Junior Protocol Officer (SR-SE-PRT-2026-130-GRAE)

Are you a rigorous and dynamic graduate, who thrives in fast-paced international environments?

Ready to turn your passion for International Relations into action at the world's leading particle-physics laboratory?

Are you eager to contribute to Protocol activities and to navigate diplomacy, logistics, and high-level stakeholders all at once?

Come and join the Protocol Office in the Stakeholder Relations sector at CERN!

The CERN Protocol Office (SR-SE-PRT) is a small team of three professionals responsible for ensuring compliance with protocol and etiquette standards at official events organised at CERN, hosted by the Director-General or members of the CERN Management. These engagements include technical visits, institutional meetings and exchanges with CERN scientists.

The Protocol Office plays a key role in the preparation and coordination of these visits, working closely with high-level governmental and international scientific leaders. In 2025, the Protocol Office organised 132 official visits, including those of 4 Heads of State and 35 Ministers.

The upcoming Long Shutdown 3 (LS3) of the CERN accelerators will begin in mid-2026 to enable the major upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), paving the way for the High-Luminosity LHC to come into operation in 2030. Based on experience from previous Long Shutdown periods, LS3 is expected to significantly increase the level of institutional interest in CERN. As a result, the number of Protocol visits is anticipated to rise by almost 50%, along with an increase in the seniority and ranking of visiting delegations.

With the European Strategy for Particle Physics expected to be approved shortly, the FCC project, CERN's flagship initiative, will play a central role in the Laboratory's institutional relations with its Host States, Switzerland and France. The successful candidate will therefore also be closely involved in the organisation and management of FCC-related protocol visits at the local level.

As a Junior Protocol Officer, you will gain hands-on experience in a highly visible, international and multicultural environment at the interface between science, diplomacy and international relations.

Your responsibilities: 

Under the supervision of the Chief of Protocol and in close collaboration with the members of the team, the successful candidate will:

• Contribute to the organisation and coordination of protocol visits linked to the FCC project, both on Swiss territory (Canton of Geneva) and in France (department of Haute-Savoie).
• Participate in the preparation and delivery of high-level international visits organised by the Protocol Office for the CERN Directorate.
• Prepare detailed visit programmes and ensure the complete logistical coordination of official visits.
• Liaise with and coordinate the participation of the relevant CERN services and stakeholders.
• Monitor the operational follow-up of visit programmes and ensure their smooth execution.
• Accompany delegations when required by protocol rank and, in this context, supervise technical aspects, ensure compliance with schedules and manage unforeseen or evolving situations.
• Contribute to the administrative, logistical and project-related activities of the Protocol Service.

The selected candidate will receive on-the-job training within the team in CERN's protocol practices and procedures.

Your profile:

• Previous experience in protocol-related activities, institutional relations or high-level event organisation would be an advantage.
• A strong connection to the local region and good knowledge of institutional stakeholders in the Canton of Geneva and Haute-Savoie would be an asset.

Skills:

• Strong organisational and coordination skills.
• Ability to work methodically while remaining flexible and responsive in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion, tact and professionalism.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels in a multicultural and multidisciplinary setting.
• Sound judgement, reactivity and capacity to work under time constraints.
• Spoken and written both English and French.

Eligibility criteria:

• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in International Relations or related (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.