Kanton Zürich
Zürich
Head of Department 80 - 100%
- 23 September 2026
- 80 – 100%
- Zürich
Job summary
Join the School for Design Zurich as a department head! Shape education in a vibrant environment.
Tasks
- Promote creative education across various learning levels and disciplines.
- Lead with empathy, responsibility, and strategic thinking in education.
- Develop programs and maintain industry partnerships for student success.
Skills
- Tertiary education in a relevant field with teaching credentials required.
- Strong communication and leadership skills in an educational setting.
- Innovative, resilient, and collaborative team player with organizational talent.
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About the job
Head of Department 80 - 100%The School of Design Zurich, with around 1400 students in basic education, 48 students in the preparatory design course, 1000 participants in higher vocational education programmes as well as in career-oriented continuing education, and around 140 teachers and 25 staff members, is one of the most interesting vocational schools in the canton: the competence centre for design, communication, media production, painting and varnishing.
The position of Head of Department is to be filled at the beginning of the spring semester 2027 or by arrangement.
As a member of the school management team, you are responsible together with the principal, the vice-principal, the head of department and the head of services for the educational, personnel, financial and administrative management as well as for the further development of this versatile and innovative vocational school.
Your tasks
- You promote design education in preparatory, basic and higher vocational education and are responsible for the effectiveness of design values both internally and externally. You conceive school development projects, implement them and promote interdisciplinarity.
- You carry out your leadership role with empathy, social and institutional responsibility, persuasiveness and integrative skills. You have entrepreneurial thinking as well as high competence in self-management.
- You solve complex issues strategically and prudently, and influence change processes constructively. You are committed to the perception of the school as a design competence centre. You support the implementation of technical, digital, economic and social change.
- Promoting industry-specific interests and maintaining the network with partner organisations are important to you.
- Within the school management team, you are responsible for the development of several areas, e.g. one or more vocational fields of basic education, continuing education, courses, events or quality management – depending on your strengths and the current reorientation of the school management.
- You teach eight to ten lessons per week.
Your profile
- Tertiary A or B degree in a profession taught at our school or a corresponding field of study and diploma as a full-time vocational school teacher or teaching diploma for higher technical colleges in a full-time capacity
- Several years of successful teaching experience
- Preferably leadership experience in education and organisational talent
- Creative, innovative, resilient and team-oriented personality with excellent communication skills
Our offer
- A varied, responsible role in a collegial school management team at an inspiring school
- Opportunity to help shape dynamic vocational education and to initiate and implement projects to position the School of Design Zurich with future-oriented topics
- Vibrant school culture with a competent, interested teaching staff
- Employment conditions according to the cantonal secondary and vocational school teachers’ regulations
Application
Have we aroused your interest?
We look forward to receiving your application and kindly ask you to submit it exclusively via the online tool by 25 October 2026 to the attention of Ruedi Meier, President of the School Commission. For information, please contact Orlando Temperli, Principal, and Michaela Varin, Vice-Principal, at 044 446 97 80 / 044 446 97 70 or orlando.temperli@sfgz.ch / michaela.varin@sfgz.ch. Further information can be found on the internet at www.sfgz.ch.
