Smart City Project Manager – Urban Technology Alliance (UTA)
Are you a self-motivated and independent professional with a passion for fostering collaboration, driving innovation and helping cities better serve their communities? The Urban Technology Alliance (UTA) is seeking an experienced Smart City Project Manager with strong understanding of digital transformation of cites along with a solid technical background.
As a member-driven pilot-oriented organisation, UTA provides trusted guidance to cities worldwide for their sustainable digital transformation by testing innovative smart city solutions to address emerging urban challenges in mobility, environment, energy, and more through innovative IT technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data. The successful candidate will work closely with C-level executives to organise smart city pilots, providing technical guidance for solution integration, managing the UTA community, and supporting EU-funded R&D projects that connect European cities with cutting-edge technologies.
Key Responsibilities
• Act as a liaison between solution providers and cities, helping to translate technical requirements into actionable steps.
• Facilitate collaboration between cities, solution providers, and researchers to ensure successful implementation.
• Support cities in defining challenges and matching them with relevant solutions.
• Provide technical guidance for the integration of smart city solutions.
• Manage end-to-end pilot projects, from planning to execution and evaluation.
• Ensure pilots align with best practices, standards, and interoperability requirements.
• Monitor emerging trends in smart city technology and advise on adoption strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with member cities, solution providers, and researchers.
• Organize workshops, webinars, and meetings to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Actively participate in smart city networks and events to represent UTA.
• Support communication efforts, including writing reports, presentations, and technical white papers.
• Participate in and contribute to European-funded R&D projects related to smart cities.
• Help UTA members engage in EU-funded initiatives such as Horizon Europe.
• Write technical reports, contribute to proposals, and align pilots with research outcomes.
• Work closely with consortia of cities, universities, and companies in research projects.
Required Skills & Experience
• Educational Background: Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, urban planning, transportation engineering, etc.)
• Experience in Smart City Projects: At least 4-6 years of experience working in the smart city domain (with cities, technology providers, or research institutions).
• Technical Background: Understanding of ICT technologies such as IoT, AI, big data, and cloud computing. Hands-on experience with data integration, data platforms and data analysis tools is a plus.
• Project Management Skills: Proven ability to lead to lead and coordinate multiple complex projects simultaneously. involving multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of European R&D Programs: Experience with EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, H2020, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Communication Skills: Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders (cities, businesses, researchers) and present complex topics in an understandable way. Excellent English proficiency in both written and spoken formats.
• Team Player & Independent Worker: Ability to work collaboratively in an international environment while managing projects independently.
• Candidate must have the right to live/work in Switzerland and be willing to travel for short business trips.
Preferred Qualifications
• Prior experience in a non-profit association, smart city alliance, or urban innovation network.
• Knowledge of urban governance, policy frameworks, and standards in the smart city domain.
• Familiarity with smart mobility, energy management, urban data platforms, or sustainability solutions.
• Hands-on experience in piloting and testing new urban technologies in a real-world environment.
What We Offer
• A unique opportunity to work at the intersection of technology, research, and urban development.
• A dynamic and international team within a non-profit network dedicated to improving cities.
• Flexible work environment (remote-friendly).
• Engagement in cutting-edge smart city projects with leading global cities and companies.
• Opportunities for professional growth, networking, and exposure to European R&D initiatives.
About Urban Technology Alliance
UTA is a global non-profit organization dedicated to providing city-scale pilots for deploying, testing, and validating smart city innovations. Our vibrant ecosystem includes cities, industry leaders, academia, and non-profits working together to share best practices, build partnerships, and create sustainable urban solutions.
If you are adaptable, driven by innovation, and excited about shaping the future of urban technology, we invite you to join our dynamic team!