Chairs and Deputy Chairs for the Joint Advisory Appeals Board and the Joint Advisory Disciplinary Board

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Introduction:

Following reform of its internal justice system, CERN is seeking to appoint, as of 1 July 2026, an external Chair and Deputy Chair for each of its internal justice boards: the Joint Advisory Appeals Board (JAAB) and the Joint Advisory Disciplinary Board (JADB), referred to hereunder as the “Boards”.

The Boards are independent advisory bodies which will provide recommendations in administrative disputes or disciplinary proceedings. The Boards will work in panels of three, including two CERN staff members, and will be presided over by the assigned Chair or Deputy Chair.

There are, on average, between two and five JAAB and JADB cases per year.

CERN has recently established an Internal Justice secretariat, which will provide administrative and legal support to the Boards.

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs will be appointed by the Director-General, on the advice of a board composed of representatives of the Staff Association, CERN Management and Legal Service, for a period of three years, renewable once, and will serve the Organization as needed, on a contractual basis, as experts. These are not personnel appointments.

Duties:

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs shall execute their mandate in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Board concerned.

Their duties shall include the following tasks:

• Lead and coordinate the work of the Board.
• Ensure proceedings are conducted fairly, independently, and in a timely manner, consistent with the general principles of international administrative law and, specifically, the jurisprudence of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization.
• Safeguard procedural integrity and due process.
• Promote consistency and quality in Board reports and recommendations; and,
• Contribute to the credibility and effectiveness of the internal justice system, fostering trust and confidence among CERN personnel and management.

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs act in an independent capacity and shall neither seek nor receive instructions from any person or entity regarding the outcome of cases.

To the extent possible, they shall work remotely; CERN will not make available routine office space or computing facilities.

Eligibility criteria:

• Advanced university degree in law.
• Nationality of a Member or Associate Member State of CERN.
• Current and former members of the CERN personnel and contractor personnel are not eligible for appointment. Chairs and Deputy Chairs will not be eligible for future positions as members of the personnel of CERN.

Required skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated expertise in the field of international civil service law.
• Experience in internal justice matters would be an asset.
• Ability to work with autonomy, manage multiple tasks and deliver high quality work on time.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and/or French. Proficiency in both languages would be an advantage.

Core Competencies:

• Sound judgment and analytical ability.
• Impartiality and integrity.
• Leadership and facilitation skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters.
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of multicultural work environments.
• Ability to work collegially in a panel setting.

How to apply:

Please submit the following documents in PDF:

• A letter of motivation.
• A CV.
• At least one recent letter of recommendation (not older than a year), giving an overview of your academic and/or professional achievements.

Deadline:

The deadline for applications is 19 June 2026.

It is intended to finalise the selection process by 26 June 2026.

Remuneration:

The Chairs and Deputy Chairs will be remunerated on a per-case basis in line with competitive market conditions. Further details will be provided during the selection process.

Any required travel will be coordinated by CERN in accordance with its duty travel policy.