integration Social Enterprise Director or Founder Senior Research Coordinator for academic institutions Integration Program Specialist for multilateral organizations

Company Overview

ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich stands as one of Europe's most prestigious technical universities, consistently ranked among the world's top institutions for engineering, technology, and natural sciences, with particular strength in translating academic research into practical policy solutions and social impact initiatives.

Global leader in research excellence with significant influence on Swiss and European policy development, offering unparalleled access to cutting-edge research methodologies and direct channels to government decision-makers
Central hub for Swiss innovation and policy development, with this particular role positioned at the intersection of academic research and national policy implementation, providing unique exposure to federal-level decision-making processes
Highly collaborative international environment that values diversity and inclusion, with strong emphasis on evidence-based decision making and interdisciplinary cooperation, typical of leading research institutions with social impact focus
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