Background

The CERN Pension Fund is the pension fund of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The purpose of the Fund is to provide pension and benefits to CERN and ESO employees, former employees and their families. CERN’s overall mission is to enable international collaboration in the field of high-energy particle physics research. ESO’s mission is to enable major scientific discoveries by constructing and operating powerful ground-based observational facilities that are beyond the capabilities of individual member states and also to foster international cooperation in astronomy. Operating as a capitalised defined benefit scheme, the CERN Pension Fund's assets are around CHF5 billion with 3,300 beneficiaries and more than 4,400 members.

The Fund is an integral part of CERN but with operational autonomy. The oversight of the fund is entrusted to the Pension Fund Governing Board (PFGB) which is assisted by an Actuarial and Technical Committee (ATC) and Investment Committee (IC).

The management of the Fund is entrusted to the Chief Executive Officer who is accountable to the PFGB and is supported by the Pension Fund Management Unit (PFMU).

Further details and information regarding the organization of the Fund (including its governance structure, investment principles, benefits structure etc.) can be found on the Fund’s website.

The composition of the IC provides for two external professional experts and there is currently an opening for one member, effective from 13 May 2027.

Role and composition of the IC

The functions of the IC are laid down in Article I 2.10 of the Fund’s rules and, amongst other things, include making proposals to the PFGB regarding the Fund’s Statement of Investment Principles, reviewing the Fund’s investment performance, and monitoring the Fund’s risk tolerance.

The composition of the IC is laid down in Article I 2.11 of the Fund’s rules. The IC is required to have at least four members, comprising two members of the Governing Board appointed by the latter, two external professional experts appointed by the Governing Board, and any additional member(s) that the Governing Board may decide to appoint, who can be either Governing Board members with relevant experience or external experts.

The members of the IC are appointed for a maximum period of three years, renewable once for a further maximum consecutive period of three years.

Description of work

The IC holds four meetings per year, including a joint meeting with the PFGB, but additional meetings or conference calls may be scheduled if required. Typically, meetings last a full day and take place at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Professional members are expected to attend every IC meeting. Professional members are required to act in the best interests of the Fund and to abide by the CERN Code of Conduct and the Guidelines for implementation of said Code.

Qualifications and requirements

Candidates are required to possess deep and extensive experience of overseeing the asset management processes of large pension funds, or similar long-term institutional investors, such as endowments, foundations, and sovereign wealth funds.

Candidates should have academic and/or professional qualifications and practitioner experience in some or all of the following areas:          

• Long term asset studies
• Portfolio construction
• Investment risk management
• Equities
• Fixed income
• Real estate
• Private equity
• Hedge funds
• Other asset classes including infrastructure, timber, farmland, and commodities

Fees

A market-competitive fee will be payable to external experts appointed who are not in the employment of CERN or ESO. Further information shall be provided at the selection stage.

Applications

Interested persons should apply with a CV (.PDF format) by clicking "I'm interested" on this link.

Deadlines

Applications will be accepted until 15 November 2026. Interviews for selected candidates will take place by Zoom videoconference.