Service Manager for AI Services 80-100 %, (m/f/d)

• 29 June 2026 • 80 - 100% • Indefinite period • Zürich ZHdK has approximately 2100 bachelor and master students, making it one of the largest and most diverse art universities in Europe. The fields of study and research include artistic education, design, film, fine arts, music, dance, theatre, and transdisciplinarity. In the heart of Zurich, ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from more than 75 countries work, study, teach, research, and train. The school includes many exhibition and performance venues where students' project works are presented to the public. • The Information Technology Center (ITZ) of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is composed of approximately 50 specialists in different fields who manage the IT infrastructure of ZHdK, lead projects, develop software, and provide active support. • For the implementation and management of a central AI service, at the school scale and strategically high priority, provided by the IT department for all fields of ZHdK, we are looking for, starting now or by agreement, a person employed as Service Manager for AI Services 80-100 %, (m/f/d) # Your missions: As a service manager, you manage the entire lifecycle of the AI service, from the idea to continuous improvement. You are responsible for the strategy, design, operation, and innovation management: • Projects: You implement the AI service at the school and play a key role in building our AI platform and implementing AI solutions. • Strategy & governance: You develop the strategy for the AI service, ensure compliance with governance and compliance requirements, and integrate the service into the IT strategy as well as that of ZHdK. • Service design & development: You design user-centric services, define delivery models, pilot the implementation of evolutions and projects, and ensure the transition to operations. • Operation & service quality: You are responsible for the stable operation of the AI service, including monitoring, reporting, and continuous quality control. • Innovation & improvement: You identify technological trends early, evaluate new use cases, and thus initiate improvement and innovation measures. • Financial & stakeholder management: You ensure sustainable funding for the service and coordinate collaboration with all relevant areas of the school. • Budget management & service billing: You bear responsibility for the AI service budget and pilot the cost evolution of the AI services and infrastructures used. You ensure that a transparent internal billing model (chargeback/showback) is established, allowing for fair and understandable billing to the user organizational units. • Change management: You accompany and pilot the cultural and organizational changes related to the use of AI. • Advisory and communication: You promote the AI services and make them visible. As a central point of contact for the members of the school, you support and advise them. Your profile: • Education & experience: Several years of experience as a service manager (IT), product owner, or in a comparable position in a complex environment (school, administration, organization with strong governance) • Service & governance: In-depth experience in the design, implementation, and operation of IT services as well as knowledge of IT service management frameworks (e.g., ITIL). • Experience with governance and security requirements related to AI (data protection, compliance, usage policies) • Technological understanding: Good understanding of modern AI technologies, cloud platforms (preferably Microsoft Azure, M365) as well as proprietary cloud solutions • Leadership & communication: Capable of leading interdisciplinary teams laterally, ensuring participation, and orchestrating decision-making processes. Thanks to your strong communication skills, you can transmit complex content in an appropriate and transparent manner to the audience. • Persuasion skills: You possess a strong ability to persuade and know how to defend your points of view convincingly, even in demanding situations and facing different interest groups. • Methodological skills: Experience with agile methods, risk and change management, and conducting transformation processes • Assets: Experience in academic or cultural fields. Knowledge of cost management and dynamic scaling of cloud services • Very good knowledge of German and good knowledge of English. What awaits you: • Pioneering work in a university context: You build an entirely new, strategically very high priority service, and significantly shape the AI infrastructure of one of the leading art schools in Europe. • Freedom of action & responsibility: You have a direct influence on the technological directions, the choice of tools, and the architecture guidelines of ZHdK. • An exciting, influential, and formative mission at the intersection of art, research, and technology. • The possibility to create and co-construct an innovative service offering at the school. • A collegial team in an inspiring environment at the Toni-Areal in Zurich. • Flexible working hours