Project Manager - Generative AI Administrative Innovation

Description

Are you an experienced engineer with a strong command of generative AI technologies and a track record of delivering operational digital products? Do you thrive at the intersection of technology, users, and institutional strategy? Are you motivated to transform administrative processes through pragmatic, high-impact AI solutions?

Apply now!

EPFL wants to leverage generative AI technologies in support of its administrative missions. The objective is to identify high-value use cases, validate them through credible prototypes, and define a sustainable deployment roadmap aligned with institutional constraints, compliance requirements, and available resources.

The EPFL Vice-Presidency for Support to Strategic Initiatives (VPS) is seeking a hands‑on Project Manager with a solid engineering background who combines technical depth in GenAI with proven experience in agile product development and stakeholder engagement. This is not a research-oriented position; we are looking for a development-focused professional who has delivered real-world digital services and understands what it takes to move from ideas to production in a complex organization.

• Identify and prioritize high-impact use cases of generative AI for clearly defined groups of administrative staff, grounded in a deep understanding of their workflows and constraints.
• Engage directly with users to uncover operational needs, structure them into concrete problem statements, and translate them into actionable product requirements.
• Assess data availability and quality and evaluate the technical feasibility of integrating institutional data sources into AI-driven solutions (e.g., retrieval‑augmented systems), in close coordination with relevant IT units.
• Ensure that all proposed solutions comply with EPFL’s internal rules and legal requirements related to data governance, privacy, and system integration.
• Supervise the design and implementation of robust proof‑of‑concept prototypes based on technologies such as transformers, large language models (LLMs), RAG pipelines, and orchestration frameworks.
• Define and coordinate structured user-based evaluations, using feedback to refine specifications and progressively consolidate solutions.
• Anticipate organizational, decisional, and financial implications of deploying AI tools: clarify ownership models, define governance structures, and contribute to short-, mid-, and long-term planning scenarios.
• Facilitate alignment among administrative units, IT services, compliance stakeholders, and leadership, building the consensus necessary for successful adoption.
• Contribute to the definition and promotion of a coherent implementation strategy that balances innovation, scalability, internal capabilities, risk management, and budgetary realities.

• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field (PhD not required).
• Strong practical knowledge of generative AI technologies (transformers, LLMs, RAG architectures, orchestration tooling) and demonstrated experience integrating them into operational products or services.
• Proven experience in agile development of innovative IT solutions for large and heterogeneous user communities.
• Solid understanding of data architectures and experience assessing data readiness for AI integration.
• Demonstrated ability to operate within regulated environments, with sensitivity to data protection and compliance constraints.
• Hands‑on development mindset combined with strategic thinking and strong synthesis capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with both technical experts and non-technical stakeholders.
• Structured, proactive, and solution-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple work streams in parallel.
• Fluency in French and English;
  German is an asset.

• Stimulating, dynamic and multicultural work environment.
• Excellent working conditions.
• Competitive remuneration according to the EPFL salary scale and excellent benefits package.
• An inclusive workspace and equal opportunities for all.
• Strong interactions with partner institutions of the ETH‑Domain and with key stakeholders of the Swiss AI eco system.

Contract

Start Date:

asap
Activity Rate: 100.00%
Contract Type: CDD
Duration: 1 year
Reference: 2090
Only applications meeting the requirements of this position will be considered.