Location: Swissnex in San Francisco
Status: 100%, 40 hours/week
Start Date: August 1st or by agreement
Reports to: CEO

Do you want to join the global Swissnex network and build meaningful connections across startups, science, education, the arts, and innovation in both Silicon Valley and Switzerland? This is your chance!

As Head of Programs, you oversee the program team (consisting of 6 FTE) across the organization’s core verticals—Academia, AI, Creative Industries, and Entrepreneurship—ensuring successful fundraising, implementation, further development of the programs, alignment, and impact. In addition, you lead the Corporate Innovation vertical, focusing primarily on generating new leads, securing long-term partnerships with corporate partners, and advancing both existing and new corporate offerings.

You also work closely with the CEO, develop partnerships, contribute to the organization’s fundraising efforts and advise on strategic decisions, and contribute to leadership discussions. Your role includes representing the organization, building relationships in Switzerland and the Bay Area, and managing stakeholder relationships to create new opportunities.

Your primary areas of responsibility

• Program Development and Team Management (60%)
• Leading the Corporate Innovation Vertical (20%)
• Leadership & Strategy (10%)
• Representing Swissnex and Networking (10%)

• Master’s degree.
• 5+ years of relevant work experience.
• Connection to Switzerland and an excellent network in the Swiss – and ideally US – Education, Research, and Innovation (ERI) landscapes.
• Track record in fundraising and in developing and implementing complex partnerships across sectors such as corporate, government, academia, foundations, or non-profits.
• Collaborative team player with a positive, hands-on, and solution-oriented approach.

Mandatory: Due to our legal status as an annex of the Swiss Consulate, we can only hire candidates who are already legally authorized to work in either the U. S. or Switzerland. There can be no exceptions.

Salary range: $110K-$120K*

• *For U.S. applicants, subject to U.S. taxes.
  For Swiss applicants, who are not subject to U.S. taxes, the salary range will be adjusted to reflect an equivalent purchasing power (i.e., a lower range).

Additional benefits

• 20 days of vacation, 12+ annual holidays, sick leave, health insurance.
• Flexibility to work remotely for 1 week each year from anywhere in the U.S. or Switzerland
• Option of working from home 2 days a week.
• Opportunities for professional development, including dedicated funding for continuing education and training.
• Regular business travel to Switzerland to engage with partners and strengthen cross-border collaboration.

Located at Pier 17, Swissnex in San Francisco connects the dots between Switzerland and the West Coast of the USA in education, research, innovation, and the arts. We foster international collaboration and empower next generation innovators to create futures in which the planet and society thrives. In service of this goal, our dynamic and international team produces academic, corporate and creative industry programs, startup camps, events and much more.

As an employer, we established a collaborative and purpose-driven team culture and care about an environment that encourages innovation, experimentation, and creative problem-solving. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for fostering creativity and achieving our organizational goals.

We look forward to receiving your application. Please apply through this link and include both your resume (CV) and a cover letter tailored to this position that details your qualifications and interest in the position. Please see the instructions regarding your cover letter on the application page.

Start your application HERE.

• Deadline to apply: Sunday, June 1
• We follow up with every applicant.

Swissnex is the global network connecting Switzerland and the world in education, research, innovation, and the arts. Our mission is to support the outreach and active engagement of our partners in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas, and talent. We thereby contribute to strengthening Switzerland’s profile as a world-leading innovation hotspot. Swissnex is an initiative of Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and is part of the Swiss Confederation’s network abroad managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The activities of Swissnex are based on a collaborative approach, relying on public and private partnerships and funding. In Brazil, Swissnex is based in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, running activities all over the country.

Application deadline: July 20, 2025

As a member of the Swissnex team in São Paulo, you are expected to lead or contribute to various programs aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange between Switzerland and Brazil. The Program Manager will be responsible for conceptualizing, planning, and executing a diverse range of activities, including events, workshops, startup programs, and collaborative projects. You will get the opportunity to be part of a creative and innovative venture; proactively help shape the only Latin American Swissnex office; expand your skills and update your professional knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and events; and interact and collaborate with high-level representatives of both Switzerland and Brazil.

Reactively and proactively work with the management and the core team of Swissnex in Brazil to accomplish tasks and manage projects in education, research, and innovation.

This includes:  

• Conduct research and brainstorm for project topics in close collaboration with the Swissnex team;
• Take full responsibility for projects (incl. planning, implementation, reporting, follow-up);
• Identify funding sources and draft funding requests;
• Assist in implementing events (incl. reach out, logistics, reporting, etc.);
• Reactively and proactively promote collaboration between people and organizations in Switzerland and Brazil;
• Attend meetings, events, and conferences as a Swissnex representative and share contacts, findings, and insights with the Swissnex team.

• Conduct research & participate in brainstorming for event topics;
• Independent planning, preparation, and execution of projects and events;
• Identify, contact, and coach potential speakers/exhibitors/participants;
• Manage local stakeholders, service companies, and suppliers;
• Assist with public relations and communication between partners, sponsors, and other project partners.

• Reactively and proactively promote collaboration between people and organizations in Switzerland and Brazil;
• Occasionally attend events, conferences, and meetings as a Swissnex representative and share contacts, findings, and learnings with the Swissnex team.

General / Personality

• Outgoing, communicative
• Independent, self-motivated 
• Hands-on, proactive, resourceful
• Ambitious, visionary, and willing to grow professionally
• Dedication to further Swiss excellence in science, education, and innovation

Background / Experience

• Graduate of higher education institution
• Fluency in Portuguese, ideally Brazilian citizen 
• Proven administrative and organizational skills
• Fluent English
• Project and event management experience a plus
• International / Swiss experience a plus
• Familiarity with at least one Swiss national language is a plus

Skills

• Proven familiarity with project management tools and methodologies
• Proven organizational skills 
• Solid time management and ability to prioritize 
• Attention to details
• Excellent people and communication skills 

Additional Information

• This is a 100% position; ideal start date July 2025 
• Compensation based on local salary benchmarks
• Brazilian work permit or citizenship required
• Fluency in Portuguese and good familiarity with Brazil required
• The position requires flexible work hours, incl. some evenings and weekends
• Application deadline: July 20, 2025