Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) develops and operates a high-performance computing and data Research Infrastructure (RI) that supports world-class sciences in Switzerland. Our internationally recognised team innovates in the HPC industry by designing and developing future systems, software and services, and operate a world-leading data centre infrastructure for extreme computing and data solutions. The quality of the services offered to our partners and users is a key metric for our success.

We are looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee our organization’s ongoing operations and procedures. As member of the executive management, you will report directly to the director.

As COO you are responsible for the Centre to provide high-quality services. To reach this goal you will oversee services, ensure their availability and support, coordinate activities, establish processes, and control resources. In this way, you enable the management colleagues and the director to focus on the continued development of the RI.

You are an excellent organiser able to align the operation of the centre with the business and strategic goals. You can maintain an overview of all relevant aspects (such as infrastructure, services, resources, roadmaps, commitments, processes, and IT security) to ensure that all current and upcoming operational needs are properly factored in a service-oriented architecture.  You have experience in a working environment that goes through fast paces of change, specifically at an organization similar to CSCS that is at a leading edge of developing digitalized solutions for research.

You’ll have to maintain control of diverse business operations, so we expect you to be an experienced and efficient leader. If you also have excellent people skills, business acumen and exemplary work ethics, we’d like to meet you.

Your responsibilities will include, and not limited to

• Managing the end-to-end provisioning of the RI's services together with a team of service managers.
• Monitoring and overseeing the data centre operations to ensure defined service level objectives are attained.
• Planning the data centre infrastructure, facility and resources needed for the provision of present and future services.
• Leading IT security compliance, monitoring and incident management activities according to defined regulatory frameworks.
• Coordinating business continuity and risk management to prevent and manage interruptions of services.
• Financial budget and expenditure controlling to guarantee effective delivery of services.

You will benefit from a competitive salary based on experience and performance, flexibility to combine office and remote work, a self-development plan for your professional growth, and a modern working space in Lugano, Switzerland.

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our

Equal Opportunities and Diversity website

to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application including:

• A letter of motivation (required).
• Your CV.
• Diplomas.
• Work certificates.

Please address your application to Prof. Thomas Schulthess via Trevano 131, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland. Please note that we only accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

For further information about CSCS please visit our website www.cscs.ch . Questions regarding the position should be directed by e-mail to Director Prof. Thomas Schulthess, [email protected] (No applications please).

For recruitment services the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.