Vacancy Notice No. 2008/053
Position and Grade: Unit Head (P-5)
Organizational Unit: Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay Section
Division of Technical Support
Department of Safeguards
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 24 July 2008 (re-opened on 11 November 2008)
Application Deadline: 10 December 2008
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The IAEA's Department of Safeguards is responsible for verifying that nuclear material held by Member States is not diverted from peaceful uses. The IAEA inspects nuclear and related facilities under safeguards agreements with more than 140 States.

The Division of Technical Support is responsible for providing technical support in safeguards specific equipment matters to the three Operations Divisions in the Department.

The Portable and Resident Non-destructive Assay (NDA) Unit deals with attended NDA techniques and equipment for safeguards activities at nuclear facilities. The Unit is located in the Section for Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay as part of the Division of Technical Support. The operating environment is collaborative, with due regard given to confidentiality.

Main purpose
As a team leader reporting to the Head of the Section for Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay, the incumbent leads the Portable and Resident NDA Unit in the planning, supervision and implementation of its activities in cradle-to-grave responsibility for the attended NDA equipment assigned to the Unit, including the management of the scientists, engineers and technicians involved.

Role
The Unit Head plays several key roles: team leader, ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of the equipment development, installation, service and verification activities; adviser to the other Unit Heads and Section Heads in the Division and to the Director of the Division on verification related matters using NDA techniques; and advocate for the Unit's administrative matters.

Partnerships
The Head of the Portable and Resident NDA Unit provides supervision and guidance to the Unit's staff members. He/she establishes links and engages with Section Heads, Unit Heads and application specialists by providing support related to safeguards equipment that utilizes NDA verification features. The Unit Head also works closely with representatives of the Operations Divisions to support their verification needs. He/she interfaces with external counterparts in NDA related matters. He/she builds partnerships with external R&D organizations and commercial equipment manufacturers on NDA technologies to exchange information and experiences and to manage and evaluate products delivered by such organizations.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Manage the planning, scheduling, development and implementation of attended NDA techniques and equipment for IAEA safeguards applications, including the related budget.
  • Provide expert advice and support to the three Operations Divisions to determine implementation requirements and ensure that all requirements are satisfied within available resources.
  • Assume responsibilities as the project manager for R&D activities. This includes planning, initiation/review of requests, assignment of project task officers and their alternates, tracking of schedules, cost and milestones, re-baselining and implementation as required.
  • Review, analyse and assess the quality and effectiveness of attended NDA verification implementation and propose changes to increase effectiveness and to ensure the quality of services.
  • Oversee the evaluation and testing of attended NDA systems and components prior to deployment in the field.
  • Provide advice and guidance to staff in their dealings with States' R&D organizations and commercial equipment developers and manufacturers.
  • Draft and present clear and concise plans and presentations covering strategy, sustainability, standardization, project management, implementation, maintenance and procurement needs, technical specifications and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Innovative thinking and strong analytical and problem solving skills to deal with complex situations.
  • Technical expertise:
    • Ability to design, develop, and implement nuclear detector instrumentation and related data acquisition systems applied to attended safeguards NDA, such as high-resolution gamma, low-resolution gamma and neutron counters. These are used to verify the presence, absence, amount and unique characteristics of plutonium, uranium and spent fuel;
    • Demonstrated ability to develop, test, install and document the performance and reliability of instrumentation;
    • Knowledge of the application of nuclear instrumentation for the specific purpose of NDA of nuclear material.
  • Adherence to principles and values: A high standard of integrity, fairness and transparency to ensure and promote a work environment based on mutual respect and trust.
  • Leadership skills: Ability to communicate a common and inspiring vision, to provide others with a clear direction, to adopt a strategic approach and to act as a catalyst for change.
  • Learning attitude: Ability to keep abreast of technological developments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with internal and external (designers, manufacturers and facility operators) counterparts.
  • Strong communication skills including effective presentation skills and the ability to write and edit technical reports.
  • Quality and customer orientation.
  • Planning and organizing skills:
    • Demonstrated ability to set clearly defined objectives and to plan activities/projects well in advance, taking into account possible changing circumstances;
    • Ability to identify and organize the required internal and external resources and to monitor performance against very tight deadlines and milestones.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • Advanced university (or equivalent) degree in physics, applied physics or electrical engineering.
  • At least 10 years of work experience in the development, deployment, production or use of nuclear NDA instrumentation, including some experience with IAEA instrumentation.
  • Of those, at least 5 years of experience in supervising staff, preferably with formal management experience.
  • Experience with nuclear NDA safeguards equipment support.
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, operational planning, budgeting, allocation of resources, procurement, property management, quality control and assurance, project management and safety.
  • Experience in the set-up, diagnostics and troubleshooting of IAEA NDA instrumentation and data acquisition computer set-up and configuration.
  • Detailed design, development or implementation experience with nuclear detectors and related data acquisition systems applied to safeguards NDA, such as high-resolution gamma, low-resolution gamma and neutron counters.
  • Demonstrated experience in computer data acquisition systems applied to NDA instruments.
  • Demonstrated experience with unattended monitoring software for NDA, such as FRAM, INCC and MIC.
  • Experience in modelling complex gamma and neutron detector systems, such as with MCNP(X) or Ensslin FOM.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English.

Remuneration
The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $75 432 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $59 440*, 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

* 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. 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 to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.