About CSP

The Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) Zurich is a unit at the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich (UZH) dedicated to enabling sustainable development. We work to advance sustainable finance through research and training programs, with a globally unique focus on high- and ultra-high-net-wealth private investors and family offices. We operate globally, and collaborate with CSP entities on the ground in North America and Singapore.

Founded in 2017, we are a spin-off of the Impact Investing for the Next Generation training program initiated at the Initiative for Responsible Investment (IRI) at Harvard Kennedy School in 2015, and that is now co-hosted by CSP and at MIT Sloan.

We have strong ties to the leading researchers, practitioners, and membership organizations in our space and close collaborations with key international actors such as the World Economic Forum, MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, The Im Pact, Toniic, Nexus, Katapult, Family Business Network FBN, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt.

Our team of impact-driven professionals continues to grow, especially as the CSP Singapore and CSP North America teams unfold their positive momentum.

As the Head of Trainings, you will play a vital role in developing and disseminating the right knowledge to the right people at the right moment – to trigger action and move capital. This is done by strategizing the established CSP training programs portfolio for wealth holders (particularly UHNWIs) and finance professionals out of CSP Zurich, as well as with our partner organisations and the CSP entities in Singapore and North America.

The current Head of Trainings will go on maternity leave; upon her return, the goal is that you will transition into the Managing Director role of CSP Zurich.

As Managing Director of CSP Zurich, you will be a key part of driving and developing CSP as a global platform with a unique positioning and growth-momentum.

This is a highly interesting role for anyone deeply interested in driving outsized positive impact globally in a very dynamic growth-environment.

Applications close on September 30th, 2024.

Tasks

As the Head of Trainings, you will be responsible for planning, overseeing and leading training programs from ideation to completion, including the CSP flagship program "Impact Investing for the Next Generation" that we run since 2015, now together with colleagues at MIT Sloan, and that has become the gold-standard in the field and includes a community of impact-driven ultra high net wealth alumni.

This is a senior role and requires interactions with a range of internal and external stakeholders, most often managing several moving project parts simultaneously.

Representative tasks include:
Trainings and Content Development

• Strategically plan, coordinate and implement training and applied research activities of CSP Zurich, in close exchange with partners such as FBN, toniic, The Im Pact, and the CSP Singapore and CSP North America teams. This particularly includes CSP’s portfolio of training programs for wealth holders, financial institutions (banks and family offices), and wealth managers.
• Professionaly lead the recruitment and business development for CSP wealth holder and wealth manager programs. This includes liaising internally with project managers and the communications team, as well as externally with private wealth and sustainable finance communities, conferences, sponsors and partner organisations.
• Teach select training modules to CSP's key stakeholders, maintaing high Net Promoter Scores both online and in person.
• Maintain and enhance a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress of all training activities and report to the Managing Director, as well as to the CSP Advisory Council.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish and maintain relationships with various stakeholders, including program participants and UHNW alumni, expert speakers, parties from the financial industry, academic institutions, policy makers, non-profits, and foundations nationally and globally.
• Actively serve as a spokesperson representing CSP Zurich in various settings including events, conferences, training programs as well as to potential donors and supporters.
• Determine suitable regional and international outreach activities to represent CSP and its training programs, for example organising and leading workshops and public speaking engagements.

Management and Oversight

• Initially manage a team of 3 team members and delegate project tasks based on availability, individual strengths, skill sets and experience levels. Upon the transition to Managing Director, this would increase to ca. 10 team members - and a key role in driving the global CSP platform ahead with CSP Singapore and CSP North America.
• Work closely with, and be a member of, the CSP Zurich Management Team to contribute to the strategy development of the CSP. Upon the transition to Managing Director, this would include directly shaping the global strategy together with the Boards and Managing Directors of CSP Singapore and CSP North America.
• Nurture the Advisory Council to ensure strategic focus and adherence to CSP’s mission, goals and values.

Resource and Business Development

• Effectively manage the workstreams', and subsequently the organization’s (ca CHF 2 Mn. p.a.), finances to ensure budgets across programs are in line with spending expectations and schedules.
• Develop and implement fundraising plans with customized strategies to cultivate and engage donors and grantmakers.
• Ensure accountability to donors and grantmakers by overseeing the monitoring and reporting on program progress.

Ideally, you will initially cover the responsibilities of the current Head of Trainings and begin transitioning into the role of Managing Director of CSP Zurich within 6-12 months. You will at first report to the current Managing Director, who reports to the UZH Department of Finance Directorate formally and the CSP Zurich Advisory Council informally.

You will work closely with all members of the CSP Team to ensure smooth operations of the CSP. Close collaboration with other players in the Department of Finance will be required, as well as with stakeholders from other administrative and academic units at the university, and with external stakeholders of CSP, including donors, partners, and collaborators.

Requirements

This is a highly strategic role for CSP Zurich and CSP as a growing global platform, and the corresponding seniority in the field is expected.

You have:

• Permission to work in Switzerland and located in/around Zurich or able to commute to Zurich on a regular basis.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of five years of experience in the relevant fields of sustainable finance and/or private wealth; minimum of three years of experience launching and expanding programs and raising revenues (ideally from trainings).
• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, development, or a related field.
• Excellent Interpersonal and Leadership Skills: A culturally capable leader, eager to learn, open to diversity, willing to thoroughly listen, and able to work closely with people from different backgrounds in a dynamic and growing environment. Experience motivating and leading teams, preferably in a wealth management organisation, and/or a nonprofit or social enterprise and in a flat organisational structure.
• Training Background: Previous experience in designing, developing, or delivering financially sustainable training programs is essential, with experience in the sustainable finance context.
• Autonomy: High level of self-leadership and self-organization in dealing with a highly dynamic environment. Entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial drive and go-getter personality with proven capability to develop and implement growth strategies as well as drive business development. Comfortable with ambiguity and the need to be agile and continuously adapt.
• Motivation: High motivation and commitment to work together in a global and dynamic team in a mission-oriented environment.
• Project Management Toolbox: Strong organization skills and the ability to prioritize and effectively manage ambitious multi-stakeholder strategies simultaneously.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to effectively represent CSP, its programs and publications, in diverse settings with a variety of stakeholders, both written and oral. Ability to navigate and use several communications channels, follow fast-paced conversations and transform these conversations in internal activities, workshops and events
• Language: Excellent English communication skills (written and oral) is essential. Good communication skills in German are a plus.
• Technical Skills: Solid experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point), CRM and project management tools.

Please note: There is no need to tick all the above boxes. A determined mind driven to learn will take you very far!

Benefits

• A truly catalytic role at the nexus of sustainable finance science and practice, uniquely embedded in a global community of top-notch impact-minded academics (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Oxford, NUS, SMU, HSG), practitioners (e.g. UBS, Julius Bär, Cape Capital), investors (UHNWIs and their families), and the CSP Singapore and CSP North America teams.
• Be part of a very results-oriented, entrepreneurial, pragmatic, science-based, and fast-moving team that is highly qualified and deeply driven to advance sustainable development.
• Leverage and further build a well-established and important global movement. Have a tangible impact on sustainable development through our very specific vantage point.
• Gain knowledge, experience, and a network in sustainable finance.
• Enjoy a flexible working environment.
• Enjoy professional development opportunities and team culture initiatives within CSP, including an Annual Personal Development Budget.
• Receive the standard benefits package as offered by the Canton of Zurich.

Please note: We operate with Cantonal salary scales. The salary is competitive, yet determined according to work experience and function together with the HR team of UZH.

Please include the following to your application:
1. your CV
2. your cover letter, in which you outline why you are interested in this role, where you see your fit, and how you would proceed in the first 100 days
3. an example of your work (article, business plan, pitch-deck, etc) - please submit this together with one of the above

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the position will be filled once a suitable candidate is found. Due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

We look forward to hearing from you!