Vacancy Notice No. 2008/604
Position and Grade: Safety Officer (Safety Culture) (P-4)
Organizational Unit: Policy and Programme Support Section
Division of Nuclear Installation Safety
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 4 April 2008
Application Deadline: 19 May 2008
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term temporary assistance, 2 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security consists of two divisions, the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety and the Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety. The objective of the programme implemented by the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety, is to achieve and maintain a high level of safety of nuclear installations worldwide under design, construction or operation by: establishing standards of safety for the protection of health, including standards for nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations and facilities; and, providing for the application of these standards through, inter alia, support for the Agency's technical cooperation programme, the rendering of services, the promotion of education and training, the fostering of information exchange and the coordination of research and development.

The Policy and Programme Support Section is responsible for supporting the Division Director in defining, designing and implementing the programme, projects and tasks that impact the Division as a whole. This includes the development and verification of Divisional policy and the implementation of special projects with cross-cutting impacts, above all in the areas of the management of safety standards, integrated safety evaluations, management systems, safety culture assessment and awareness, education and training, knowledge management and internal communications. Also, the Section supports the Convention on Nuclear Safety.

The operating environment is dynamic, participative and interactive 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 Safety Officer reports to the Head of the Section.

Main purpose
As a member of a team led by the Section Head, the Safety Officer contributes to project activities by developing international safety standards, developing and implementing programmes on safety culture, enhancing the safety of nuclear installations and facilities and providing technical assistance at the request of Member States.

Role
The Safety Officer is a: (1) programme developer and implementer, contributing to planning and development of the Agency's programme in nuclear safety; (2) scientific secretary/technical expert, planning and leading moderately complex Technical Meetings; (3) mission leader, planning and leading moderately complex safety review missions; (4) technical and project officer, evaluating moderately complex technical co-operation projects, and promoting, coordinating and evaluating coordinated research projects (CRPs) in the area of the safety in nuclear installations and facilities.

Partnerships
The Safety Officer engages high level counterparts in Member State institutions on programme planning and implementation to ensure the effective transfer and sharing of technical know-how, and works with Member State representatives and advisory groups to identify needs and respond to the interests of Member States in the safety of nuclear installations and facilities.

Furthermore, the Safety Officer works closely with appropriate technical departments within the IAEA, Member State institutions and other relevant international organizations to ensure the effective implementation of nuclear installation safety activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Contribute technical knowledge to planning, developing and implementing the Agency's programme in the area of safety culture.
  • Plan and lead moderately complex technical meetings in the area of safety culture and management systems, including proposing a subject, preparing the scope, selecting participants, and coordinating the preparation of reports and documents including safety standards.
  • Plan and lead moderately complex safety review missions, preparatory meetings and follow-up visits, and the assessment of Member States' needs. Provide technical input to the preparation of mission reports.
  • Evaluate moderately complex technical cooperation projects, develop action plans, and plan, organize and participate in seminars, workshops and expert missions.
  • Conduct moderately complex studies and assessments related to issues and trends in the area of nuclear installation safety.
  • Plan, organize and conduct training for moderately complex or sensitive topics.
  • Represent the IAEA in international forums.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • In-depth knowledge and experience of nuclear safety principles and state-of-the-art nuclear safety approaches. In particular, experience in the area of safety culture and safety management is important.
  • Thorough knowledge of common approaches to regulatory aspects of nuclear safety as well as international undertakings in the area of nuclear safety.
  • 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 IAEA safety standards and national standards in the area of nuclear safety and safety culture.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • Advanced university degree in behavioural sciences, engineering or physical/nuclear sciences.
  • At least 7 years of experience in a nuclear related area, including 3 years in safety culture.
  • Experience at the international level desirable.
  • Fluency in English essential. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) desirable.

NOTE: This is not an established Agency post. It is fixed term temporary assistance post, subject to the availability of funds.

Remuneration
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $63 052 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $44 578*, dependency benefits, 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.