Fundraising Operations & Grants Officer (SR-SE-PF-2026-72-GRAE)

Are you passionate about fundraising and partnerships?

Would you like to work at the world's leading particle-physics laboratory and thrive?

Come and join the Fundraising and Partnerships (FP) section in the Stakeholder Engagement (SE) group in the Stakeholder Relations (SR) sector!

The Fundraising and Partnerships section coordinates and conducts philanthropic fundraising at or on behalf of CERN and the CERN & Society Foundation, as well as the dissemination of, and compliance with, CERN's fundraising standards, including the Ethical Policy and the Policy for the Recognition of Donors. The CERN & Society Foundation, established in June 2014, is a charity through which philanthropic support for CERN & Society projects are raised from companies, trusts/foundations and individuals.

As a junior Fundraising Operations & Grants Officer, under the supervision of the Head of Fundraising and Partnerships, you will play a key role in the operations of the CERN & Society Foundation. You will manage formal obligations to authorities, support the Foundation's governing body, and oversee financial processes in close collaboration with CERN's Legal Service and Finance and Administrative Processes department.

In parallel, you will work alongside CERN project leaders to manage institutional and foundation donor relationships, including proposal preparation, compliance monitoring, and reporting.

This role combines operational stewardship with the management of internal and external relationships, ensuring seamless donor engagement and a sustainable flow of resources to the CERN & Society Foundation.

Your responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Head of Fundraising and Partnerships section and in close collaboration with the other members of the team, the Fundraising Operations & Grants Officer will perform the following tasks:

Operations:

• Oversight of CERN & Society Foundation donation accounts, preparation and control of Foundation's annual budget.
• Contribution to the annual external audit of the CERN & Society Foundation and to all required financial and substantial reporting to authorities, jointly with relevant CERN departments.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable policies, donor requirements, and legal obligations.
• Acting as a liaison for the CERN & Society Foundation Board, handling of all formal matters related to the Board operation and organisation of the Board meetings.

Grants Management and Partnerships:

• Preparation of philanthropic grant proposals, oversight of the project deliverables and timelines, preparation of reports.
• Based on project fundraising needs, conducting prospect research within the institutional and foundation landscape, preparation of approaches, cultivation of prospects and stewardship of donors.
• Financial oversight of grant funds in close exchange with other relevant sections and departments of CERN.
• Maintaining accurate records of grants, donors and reporting obligations in the relevant systems.
• If necessary, performance of any other unforeseen tasks as determined by the Head of the Fundraising and Partnerships section.

Your profile:

• Managing operations within a non-profit charitable context.
• Working with external stakeholders.
• Working with a fundraising CRM.

Skills:

• Understanding of fundraising processes, grants management, donor reporting and stewardship.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and result-oriented approach.
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite, including Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high?quality outputs under time pressure.
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative and drive proposals forward.
• Desire and ability to work in a team within a large international organisation.
• Excellent spoken and written French and English are essential.
• Spoken and written both English and French.

Further details here.

Eligibility criteria:

• By the application deadline, you have a maximum of two years of professional experience since graduation in Fundraising, International Relations etc (or a related field) and your highest educational qualification is either a Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
• Applicants without University degree are not eligible.
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.

Job closing date: 09.04.2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Contract duration: 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months maximum.

Job flexibility: Fully Onsite

Target start date: 01-June-2026

This position involves:

• Work during nights, Sundays and official holidays, when required by the needs of the Organization.

Job reference: SR-SE-PF-2026-72-GRAE

Field of work: International Relations

Benchmark job: 5A0020 - Communications/Public Relations /External Relations Professional

Global Benefits

• A monthly stipend between 5266-5793 Swiss Francs per month (tax free) depending on your degree.
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your spouse and children), and membership of the CERN Pension Fund.
• Family, child and infant monthly allowances depending on your individual circumstances.
• A relocation package (installation grant and travel expenses) depending on your individual circumstances.
• Possibility to extend your contract up to 36 months.
• On-the-job and formal training including language classes.

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us, here: careers.cern