Contract policy for CERN staff members

Public information meeting on Monday 28 September 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

With effect from 1 August 2009, new provisions regarding staff employment contract policy have entered into force. These provisions are set out in:

• The Staff Rules and Regulations and
• Administrative Circular No. 2 (Rev. 4).

Further details are available in:

• Frequently Asked Questions.

The new provisions are outlined below:

Limited-duration contracts

From 1 August 2009, limited-duration contracts will be awarded for a maximum period of five years (instead of four years previously) and no extensions beyond five years will be granted.

Contracts for periods shorter than five years can be exceptionally awarded, e.g. for a project whose mission or financial resources are time-limited.

Indefinite contracts : award procedure

A number of changes have been introduced regarding the procedure for the award of indefinite contracts.

From now on, posts leading to the award of an indefinite contract will be opened at least twice a year and, for each post, a description of the technical competencies, functions, and the qualifications, experience and knowledge required will be published on the CERN intranet. he first release of indefinite contract posts is scheduled for the end of September/beginning of October 2009. Information will be available on-line shortly via the link “indefinite contract applications”.

If you are a staff member with a limited-duration contract and you have successfully completed your probation period:

• you may apply for one or more of these posts, provided you are suitably qualified;
• you may apply for posts in any Department.

Applications must be submitted via the CERN intranet during the publication period – the minimum publication period will be three weeks, and the application deadline will be indicated in the published post description.

After the application deadline, a shortlist of candidates will be drawn up by the Department opening the post and the HR Department. Only candidates:

• whose qualifications and technical skills best correspond to those defined in the post and
• whose limited-duration contract is still in force at the moment the decision on the award of an indefinite contract is taken;

will be considered for the shortlist.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with a CERN-wide contract review board. The review board will be composed of one or more:

• member(s) of a Panel nominated by the Director-General;
• representative(s) of the Department opening the post;
• representative(s) of the HR Department;
• expert(s), where needed.

The Review Board will make a recommendation to the Director-General, who will decide on the award of an indefinite contract.

You are invited to consult the documentation indicated at the beginning of this article for further details.

The next release of indefinite contract posts is scheduled for Spring 2010.

The HR Department will hold a public meeting on Monday 28 September at 10.00 a.m. in the Main Auditorium, 500/1-001 (broadcasted also in the BE Auditorium, 864/1-D02) to explain the new provisions, and in particular the procedure for the award of indefinite contracts.

HR Department

by HR Department