The People Experience department (VPH-PEXP) is committed to strengthening a stimulating, respectful, and inclusive work environment. From recruitment to career development, a personalized and human-centered approach supports each staff member throughout their professional journey.
Topics Covered
Working at EPFL
The People Experience department supports the recrutement processes of EPFL employees, including scientific, administrative, and technical staff. Take a look at our job opportunities.
Recruitment Process
At EPFL, recruitment is based on a clear and rigorous procedure designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and quality in hiring. This process is structured around several key steps, from identifying the need to integrating the recruited individual.
Appraisal, objective-setting and development
The appraisal, objective-setting and development discussion process aims to provide a space for dialogue, recognition, and forward planning. EPFL encourages its employees to take a moment to reflect on their career path, achievements, challenges, and aspirations.
Your professional journey
The People Experience department works closely with the People Operations department to address a wide range of issues related to HR inside EPFL. Find here the information and resources you will need from the moment you are hired until you leave the institution.
Reorganization of the PEXP department
The People Experience department (VPH-PEXP) underwent a reorganization in the first half of 2026, with the overarching objective of better meeting the needs of EPFL, its staff members, and its unit managers.
The department’s co-direction thanks the entire team for the flexibility and commitment demonstrated throughout this period.
Why this change?
The central objective is to provide support that better aligns with the expectations of the community. In concrete terms, this means:
- Harmonizing practices to ensure greater transparency and fairness
- Providing enhanced support to management
- Supporting complex situations in order to maintain a healthy and sustainable work environment
- Strengthening support related to topics affecting doctoral candidates
- Establishing targeted expertise, such as recruitment or job function analysis
- Developing support for career paths and internal mobility
New Structure
Three PEXP units have been defined:
- Presidency & Vice-Presidencies
- Schools
- Doctoral
PEXP Unit Managers act as senior points of reference to ensure alignment and harmonization of practices, as well as to support teams in complex and sensitive situations.
PEXP Partners act as local points of contact, advising and supporting staff members and EPFL unit managers on all matters related to people support and people management.
The PEXP Doctoral Unit provides dedicated attention to this category of employees who, due to their dual status as staff members and students, require enhanced support. This unit handles all matters relating to doctoral candidates, including specific or complex situations, and works in close collaboration with the Doctoral School. Professors may continue to contact the PEXP Partners assigned to their school, who will liaise with this body when necessary.
Specialist roles complement the overall set-up:
- A Case Manager oversees the management and support of long-term absences.
- A Project Officer is dedicated to supporting PEXP team projects, in particular the mapping of employee life-cycle processes.
- A Recruitment Specialist aims at standardizing hiring processes, coordinating internal mobility, and facilitating transitions between roles.
- A Job Function Analysis and Remuneration Specialist is attached to the VPH Office.
→ Please refer to the contact list
Steps of this reorganization
- November 2025: Information provided to EPFL Direction, Associate Vice Presidents and Deans, the PEXP team, and VPH staff
- December 2025: Decision by EPFL Direction and communication to all staff via the Open Campus newsletter
- January 2026: Start of implementation, opening of positions within the team
- Q1–Q2 2026: Interviews and assignment of scopes and responsibilities
- End of April 2026: Information via e-mail to the concerned units on the allocation of positions (with a transition period during the month of May)
- May 2026: General information via Open Campus
- June 2026: Recruitment Specialist and Function Analysis and Remuneration Specialist start
