Beschreibung
EPFL, the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks within the top 20 worldwide in numerous academic rankings. EPFL has more than 6,500 staff members who bring to life the School’s three main missions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of over 17,000 people, including nearly 12,500 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different nationalities.
The Vice-Presidency for Operations manages all activities that keep the EPFL campuses running daily, including catering, information systems, security and operations, and plans the development of its infrastructure.
Its management is seeking its future Director of the Information Systems Domain at EPFL.
The Director of the Information Systems Domain ensures the strategic management of the digital ecosystem and central IT infrastructure of EPFL, in close collaboration with the academic body.
They unite central resources to guarantee digital resilience and operational excellence of the Institution’s IS. Leading the domain, they supervise a team of 160 FTEs and an annual budget of CHF 50 million.
Vision and Unifying Governance
• Co-define a visionary, ambitious and coherent digital strategy for EPFL and central IT services
• Unite teams, internal and external partners, notably CEPF partners, to deploy this strategy
• Act as conductor with the Faculties to harmonise decentralised IS while respecting their specific agility
Management of Central IT Infrastructure
• Manage the operation, maintenance and evolution of critical infrastructure (Data centres, networks, storage, hybrid cloud) to ensure high availability and industrial performance
Digital Resilience
• Guarantee the integrity of scientific and administrative assets through exemplary cybersecurity policy
• Ensure IS compliance with legal requirements and imposed standards
Academic Partnership
• Act as a technological partner for laboratories by providing data management services and agile infrastructure, while respecting the framework of the unique strategy
• Modernise the teaching and learning experience by maintaining academic ERPs up to date with rapidly evolving needs and supporting innovative digital pedagogies
Responsible Transformation
• Lead the digital sustainability trajectory (Green IT) of the domain
• Ensure exemplary management of human and financial resources with a spirit of innovation, performance and fairness
"Architect-Builder" profile with marked influential leadership:
• Master’s or PhD in computer science, engineering or equivalent qualification; MBA or additional training in business management/governance is a major asset
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience, including at least 10 years in a large-scale IS leadership role (CIO/CTO) within complex organisations
• Proven experience in leading major digital programmes, with a strong focus on change management
• Political ability to align decentralised interests while ensuring overall institutional coherence
• Synthesising ability and excellent communication skills
• Service culture oriented towards academic excellence
• Proven mastery of cybersecurity issues, data governance and business continuity in exposed environments
• Languages: bilingual French-English; German is an asset
• A multicultural and high-quality academic working environment
• Opportunities for continuing education
• Involvement at the heart of EPFL’s Information System
Start date: 1 September 2026 or to be agreed
Work rate: 100%
Contract type: Permanent contract
Reference: 2249
Please submit your complete application, including CV, cover letter, one-page vision statement, and copies of relevant certificates and diplomas.
Application deadline: 14 June 2026
Note: A criminal record extract will be requested upon offer of employment