GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut
Rüschlikon
Yesterday
Chief Executive Officer w/m/d (100%)
- Publication date:11 December 2025
- Workload:100%
- Contract type:Permanent position
- Place of work:Rüschlikon
Job summary
The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) is Switzerland's top independent think tank. This is a unique opportunity to lead a culturally sensitive and intellectually rigorous organization.
Tasks
- Lead GDI through strategic realignment and transformation.
- Oversee the research agenda and represent GDI nationally and internationally.
- Strengthen strategic partnerships and ensure operational excellence.
Skills
- Advanced degree and extensive leadership experience in strategic roles.
- Strong networking skills and ability to connect diverse groups.
- Fluency in German, a second national language, and English.
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About the job
The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) is Switzerland's leading independent think tank. Since 1963, the institute has been researching social, economic, and technological developments and connecting science, business, and politics in a unique place with international influence. In a phase of strategic realignment, GDI is now looking for a visionary, scientifically grounded, and entrepreneurially strong personality as
Chief Executive Officer
Your Mission
In this formative role, you will lead the GDI with high cultural sensitivity, intellectual integrity, and human credibility. You combine scientific foundation, strategic thinking, and genuine connection with Swiss culture. Your leadership style creates trust, orientation, and clarity – both internally and externally:
- Culturally shaping leadership of the GDI: authentic, inclusive, reflective
- Leading the GDI through the ongoing strategic realignment and transformation phase; consistent implementation of the new overall strategy
- Responsibility for the research agenda
- Representation of the GDI in Switzerland and internationally with a distinctive presence
- Strategic further development of the institute along societal issues and future developments
- Further development of the strong network across sectors and disciplines
- Expansion and maintenance of strategic partnerships with universities and research institutions
- Strengthening the GDI conferences as a relevant dialogue platform
- Responsibility for infrastructure, properties, historical assets, and operational excellence of the institute
- Ensuring economically sustainable operations
Your Passion
- Mature, integral personality with pronounced reflective ability and groundedness
- Scientific background with solid methodological knowledge
- Several years of strategic leadership experience with result responsibility, ideally in a business environment
- Profound knowledge of the Swiss context: cultural, political, economic
- Ability to connect people, build trust, and create meaning
- Strong networking skills and enjoyment of dialogue with science, business, politics, and civil society
- Language skills: German, a second national language, and English
- Willingness to shape the institute long-term, sustainably, and successfully
Our Benefits for You
- High scope for design in an inspiring environment, at the pulse of current topics
- Collaboration with an interdisciplinary, committed team
- Access to significant national and international networks
Contact
As the commissioned consulting company, Witena looks forward to receiving your complete, personal documents along with a cover letter expressing your motivation and passion for this position.
Eva Riedi Collen
+41 44 247 76 76
eva.riedi-collen@witena.com
