Vacancy Notice No. 2008/056
Position and Grade: Section Head (P-5)
Organizational Unit: Technical Support Coordination Section
Division of Technical Support
Department of Safeguards
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 24 July 2008 (re-opened on 25 November 2008)
Application Deadline: 15 December 2008
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The Department of Safeguards is the organizational hub for the IAEA's safeguards work. The IAEA inspects nuclear and related facilities under safeguards agreements with more than 140 States. Within the Department of Safeguards, the Division of Technical Support is responsible for the development and implementation of the Department's equipment systems. Within the Division, the Section for Technical Support Coordination is responsible for planning and coordinating the Department's equipment budget, contributions from Member State Support Programmes and the Department's destructive analysis of nuclear materials and environmental samples. The Section is also responsible for monitoring and reporting on the Division's performance, particularly its equipment systems. Additionally, the Section manages a project to identify and implement new tools for the detection of undeclared materials and activities. The Section has three Units, which are responsible for: planning and coordination, Member State Support Programme coordination, and novel technologies.

Main purpose
Under the general direction of the Director of the Division of Technical Support, the Head of the Section for Technical Support Coordination assists the Director in the planning of staffing, finance and equipment requirements for the Division and takes overall responsibility for planning, setting work goals and priorities, providing technical overview and guidance to members of the Section, as well as monitoring and reporting on the Section's work progress.

Role
The Section Head plays several key roles: (1) team leader and manager of a group of 22 staff, ensuring efficient and effective support to the Department of Safeguards in the areas of analytical services coordination and novel technologies; (2) coordinator of Member States Support Programmes; (3) adviser to the Director on programmatic, personnel, budgetary, scientific and technical issues; (4) facilitator of actions derived from the Equipment Coordination Committee.

Partnerships
The Section Head works closely with the Division Director and senior management of the Department of Safeguards. The Section Head engages representatives of Member States involved in the Member States Support Programmes. He/she interacts closely with the Section staff and other managers and professional staff within and outside the Division to coordinate and synergize relevant activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Plan and manage the work of the Section, prepare work plans, ensure a balanced workload distribution, monitor work performance and assess staff development needs.
  • Coordinate and advise on the preparation of the Department's budget for equipment and supplies, and equipment fund allocation; assist in the preparation of the Division's budgets and financial plans and in monitoring expenditures.
  • Provide support in Divisional personnel matters, including training.
  • Lead and guide the development and implementation of Member States Support Programmes.
  • Oversee the analytical services provided by the Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL) and the Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL), ensuring the provision of adequate and timely analytical services and their associated quality control, as well as the safe transportation and use of radioactive material in the Department of Safeguards.
  • Supervise the preparation of equipment performance reports, equipment usage statistics, standard operation procedures and other technical reports, as required.
  • Function as a member of the Equipment Coordination Committee.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Management/leadership skills:
    • Proven track record of excellent leadership including high standards of integrity, fairness and transparency to ensure and promote a work environment based on mutual respect and to perform effectively as a motivating leader in a multicultural environment;
    • Demonstrated ability to think strategically, to set direction and apply a results-based approach and quality management;
    • Thorough knowledge of human resources and budgeting/financial concepts and principles.
  • Technical expertise: Familiarity with: (i) IAEA safeguards equipment; (ii) destructive analytical techniques for the analysis of safeguards samples.
  • 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 and changing situations.
  • Learning attitude: Interest in keeping abreast of new developments and best practices in safeguards.
  • Customer orientation to support inspection activities effectively.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with IAEA staff at all levels and with representatives of Member States.
  • Strong communication skills: Ability to produce high-quality documents and to deliver effective presentations.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • Advanced university degree in applied science, chemistry or engineering.
  • At least 10 years of relevant experience with increasing responsibilities.
  • Experience in an international environment an asset.
  • Experience in the nuclear field as well as in safeguards an asset.
  • Extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary technical teams as well as funds and processes.
  • Practical experience in disciplined approaches to project management.
  • Experience in strategic planning, operational planning, budgeting, allocation of resources, procurement, property management, quality control and assurance, project management and safety.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of French, Russian or Spanish an asset.

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.