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

The ZHdK is one of the largest and most diverse art universities in Europe, with around 2100 bachelor’s and master’s students. The study and research areas include Art Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre, and Transdisciplinarity. Located in the heart of Zurich, ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, research, and continue their education. The university includes numerous exhibition and performance venues where students’ project work is publicly presented.

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The Information Technology Centre (ITZ) of the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) consists of about 50 different specialists who manage the IT infrastructure of ZHdK, lead projects, develop software, and actively provide support.

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For the development and support of a central, university-wide, and strategically prioritised AI service, provided by the IT department for all areas of ZHdK, we are looking for a committed individual to start immediately or by arrangement as

Your tasks:
As Service Owner, you lead the entire lifecycle of the AI service from the idea to continuous improvement. You are responsible for strategy, design, operation, and innovation management:

• Projects:
  You build up the AI service at the university and play a decisive role in the development of our AI platform and the implementation of AI solutions.
• Strategy & Governance:
  You develop the AI service strategy, ensure compliance with governance and regulatory requirements, and anchor the service in the IT and ZHdK strategy.
• Service Design & Development:
  You design user-oriented services, define performance models, manage the implementation of further developments and projects, and ensure the handover to operations.
• Service Operation & 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 initiate improvement and innovation measures.
• Financial & Stakeholder Management:
  You ensure sustainable financing of the service and orchestrate collaboration with all relevant university departments.
• Financial Control & Cost Allocation:
  You bear budget responsibility for the AI service and manage the cost development of the AI services and infrastructures used. You ensure that a transparent internal charging model (chargeback/showback) is established, enabling fair and comprehensible cost allocation to the user organisational units.
• Change Management:
  You accompany and manage cultural and organisational changes in the context of AI usage.
• Consulting and Communication:
  You promote the AI services and make them visible. As a central contact point for university members, you support and advise them.

Your profile:

• Education & Experience: 
  Several years of experience as an (IT) Service Owner, Product Owner, or in a comparable position in a complex environment (university, administration, organisation with high governance density)
• Service & Governance:
  Solid experience in designing, building, and operating IT services as well as knowledge of IT service management frameworks (e.g. ITIL).
• Experience with AI-relevant governance and security requirements (data protection, compliance, usage policies)
• Technology Understanding:
  Good understanding of modern AI technologies, cloud platforms (preferably Microsoft Azure, M365) as well as own cloud solutions
• Leadership & Communication:
  Capable of leading interdisciplinary teams laterally, securing participation competence, and orchestrating decision-making processes. With your strong communication skills, you can convey complex content appropriately and transparently to the target audience.
• Assertiveness:
  You have strong assertiveness and know how to convincingly represent your viewpoints, even in demanding situations and towards different stakeholders.
• Method Competence:
  Experience with agile methods, risk and change management, and shaping change processes
• Advantages:
  Experience in university or cultural sectors. Knowledge in cost management and dynamic scaling of cloud services
• Very good German and good English skills.

What to expect:

• Pioneering work in the university context:
  You build a completely new, strategically highly prioritised service and significantly shape the AI infrastructure of one of Europe’s leading art universities.
• Scope for design & personal responsibility:
  You have direct influence on technological decisions, tool selection, and the architecture guidelines of ZHdK.
• An exciting, influential, and formative role at the interface of art, research, and technology.
• The opportunity to build and help shape a forward-looking service offering at the university.
• A collegial team in an inspiring environment at the Zurich Toni-Areal.
• Flexible working hours