Senior Nuclear Safety Officer(P5)

Senior Nuclear Safety Officer(P5) – (2024/0625 (003391))

Organization

: NSNI-Operational Safety Section

Primary Location

: Austria-Vienna-Vienna-IAEA Headquarters

Job Posting

: 2024-12-04, 1:54:16 PM

Closing Date

: 2024-12-25, 10:59:00 PM

Duration in Months: 36

Contract Type: Fixed Term – Regular

Probation Period: 1 Year

Full Competitive Recruitment: Yes

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.

THIS VACANCY NOTICE MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) formulates and implements the IAEA’s nuclear safety and security programme, which encompasses the Agency’s activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the needs of its Member States related to nuclear safety and security.

The objective of the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety (NSNI) is to achieve and maintain a high level of safety of nuclear installations worldwide that are under design or construction or in operation. The Division does this by establishing standards of safety for the protection of health, including standards for nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations and facilities, and by providing for the application of these standards through, among other things, support for the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation programme, the rendering of safety review services, the promotion of education and training, the fostering of information exchange and the coordination of research and development. In addition, the Division helps ensure safety at nuclear installations by supporting international safety instruments such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors. NSNI comprises five Sections:

• External Events Safety Section
• Operational Safety Section
• Safety Assessment Section
• Regulatory Activities Section
• Research Reactor Safety Section

The main aim of the Operational Safety Section (OSS) is to enhance Member States’ capabilities to improve the operational safety of nuclear power plants through operational safety review services, the use of IAEA safety standards and continuous self-assessment. Its activities include assessment of operational safety performance, long-term operation and operating experience; promotion of management for safety and safety culture; and maintaining the international reporting system database for nuclear power plants.

Main Purpose

Reporting to the Section Head, the Senior Nuclear Safety Officer contributes to programme plans, integrates projects, and coordinates an integrated portfolio of projects to support a wide variety of Divisional programmes and services aimed at strengthening the safety of nuclear installation through proper site selection, installation design, systems design; and regulatory and operating policies and practices.

Role

The Senior Nuclear Safety Officer is:

(1) a programme planner and project integrator, planning, developing and implementing activities aimed promoting the Divisional programmatic objectives;

(2) a scientific secretary and subject matter expert, planning and leading complex Technical Meetings and consultancies;

(3) a mission leader, planning and leading complex technical safety reviews and follow-up missions; and

(4) a technical officer, developing evaluation strategies and managing integrated project teams to implement and evaluate large and complex technical cooperation and extra-budgetary operational projects and coordinated research projects.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Depending on the Section focus, functions may include to:

Organize and lead teams of internal and external experts to strengthen safety standards and improve their implementation, including to specify the way that standards are developed, implemented and evaluated.

Lead the development of methodologies to assess safety vulnerabilities and for conducting national nuclear safety assessments including consideration of external hazards, safety margins, plant vulnerabilities, and severe accident management plans.

Coordinate Agency activities related to strengthening the nuclear safety effectiveness of operating organizations with Member State regulatory bodies and industry associations.

Consult with Member States with nuclear power programmes and those planning to embark on such a programme to identify and plan initiatives to assist them to strengthen, develop, maintain and implement their capacity building programs, including education, training and exercises at the national, regional and international levels.

Identify evolving information requirements and guide the development and management of nuclear safety information systems such as the Incident Reporting System (IRS), Incident Reporting System for Research Reactors (IRSRR), and Fuel Incident Notification and Analysis System (FINAS); provide support and relevant expertise for the Incident Emergency System (IES); and participate in associated training events and exercises.

Participate as an active member and IAEA representative in professional meetings, conferences and projects.

The incumbent may perform his/her work in areas involving exposure to radioactive materials. Therefore, as an Occupationally Exposed Worker, he/she must be medically cleared by VIC Medical Service and is subject to an appropriate radiation and health monitoring programme, in accordance with the IAEA’s Radiation Safety Regulations.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Name Definition 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

Name Definition 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

Function Name Expertise Description Nuclear Safety Human and Organizational Factors for Nuclear Installations Thorough knowledge of Human and Organisational factors and their application in nuclear installations. Nuclear Safety Leadership for Safety Knowledge of leadership for safety development at all levels of a nuclear organisation. Nuclear Safety Nuclear Standards, Development and Application Knowledge of the development and application of integrated management systems and their incorporation of safety standards and behavioural expectations. Nuclear Safety Safety Assessment of Nuclear Facilities Practical experience of safety culture development and assessment at nuclear installations and a broad knowledge of methods and techniques applied on an international level.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

• Advanced university degree in engineering/physical/nuclear/chemical/mathematical/behavioural science/social psychology or a related field.
• A first level university degree in engineering/physical/nuclear/chemical/mathematical/behavioural science/social psychology or a related field with additional 2 years of experience may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.
• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience, including five years of senior level experience, and at least four years at the international level.
• Experience with the application of nuclear safety principles, standards, procedures, and guidelines, judging their appropriateness and determining the necessity for adapting them.
• Experience organizing and leading Technical Meetings, capacity building missions, and other expert and advisory missions.
• Experience conducting and managing multiple simultaneous projects.
• Experience in international projects an asset, particularly with developing countries.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and the ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $92731 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 55453*, 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.

Read Full Description