Head of Research & Development, member of the management of the higher education institution

Who are we?

The Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training HEFP is the Swiss expert organization for vocational education and training. We offer training and continuing education to vocational education and training managers, we conduct research projects on vocational education and training, we contribute to the development of trades and support international cooperation in vocational education and training. Our sites are located in Zollikofen near Bern (headquarters), Lausanne and Lugano, with external sites in Olten and Zurich.

Your responsibilities

• You lead the Research & Development sector on strategic, professional, organizational, financial, and personnel levels and develop it in accordance with the strategic priority axes of the HEFP. In this capacity, you provide impulses for future-oriented research and development fields and strengthen the scientific profile and visibility of the HEFP.
• You guarantee the scientific quality and continuity of research, promote a high-quality publication culture, interdisciplinary approaches and diversity of methods, as well as a research environment that strengthens scientific integrity and academic freedom.
• You ensure the acquisition and implementation of competitive research projects and third-party funded projects, and you personally engage in obtaining third-party funds.
• You encourage scientific young talent and create an environment in which researchers can develop and thrive professionally and scientifically.
• You strengthen the transfer of knowledge and innovation between research, vocational training practice and training policy, integrate issues from practice and policy into research and promote the development and testing of solutions. In collaboration with the management of the higher education institution, you strengthen the link between research, training and the development of trades.
• As a member of the management of the higher education institution, you bring the perspective of the Research & Development sector to the continuous strategic development of the HEFP and assume co-responsibility in the development and positioning of the HEFP as a higher education institution. You represent the HEFP and its research interests to relevant stakeholders in the vocational education and training, higher education and research landscape at national and international levels.

Your profile

• You have proven leadership experience in the higher education or research environment, particularly in leading scientific teams, personnel development as well as strategic prioritization and resource management. You promote collaboration between sites and linguistic regions.
• You combine scientific expertise, strategic thinking, capacity for dialogue and a participatory understanding of leadership, and you shape continuous strategic developments by involving the expertise of employees.
• You are a recognized personality in vocational education research or in a research field relevant to it. You hold a doctorate in a corresponding discipline, possess an excellent scientific track record and benefit from great recognition within the scientific community and in the (vocational) training environment.
• You possess in-depth knowledge of vocational education and training, its current scientific, societal and training policy issues, as well as the Swiss vocational education and training system.
• You have experience in the development and management of research projects as well as in the successful acquisition of third-party funds.
• You have an established national and international scientific network and are well acquainted with the vocational education and training, higher education and research landscapes, as well as their main actors and funding institutions.
• You have perfect command of German, French or Italian and possess good knowledge of another national language; you also have very good knowledge of English.
• You are willing to be present at the different HEFP sites.

We offer

We offer you a management position with responsibility, offering a large margin of maneuver at the interface between research, vocational training practice and vocational training policy. As a member of the management of the higher education institution, you participate directly in the continuous strategic development of the HEFP and shape the future direction of research and development.

You take over an established sector, equipped with a committed team, wide scientific and professional expertise, as well as national and international cooperations.

If the required conditions are met, an appointment as a professor of the HEFP is possible.

As a higher education institution, we are particularly committed to diversity and equal opportunities, participation and sustainability. This commitment is reflected in the working conditions and social benefits of the HEFP.