Hiring Organization: CERN
Job Location: Geneva, SwitzerlandContract
Head of Security (SCE-DHO-2026-77-LD)
Company Description
At CERN, the European Organisation 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.
Job Description
Introduction
Join CERN and lead the Security Service of the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. In this key leadership role within the Site and Civil Engineering (SCE) Department, you will shape and implement the Organisation’s security strategy, ensuring the protection of people, assets, and infrastructure across sites in France and Switzerland.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven, international environment where operational excellence and strategic foresight go hand in hand.
Functions
Head of Security (SCE-DHO-2026-77-LD)
Company Description
At CERN, the European Organisation 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.
Job Description
Introduction
Join CERN and lead the Security Service of the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. In this key leadership role within the Site and Civil Engineering (SCE) Department, you will shape and implement the Organisation’s security strategy, ensuring the protection of people, assets, and infrastructure across sites in France and Switzerland.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven, international environment where operational excellence and strategic foresight go hand in hand.
Functions
Define, maintain, and continuously develop CERN’s overall security strategy, preparing proposals and recommendations for the Directorate.
Lead and organize the Security Service, ensuring effective team management, clear allocation of responsibilities, performance monitoring, and prioritisation of activities.
Develop, obtain approval for, and oversee the implementation of CERN’s security policy, including principles governing site access rights.
Plan, validate, and supervise special security arrangements for high-level visits and major events (e.g. official delegations, anniversaries, open days), ensuring appropriate prioritisation of resources.
Represent the Security Service internally and externally, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders.
Define the contractual strategy for security services, including the preparation, issuance, and lifecycle management of tenders and contracts, ensuring performance monitoring, service quality, continuous improvement, and compliance with agreed standards.
Define security requirements and provide recommendations for new infrastructures and major renovation projects, including critical installations, while ensuring continuous monitoring of developments in security technologies, methodologies, and equipment, and proposing improvements adapted to CERN’s environment.
Qualifications
Master's degree or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Security Management, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Public Security, Risk Management or a related field.
Formal training or certification in security management, crisis management, law enforcement command, or protective security is an asset.
Experience:
Lead and organize the Security Service, ensuring effective team management, clear allocation of responsibilities, performance monitoring, and prioritisation of activities.
Develop, obtain approval for, and oversee the implementation of CERN’s security policy, including principles governing site access rights.
Plan, validate, and supervise special security arrangements for high-level visits and major events (e.g. official delegations, anniversaries, open days), ensuring appropriate prioritisation of resources.
Represent the Security Service internally and externally, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders.
Define the contractual strategy for security services, including the preparation, issuance, and lifecycle management of tenders and contracts, ensuring performance monitoring, service quality, continuous improvement, and compliance with agreed standards.
Define security requirements and provide recommendations for new infrastructures and major renovation projects, including critical installations, while ensuring continuous monitoring of developments in security technologies, methodologies, and equipment, and proposing improvements adapted to CERN’s environment.
Qualifications
Master's degree or equivalent relevant experience in the field of Security Management, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Public Security, Risk Management or a related field.
Formal training or certification in security management, crisis management, law enforcement command, or protective security is an asset.
Experience:
Proven experience in managing security strategy, contracts and operations within an institutional environment (police, state security, military) or within a large industrial site, university campus, international organisation, or comparable complex environment.
Solid background in risk assessment, threat analysis, incident management, corrective measures, and business continuity planning is highly desirable.
Good knowledge of Swiss and/or French legal and judicial frameworks, or experience working within comparable national systems, with the ability to interact effectively with public authorities and security services.
Experience in managing security arrangements for high-level visits, official delegations or major events.
Capacity to translate operational expertise into clear security procedures, requirements and protective measures adapted to a complex international environment.
Technical competencies:
Solid background in risk assessment, threat analysis, incident management, corrective measures, and business continuity planning is highly desirable.
Good knowledge of Swiss and/or French legal and judicial frameworks, or experience working within comparable national systems, with the ability to interact effectively with public authorities and security services.
Experience in managing security arrangements for high-level visits, official delegations or major events.
Capacity to translate operational expertise into clear security procedures, requirements and protective measures adapted to a complex international environment.
Technical competencies:
Team management.
Development of vision and strategy.
Personnel and material resources planning.
Contract management.
Organisation, planning and control.
Behavioural competencies:
Development of vision and strategy.
Personnel and material resources planning.
Contract management.
Organisation, planning and control.
Behavioural competencies:
Solving Problems: identifying, defining and assessing problems, taking action to address them.
Working in the Interest of the Organisation: behaving consistently with CERN's values and goals.
Creating Vision and Strategic Partnerships: ensuring alignment to overall strategy when revising unit goals and priorities in the event of changing circumstances.
Setting Direction: coordinating activities and focusing team on goals and objectives; monitoring progress of team towards agreed goals and taking corrective action when needed.
Demonstrating Accountability: working conscientiously and reliably; delivering on promises.
Language skills:
Spoken and written French, with a commitment to learn English.
Working in the Interest of the Organisation: behaving consistently with CERN's values and goals.
Creating Vision and Strategic Partnerships: ensuring alignment to overall strategy when revising unit goals and priorities in the event of changing circumstances.
Setting Direction: coordinating activities and focusing team on goals and objectives; monitoring progress of team towards agreed goals and taking corrective action when needed.
Demonstrating Accountability: working conscientiously and reliably; delivering on promises.
Language skills:
Spoken and written French, with a commitment to learn English.