Vacancy Notice No. 2008/610
Position and Grade: Radiation Protection Specialist (P-4)
Organizational Unit: Radiation Protection Unit
Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section
Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 18 August 2008 (re-opened on 14 April 2009)
Application Deadline: 12 May 2009
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term Temporary Assistance, 2 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety develops and maintains standards for radiation protection, radioactive waste safety and safety in the transport of radioactive material that enable the beneficial uses of radiation to be exploited while ensuring appropriate protection of workers, the public and medical patients. It also assists Member States in the implementation of these standards and provides related services.

The Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section is responsible for the delineation of a global radiation safety regime to protect workers, patients and the public from all types of exposure to natural or artificial radiation, according to the most recent scientific knowledge and information. The Section is also responsible for the provision of radiation monitoring and protection services for staff members and experts who may be exposed to ionizing radiation due to activities conducted by the IAEA.

The Radiation Protection Unit is responsible for supporting the Radiation Safety Standards Committee (RASSC) and for providing oversight of the development of radiation safety standards within the Safety Standards Series. It serves as the focal point for the development of general radiation protection documents for all types of exposure and situations, and for their integration and implementation. It also develops safety standards and guidance related to the protection of the public in exposure situations arising from the use of material from NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) and from interventions in existing exposure situations resulting from emergencies. Finally, it maintains professional links with other international and specialist organizations concerned with radiation safety and promotes international coherence and consistency of radiation safety practice.

The environment of the Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety is dynamic, participative and interactive with continuous inputs received from internal technical counterparts and external counterparts in Member States, from other international organizations and from the international scientific community.

Main purpose
The Radiation Protection Specialist reports to the Unit Head and is responsible for implementing activities related to the protection of the public in exposure situations arising from the use of material from NORM and from interventions in existing exposure situations resulting from emergencies. This includes short term countermeasures and radiation protection criteria for goods, food and drinking water.

Role
The Radiation Protection Specialist plays two key roles: (1) substantive expert, developing international recommendations and guidance related to the reduction of public exposure to radiation; (2) adviser, providing authoritative and objective information to Member States and working with them to identify means of reducing exposure to the public from NORM and emergency exposure situations.

Partnerships
The Radiation Protection Specialist engages counterparts in Member States concerned with public exposure to radiation to ensure the completeness and coherence of international guidance, and to promote not only the national adoption of international safety standards, but also international cooperation in the area. In developing this approach, the Radiation Protection Specialist works closely with the Unit Head, other staff in the Division and elsewhere in the Agency in order to achieve the desired objectives.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Lead the development of safety standards documents and guidance material on specific areas, ensuring that they reflect international consensus and state-of-the-art knowledge.
  • Build and maintain strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of stakeholders in Member States and other international organizations to promote the application of international safety standards.
  • Work together with staff in other organizational areas involved in activities related to NORM and to interventions in existing exposure situations resulting from emergencies, to ensure a consistent and harmonized approach is reflected throughout the Agency's documents and guidance.
  • Promote the exchange of information among specialists on an international level of the latest technical developments in the area, e.g. through the enhancement of information and its availability on the subject area, through the organization of special projects on specific technical topics and through technical meetings, with the aim of establishing a wide outreach and practical implementation of the IAEA's programme in Member States.
  • Communicate the results and feedback of Member State and Agency activities to a wider audience beyond higher-level management, including other Member States, through the preparation of papers, articles and documents for publication.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Thorough knowledge of radiation protection principles and the science on which they are based.
  • Knowledge of the IAEA's International Basic Safety Standards, the Safety Standards Series of publications and of other relevant international safety standards.
  • Demonstrated project management skills.
  • 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 situations.
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare documents of a high scientific and technical quality and accuracy.
  • Demonstrated presentation skills and ability to lecture at training courses.
  • Interpersonal skills:
    • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with IAEA staff at all levels, with representatives of Member States and with counterparts in international organizations;
    • Ability to facilitate working in a team environment with scientific, technical and administrative staff and to build and maintain collaborative partnerships across organizational boundaries;
    • Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • Advanced university degree (or equivalent) in health physics or a related scientific discipline.
  • At least 7 years' experience in radiation protection, including at least 4 years' experience in the reduction of public exposure and emergency exposure situations.
  • Experience in the development of international safety standards and guidance on radiation protection and in the implementation of those standards.
  • Regulatory experience would be an advantage.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of French, Russian or Spanish would be an asset.

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

Remuneration
The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $64 521 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $31 615*, 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.