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/.

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization.

Job Description

Are you a creative thinker with excellent communication skills, keen to work in one of the world’s largest scientific organisations?

Join the CERN Press Office team!

CERN has an opening for an Early Career (Origin) Graduate in the Press Office team, part of the Media and Digital Communications (PRD) section in the Education, Communication and Outreach (ECO) group in the International Relations (IR) sector. The Media and Digital Communications section includes the Press Office, the CERN Digital team (Social Media and the Digital Editor), and the Web team.

The CERN Press Office is the focal point for media worldwide interested in CERN. Its mission is to deliver CERN’s key messages to media and manage the image and reputation of the Laboratory. The Press Office develops and implements media engagement, welcomes journalists and media representatives, prepares and distributes press releases, monitors and analyses the media coverage of the Organisation, oversees media trainings for CERN members, and deals with crisis communication within CERN.

As a junior press officer you will:

• Contribute to the different stages of external communication projects and campaigns, mainly press releases and media kits.
• Contribute to the evaluation and monitoring activities related to media and external communication projects and activities, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and project reports.
• Address journalists’ requests and update the existing media database.
• Organise press visits (individual and in groups, on-site or online) and take part in the organisation of press events and media training courses for CERN members.
• Update the Press Office’s website and provide organisational support for the Press Office activities.
• Share resources and assist with other activities related to media and digital communication as requested.

Qualifications/skills required

Eligibility criteria:

• You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
• You have graduated, or are about to graduate, with a university degree (bachelor or master) level in Communication, Social Sciences or STEM and have no more than 2 years’ relevant experience.
• Kindly note that you are expected to have obtained your qualification by the time you take up your appointment at CERN and that experience prior to the latest obtained degree will not be taken into account for the calculation of your overall years of experience.

Essential skills and experience:

• Previous experience in communication related to science, technology, industry, and knowledge or technology transfer.
• Good knowledge of the media landscape and media relations.
• Some experience in several of the following fields: event organisation; social media; preparing talking points and fact sheets; newsletter editing; content creation (writing, presentations, audio-visual material); evaluation and monitoring of communications plans; report writing; public relations; public understanding of science; science communications; web development (e.g., WordPress).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with diplomacy.
• Desire and ability to work in a team within a large international organisation.
• Ability to collaborate with a great diversity of interlocutors and adapt to their specific needs.
• Organisational and planning skills, ability to solve problems swiftly and autonomously; good sense of prioritization.
• Proficiency in French and/or English. An additional language will be an asset.
• Driving license for manual cars would be an asset.

This vacancy is within the CERN Graduate Programme – Early Career Professionals (Origin).

The expected start date of the post is 01.04.2025.

The contract duration is 24 months, with a possible extension of up to 36 months maximum.

For further details and to submit your application, please go to the CERN Graduate Programme pages.

Please send us your application by 06.01.2025.