About

From building rooftop solar to advising the people who do.

oikos Solar started in February 2023 as a project of oikos St. Gallen, the student association for sustainability in economics and management at HSG. The first idea was direct: raise capital, put solar panels on other people's roofs, sell the electricity, hand over the installation once it had paid for itself.

Two installations later, we had learned more about permitting, contracting, stakeholders and financing than any course could teach. Since 2025 we apply that experience as consultants for businesses, startups and public institutions, and we run events that bring the energy transition onto campus.

Our vision is to accelerate the energy transition by creating tangible impact at the intersection of energy, policy and business.

Part of oikos St. Gallen

oikos St. Gallen is a student-driven non-profit at the University of St. Gallen with over 120 active members across a dozen projects. oikos Solar reports to its board.

oikos-stgallen.com

Advisory board

Prof. Dr. Rolf Wüstenhagen, Professor of Management of Renewable Energies, Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWÖ-HSG)

Dr. oec. Christian Opitz, Head Competence Centre Energy Management, University of St. Gallen

Dr. Simon Pfister, Permanent Lecturer in Financial Management (Ständiger Dozent für finanzielle Führung), University of St. Gallen

Leadership team.

Fabian Alberti Project Head LinkedIn

Santiago Stähli da Cruz Bucho Head of Consulting LinkedIn

Sophia Hummel Head of Marketing & Events LinkedIn

Fiona Berger Head of Data Analytics LinkedIn

Join the team.

We open roles whenever the team grows or a member hands over, across consulting, partnerships, marketing and events, and finance. No application rounds, no deadlines. No prior technical knowledge needed. Motivation is.

Co-Project Head

You lead oikos Solar together with your Co-Head: strategy, day-to-day operations, HR and team development. You represent the project towards partners and the board of oikos St. Gallen.

Apply

Open Leadership 8–10 h/week · Campus Credits possible

Head of Marketing & Events

You lead the Marketing & Events team: brand, website, social media and the event calendar. You turn ideas into panels, workshops and apéros that people actually come to.

One-pager (PDF) Apply

Open Marketing & Events 6–8 h/week · Campus Credits possible

Head of Finance

You lead the finances of oikos Solar: budget, accounting and internal processes. You report to the board of oikos St. Gallen and align spending with the other heads.

One-pager (PDF) Apply

Open Finance 4–6 h/week · Campus Credits possible

Consulting Team Member

You work in a project team for startups, companies and public clients: structuring the question, research and interviews, and recommendations the client can act on.

One-pager (PDF) Apply

Open Consulting 6–10 h/week · Campus Credits possible

Marketing & Events Team Member

You work in the Marketing & Events team: content for social media and the website, and the organisation of our events on campus.

One-pager (PDF) Apply

Open Marketing & Events 4–6 h/week · Campus Credits possible

Partnerships Team Member

You work in the Partnerships team: identifying and approaching potential clients and sponsors across Switzerland, and building relationships that turn into projects.

Apply

Open Partnerships 4–6 h/week · Campus Credits possible

What you get.

Beyond the line on the CV.

Real client projects

Utilities, companies and startups in the energy transition. Work that ends up in someone's strategy.

4 to 10 hours a week

Depending on role and project, flexible around exam periods.

Campus Credits

Every role can qualify for ECTS via HSG Campus Credits.

Work certificate

A work certificate for every member, a reference letter on request.

Trainings

Consulting toolkit, pitching and public speaking, run by the team and partners.

Network

Founders, utilities and researchers in Swiss energy, and the oikos community across Switzerland.

Questions.

Who can join?

All motivated students enrolled at the University of St. Gallen. Assessment-year students are welcome as team members but cannot claim Campus Credits.

How much time is it?

Typically 4 to 10 hours per week depending on role and project, with flexibility around exam periods.

Is it paid?

All positions are voluntary. Every role can qualify for Campus Credits, and every member gets a work certificate.

When can I apply?

Anytime. We do not run application rounds. If a role is listed as open, apply through the link above with a short form and your CV. We invite you to a 30-minute conversation with the team lead and the Project Head, and you hear back within two weeks.

The role I want is not listed. Can I still apply?

Yes. Write to ph-solar@stgallen.oikos-international.org with a few lines about what you would like to do, and we will get in touch when a matching role opens.

Not sure which role fits?

Ask us.

Write a few lines about what you study and what you would like to do, and we suggest a role.

Email the Project Head ph-solar@stgallen.oikos-international.org