Director of Finance and Human Resources

Human Resources Finance & Economy

Overview

Lead financial and human resources for CERN's scientific mission.

You have:

• Extensive management and administration experience at a senior level in an organisation, public institution, or multinational company.
• Experience in interactions and negotiations with high-level public-sector and private partners.
• Experience in formulating policies and strategies for submission to governing bodies, public institutions or other such stakeholders.
• Experience in a scientific and/or technical research institution will be considered an important additional asset.
• Development of vision and strategy.
• Excellent spoken and written English, with a commitment to learning French; proficiency in French would be an asset.

Company Description

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

Job Description

As a member of the Directorate and reporting directly to the Director-General, the successful candidate will play a key leadership role in aligning the Organization’s financial and human resources with its ambitious scientific mission.

The period from 2026-2030 will be pivotal for CERN combining a significant shift from operation to the delivery of major projects and the strategic planning for the long term future. The coming five-year period will be one of exceptional complexity and significance for CERN, encompassing the shift from the operation of major facilities to the delivery of key upgrade projects, and strategic planning for the long-term future. Achieving these objectives simultaneously will be highly challenging. In this context, the Director will be expected to bring strategic insight, innovative thinking, and a forward-looking approach to resource management, establishing clear priorities and supporting the Organization through an exciting and demanding phase.

Functions

The successful candidate's main tasks will include:

• Exercising collegial responsibility with the rest of the Directorate for the general management of the Organization, under the overall executive authority of the Director-General;
• Providing professional and insightful advice to the Director-General and senior management on financial and human resources matters;
• Overseeing the planning, organisation and coordination of all CERN's financial, and human resources activities, with the goal of ensuring that the resources available to the Organization are used as efficiently as possible in order to attain its scientific and operational objectives;
• Managing relations with a wide range of internal and external bodies, including the Finance Committee and Council, the External Auditors, the Staff Association, senior managers from financial institutes, etc.

Qualifications

Experience:

• Extensive management and administration experience at a senior level in an organisation, public institution, or multinational company.
• Experience in interactions and negotiations with high-level public-sector and private partners.
• Experience in formulating policies and strategies for submission to governing bodies, public institutions or other such stakeholders, and implementation and application of such policies and strategies.
• Experience in a scientific and/or technical research institution will be considered an important additional asset.

Technical competencies:

• Development of vision and strategy.
• Organisational design & development.
• Strategic agility and management flexibility.
• Human Resources Management and Financial Management.

Behavioural competencies:

• Creating Vision and Strategic Partnerships: building comprehensive road maps to translate the organisational vision to an operational level; defining and sets direction accordingly; creating shared interests and promoting contact and collaboration with CERN’s Member States and key external partners.
• Optimising Resources: realistically assessing human and financial resource needs, evaluating risks and plans accordingly; demonstrating awareness of financial issues affecting the Organization; analysing financial implications before taking decisions.
• Demonstrating Flexibility: adapting quickly and resourcefully to shifting priorities and requirements.
• Setting Direction: setting clear, challenging and attainable objectives; defining and communicating performance indicators.
• Leading with Strength and Credibility: demonstrating authority and being accountable for actions, decisions and effective functioning of the team.

Language skills:

• Excellent spoken and written English, with a commitment to learning French; proficiency in French would be an asset.

Additional Information

Eligibility and closing date:

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization. Employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We welcome applications from all Member States and Associate Member States.

Applications should be submitted no later than 20 April, 2025, at 11:59 PM CEST.

Candidates who successfully pass the initial stages will be invited to an online assessment, which will take place between 12 and 15 May 2025, followed by onsite final interviews scheduled for 22 May 2025.

Employment Conditions

Contract type: Limited duration contract (5 years).

Target start date: January 2026

Candidates for this post meeting the above requirements are invited to submit:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a motivation statement.

Job grade: 10

Benchmark Job Title: Principal Financial/Human Resources Professional

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.cern