Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your career ?
In November 1979, after graduating from law school, Ihad the opportunity tospend two months as a temporary employee at the Collège de France, replacing someone on sick leave. At the end of this replacement, I was offered a permanent position to strengthen the human resources team. This was a position within the team in charge of the company's own budget, following the internalization of recruitment and payroll procedures. In 1987, I was appointed to the same department, first as a research and training technician, then as an assistant engineer and finally as a design engineer. OnApril 1 on April 1, 2025 (my birthday), i.e. 45 years later, I'll be leaving my job at the Collège de France and my status as the institution's Dinosaur : the affectionate nickname given to me by my dearest and closest colleagues.
What are your main responsibilities at Collège de France ?
I'm the human resources manager ( payroll and career ) for staff recruited and financed by the establishment's own budget. In concrete terms, I carry out all the administrative acts and procedures applicable to the field of human resources relating to the careers and pay of non-tenured staff (own budget).
The number of research staff has risen sharply in recent years as a result of the exponential increase in research contracts funded from the Collège de France's own budget. I've recruited, assisted, supported, consoled and sometimes mothered some of my little doctoral students and post-docs, who have come to appreciate the cocooning of the institution.
My professional career has taken place within the same department, but I haven't had the feeling of doing the same thing all these years, because the job of payroll and career manager has evolved enormously, with a real professionalization of the " HR "function.
I've never tired of my job in HR, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd sign up with my eyes shut in the same direction.
Tell us about a highlight in your career
The most memorable event I experienced in the Human Resources department was when a physicist on long-term sick leave, who had stopped his psychiatric treatment, wanted to strangle a colleague in charge of his salary. We had to get him away from her, calm him down, and put him up for four hours in the office I occupied with two other colleagues, while awaiting the arrival of the psychiatrist, dispatched by SOS Psychiatry. The psychiatrist decided to commit him, under police escort, given the dangerous nature of the situation. This highly stressful episode remains etched in my memory, and highlighted the fact that human resources teams sometimes need to be able to handle highly stressful situations, but always in a benevolent manner.
Another more convivial moment in my career : for twelve years, I was a memberof CLAS : Comité Local d'Action Sociale (Local Social Action Committee), where I was able to make a small contribution to social cohesion by organizing various festivities : ski weekends, children's shows in the Marguerite de Navarre amphitheater followed by gift-giving ceremonies, all-staff get-togethers in the Collège de France cafeteria to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau, summer barbecues on the Meudon estate and, last but not least, musical performances by our choir in the main courtyard on Fête de la Musique day.
A whole era of enriching encounters with an enthusiastic team of volunteers who have brought many convivial moments to the institution.
Have you encountered any obstacles in your career, and how did you overcome them ?
I haven't encountered any particular obstacles in my professional career.
What advice would you give to people wishing to work in research support ?
The first piece of advice I'd like to give is " Be sure of yourself and don't be afraid of adversity ! " Working in research support means dealing with change on a daily basis in a constantly evolving and changing work environment. To conclude, in the field of human resources, I think we have to know how to be professional while remaining human... and know how to leave the door open to sometimes very demanding requests !
