Business Continuity Lead

About the role

In the position of Business Continuity Lead, you will be instrumental in enhancing CERN's organizational resilience by overseeing and coordinating business continuity initiatives throughout the organization. You will be part of the Improvement, Continuity and Sustainability (OSI-ICS) Group, which is situated within the Organisational Support and Improvement (OSI) Department. Your contributions will be vital in solidifying CERN's approach to risk management, crisis preparedness, and business continuity within a cohesive governance framework.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework at CERN, ensuring alignment with organizational policies, international standards, and best practices.
• Facilitate the identification and analysis of critical activities, dependencies, vulnerabilities, and recovery needs in collaboration with process and service owners.
• Coordinate the creation and support of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and disaster recovery strategies across various departments and functions.
• Integrate business continuity management with CERN's enterprise risk management and crisis management efforts.
• Design, organize, and lead continuity exercises, simulations, and stress tests; analyze results and promote ongoing improvements.
• Provide expert guidance to management and stakeholders regarding continuity strategies, preparedness for disruptions, recovery capabilities, and resilience measures.
• Develop methodologies, tools, and training programs to enhance awareness, culture, and capabilities related to business continuity across CERN.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness and maturity of business continuity arrangements.
• Contribute to initiatives aimed at organizational resilience and continuous improvement within the OSI-ICS group.
• Perform additional tasks as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the Business Continuity Lead position.

Requirements

• A Master's degree or equivalent relevant experience in Business Continuity Management, Risk Management, Engineering, Legal, Organizational Resilience, Information Systems, or a related field.
• While not mandatory, a recognized professional certification in business continuity or resilience management (such as ISO 22301 or BCI/DRII certification) would be advantageous.
• Proven experience in business continuity management, organizational resilience, or risk management within a complex organization.
• Experience in conducting business impact analyses and formulating continuity and recovery strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work across organizational boundaries and engage with diverse stakeholders to achieve positive change.
• Experience in designing and facilitating exercises, workshops, or training sessions is preferred.
• Familiarity with working in an international, technical, or research environment is a plus.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of continuity and availability management, including relevant standards and methodologies.
• Experience in process analysis, definition, and improvement.
• Skills in change management and project management.

Skills & tools

• Strong competencies in risk and crisis management.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English, with a willingness to learn French.
• Proficient in developing training materials and conducting training sessions.

Practical notes

• This position is a limited duration contract for five years, with the possibility of extension up to eight years, and eligibility for an indefinite contract thereafter.
• The role requires a commitment of 40 hours per week.
• The job grade for this position is classified as 6-7.
• The application deadline is set for August 30, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.

META

Company: CERN

Title: Business Continuity Lead

Listed

location: Geneva, CH

Job type: Contract

CERN is committed to fostering a diverse workforce, which is integral to our mission. We encourage applications from individuals across all Member States and Associate Member States. As a part of CERN, you will join a community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of science and technology. Our collaborative environment is designed to inspire innovation and creativity, allowing you to contribute to research that enhances our understanding of the universe.

At CERN, physicists and engineers are engaged in exploring the fundamental structure of the universe using the world's most advanced scientific instruments. This work involves studying the basic constituents of matter and how they interact, providing insights into the fundamental laws of nature. If you are eager to be part of a dynamic and inclusive community that is dedicated to advancing knowledge, CERN is the ideal place for you to thrive. Join us in our mission to uncover the mysteries of the universe!