Senior Nuclear Engineer (INPRO)(P5)

Senior Nuclear Engineer (INPRO)(P5) – (2025/0534 (127721))

Organization

: NENP-INPRO Section

Primary Location

: Austria-Vienna-Vienna-IAEA Headquarters

Job Posting

: 2025-10-08, 1:32:22 PM

Closing Date

: 2025-10-28, 10:59:00 PM

Duration in Months: 36

Contract Type: Fixed Term – Regular

Probation Period: 1 Year

Full Competitive Recruitment: Yes

This selection exercise may be used to generate a roster of pre-approved candidates to address future staffing needs for similar functions in any of the Departments and Offices of the Organization.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the closing date for submission of applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

Organizational Setting

The objective of the Department of Nuclear Energy (NE) is to foster the efficient and safe use of nuclear power by supporting interested Member States in: improving the performance of nuclear power plants, the nuclear fuel cycle, and the management of nuclear wastes; catalysing innovation in nuclear power and fuel cycle technologies; developing indigenous capabilities around the world for national energy planning; deploying new nuclear power plants; preserving and disseminating nuclear information and knowledge; and advancing science and industry through improved operation of research reactors.

The department has a dynamic, participative and interactive operating environment with inputs received from the Board of Governors, the General Conference, policy and decision-makers, and technical counterparts in Member States and the international development community.

The Division of Nuclear Power comprises the Nuclear Power Engineering Section (NPES), the Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section (NIDS), the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles) Section (INPRO) and the Nuclear Power Technology Development Section (NPTDS). The Division provides core engineering, technological, capacity building and management support to interested Member States in the field of nuclear power.

The INPRO Section implements and coordinates the activities of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles. The Section assists Member States in analysis of global and regional nuclear energy scenarios, in building and assessment of sustainable national long term nuclear energy strategies, in cooperation on selected technical and institutional innovations and in fostering strategic dialogue between nuclear technology holders and users on these subjects.

Main Purpose

Within the INPRO Section, the Senior Nuclear Engineer (INPRO) reports to the Section Head. The primary technical focus is to be the Task Leader for INPRO Task 2: Innovations, which has the objective to investigate innovative nuclear energy technologies and institutional arrangements that support development of sustainable nuclear energy. This Task primarily focuses on issues that are crucial to support increased public acceptance and the sustainability of nuclear energy systems. In that role, the Senior Nuclear Engineer (INPRO) assists the Section Head in the management and leadership of the Task and plans and implements it, including the development and implementation of Collaborative Projects performed by participating experts from INPRO member countries. INPRO Collaborative Projects provide an international venue for cooperation on a broad range of topics selected to address current issues of interest to Member States on sustainable development of nuclear energy systems. He/she works directly with the Section Head and supports integration of all INPRO Task Areas into a coordinated platform to provide services in INPRO member countries.

Role

The Senior Nuclear Engineer (INPRO) is: (1) a Task Leader, assisting the Section Head in management and leadership of the Innovations Task; (2) a programme developer and implementer, further integrating the INPRO Subprogramme through development of INPROs Innovations Task, fully coordinating with materials and resources developed under the other INPRO Task areas; (3) a scientific secretary, planning and leading Consultancy, Technical and Training Meetings; (4) a recognized technical and institutional subject matter expert directly developing the INPRO Section’s technological and institutional perspectives on topical areas addressed by INPRO collaborative projects; (5) a conceptual innovator, working with the Section Head and with other Task Leaders to further integrate and coordinate the technical content of all the INPRO Tasks and propose new activities under Task 2 that will directly benefit progress and further integration of the other INPRO Task areas; (6) a facilitator and coordinator of cooperation with other Sections, Divisions, and Departments in the IAEA dealing with INPRO-related areas of work; (7) a developer and manager of relationships with Member State experts and their institutions that participate in INPRO collaborative projects; (8) a senior advisor to the INPRO Section Head on technical, institutional and management issues.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Provide advice to the Section Head in the management and leadership of the Innovations Task, giving specific advice on the projects and their direction in support of further integration of all the Task Areas of INPRO.
• Broaden and deepen knowledge of INPRO focus areas within Member States by planning and organizing Collaborative Projects involving Technical Meetings, Consultancy Meetings, training efforts, preparing work programmes, contributing to the preparation and development and editing of technical reports, manuals, proceedings and other documents, and organizing in-house meetings in support of the Section’s work programme.
• Coordinate an integrated delivery of INPRO’s tools and services to Member States and promote the exchange of information on INPRO activities.

In coordination with Section Head and the other Task Leaders, develop concepts to further integrate the INPRO Task Areas into a coordinated platform to deliver services to INPRO member countries.

• Ensure the continued high standing and recognition of the IAEA in the technical community by representing the IAEA at international meetings as required.
• Establish and maintain contacts with individual technical and institutional experts at various centres and at other relevant international organizations, committees and scientific societies, promote INPRO activities to potential partners and mobilize their participation in the joint projects and initiatives.
• Cooperate and coordinate with other IAEA Sections and Divisions and with other international organizations on topics of mutual interest and provide assistance, as required, in other activities of the Division, the Department and to other IAEA Departments on subjects of relevance to INPRO.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

NameDefinition

Planning and Organizing

Plans and organizes his/her own work in support of achieving the team or Section’s priorities. Takes into account potential changes and proposes contingency plans.

Communication

Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise and impartial manner. Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and proposes solutions.

Achieving Results

Takes initiative in defining realistic outputs and clarifying roles, responsibilities and expected results in the context of the Department/Division’s programme. Evaluates his/her results realistically, drawing conclusions from lessons learned.

Teamwork

Actively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions.

Functional Competencies

NameDefinition

Judgement/decision making

Consults with supervisor/manager and takes decisions in full compliance with the Agency’s regulations and rules. Makes decisions reflecting best practice and professional theories and standards.

Partnership building

Identifies and builds partnerships. Develops and maintains long lasting partnerships to strengthen relationships. Delivers programmatic outputs and acquires resources in support of Agency goals.

Technical/scientific credibility

Ensures that work is in compliance with internationally accepted professional standards and scientific methods. Provides scientifically/technically accepted information that is credible and reliable.

Required Expertise

FunctionNameExpertise Description

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities

Broad knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle facilities from the front end to the back end.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development

Broad knowledge and practical professional experience of how national nuclear institutions (regulators and ministries) operate and coordinate and of related international institutions.

Nuclear Engineering

Technology for Innovative Fuel Cycles and Advanced Reactors

Expert knowledge related to one or more of the reactor designs and/or related fuel cycle design areas.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

• Bachelor’s Degree – University degree in the same subjects with two years of additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced degree.
• Master’s Degree – Master’s in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry or Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum of 10 years professional experience in the nuclear energy field (nuclear energy R&D laboratory and/or nuclear power and/or nuclear fuel cycle industry), of which 4 years in an international project context.
• Demonstrated professional experience as a team leader on engineering and technical projects for at least 3 years.
• Specific professional experience working for, or in close cooperation with, a national nuclear institution such as a national laboratory, nuclear ministry, nuclear TSO or nuclear regulator.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Chinese, French and Russian) is an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $101540 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 57269*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; Other benefits include 6 weeks’ annual leave, home leave travel, pension plan and health insurance. More information on the conditions of employment can be found at: https://www.iaea.org/about/employment/professional-staff/conditions

General Information

• The IAEA’s paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff member is to secure employees of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• Staff Members shall be selected without any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person’s race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristic or trait.
• The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to promoting a diverse workforce. Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are strongly 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.
• The IAEA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and the IAEA, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Evaluation process

• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the selection criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
• Candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Appointment information

• Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report.
• Staff members may be assigned to any location.
• Candidates appointed to posts in the Professional and higher categories are subject to IAEA rotation policy and their maximum tour of service shall normally be seven years.
• 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.

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