Closing date: Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Position and Grade: Senior Radiation Safety Specialist (P-5)

Organizational Unit: Control of Radiation Sources Unit

Regulatory Infrastructure and Transport Safety Section

Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety

Department of Nuclear Safety and Security

Duty Station: Vienna, Austria

Issue Date: 29 October 2014

Application Deadline: 10 December 2014

Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security formulates and implements the IAEA's Major Programme 3, 'Nuclear Safety and Security', which encompasses the IAEA's activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the safety and security related needs of its Member States.

The Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety develops and maintains standards for radiation protection, radioactive waste safety, and safety in the transport of radioactive material that enable the beneficial uses of radiation to be exploited while ensuring appropriate protection of workers, the public and patients. It also assists Member States in the implementation of these standards and provides related services.

The Regulatory Infrastructure and Transport Safety Section is responsible for providing Member States with safety standards, guidance and tools to foster regulatory infrastructures for the control of radiation sources, for the safe transport of radioactive material and for managing information to identify the needs of Member States with a view to improving radiation, transport and waste safety.

Main purpose

As a key member of the project management team and reporting to the Unit Head, the Senior Radiation Safety Specialist manages, develops, organizes and implements activities aimed at strengthening radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, in particular in planning and coordinating IRRS missions to non-nuclear Member States and in overseeing the development of safety standards and guides.

Role

The Senior Radiation Safety Specialist is: (a) a programme planner and implementer, planning, developing and implementing activities aimed at strengthening radiation safety regulatory infrastructure in Member States; (b) amission leader, planning and leading high level and thorough regulatory infrastructure reviews and follow-up missions; (c) a scientific secretary, planning and leading complex technical meetings and (d) a substantive expert contributor, and a pro-active project officer, identifying needs and subsequently developing and implementing adequate technical cooperation projects in the area of radiation safety regulatory infrastructure.

Partnerships

The Senior Radiation Safety Specialist interacts with high level counterparts in Member States' governmental organizations concerned with national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety and the control of radiation sources, with a view to ensure the completeness and coherence of international guidance, and to promote both the national adoption of international safety standards and international cooperation in the area.

The Senior Radiation Safety Specialist exchanges expert knowledge with Member State regulatory and operating organizations regarding the objectives and findings of review and advisory services. In developing this approach, the Senior Radiation Safety Specialist works with managers in the Division and with the appropriate departments in the IAEA to achieve the desired objectives and goals.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Plan, develop and implement relevant aspects of the IAEA's programme in the regulatory area for radiation safety, conducting and managing projects, and drafting and finalizing publication of relevant technical reports.
• Plan and coordinate regulatory safety review missions (IRRS), preparatory meetings and follow-up visits. Identify Member State needs and make plans for the conduct of missions including the selection of appropriate experts, study relevant documents, and prepare mission reports for eventual transmittal to Member States.
• Analyse, evaluate and report on the results of IRRS missions, and develop appropriate follow-up action plans for the Member State. Formulate conclusions, recommendations and appropriate reports on IRRS missions for use by senior management in reporting to Member States.
• Develop safety standards and guidance material on specific areas, ensuring they reflect international consensus and state-of-the-art knowledge and information and that they can serve as a basis for achieving a harmonized approach to the control of radiation sources at the international level.
• Provide advice to Member States on the control of radiation sources for their full life cycle with the aim of reducing the number of orphan sources at the national and international level.
• Provide advice to States on requirements for effective national regulatory infrastructures, and increase awareness among States of the benefits of the Code and the associated guidance, and advise on their technical aspects.
• Provide advice and training to Member States on the assessment of the effectiveness of national regulatory programmes for the control of radiation sources and facilities.
• Promote regulatory self-assessment methodology in Member States, based on the IAEA methodology.
• Identify areas in which regulatory training in Member States is needed and implement all technical aspects of such training events.
• Implement action plans resulting from the assessment and appraisal missions through the IAEA's technical cooperation, regular budget and extra budgetary programmes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of radiation protection principles and the science on which they are based.
• Thorough knowledge of the IAEA's Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety, (GSR Part1), Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards(GSR Part 3), related safety standards publications, and of the Code of Conduct on the safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and the associated import/export guidance.
• Thorough knowledge of common approaches to regulatory aspects of radiation, transport and waste safety as well as international undertakings in the area.
• Ability to assess international radiation, transport and waste safety and regulatory issues in their complexity, including their international political and economic context.

Familiarity with the IRRS and self-assessment methodologies, RAIS and regulatory training packages. Expertise in project management. Demonstrated analytical skills in drawing well-balanced conclusions when dealing with complex issues and in interpreting procedures and guidelines in order to adapt them to cover complex situations. Demonstrated ability to prepare documents of a high technical quality and accuracy.Communication skills:

• Strong presentation skills.
• Ability to write and edit technical reports, standards in English.

Interpersonal skills:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with IAEA staff at all levels and with representatives of Member States.
• Ability to work as a team member in a cooperative manner with other colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Education, Experience and Language Skills

• Advanced university degree in the field of nuclear engineering or radiation safety or a science appropriate to the duties of the post.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in radiation safety, including minimum 7 years of experience in radiation safety regulatory infrastructure in a senior position.
• Regulatory experience highly desirable.
• Experience in the IAEA's IRRS programme highly desirable.
• Experience in the evaluation of the national radiation safety infrastructure and application of international safety standards in developing countries.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish would be an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $80 887 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $46 267*, dependency benefits, diplomatic status, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance.

How to apply to the IAEA

Complete an Online Application

Subject to change without notice

Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged

Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.

Application details: https://recruitment.iaea.org/vacancies/p/2014/2014_155.html