Vacancy Notice No. 2008/905
Position and Grade: Unit Head (P-5)
Organizational Unit: Nuclear Security Unit
Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay Section
Division of Technical Support
Department of Safeguards
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 7 July 2008 (re-opened on 27 February 2009)
Application Deadline: 5 March 2009
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term Temporary Assistance, 2 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 section for Attended and Unattended Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) is one of four sections in the Division and is mainly responsible for portable and resident NDA equipment. The Nuclear Security Equipment Laboratory (NSEL) is a group within the Section which exploits synergies in safeguards instrumentation and logistics to provide technical support to the Office of Nuclear Security in the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

Main purpose
To realize the NSEL goals and objectives, provide diverse technical support, manage the available resources and conduct research within the framework of a coordinated research project (CRP). Based on the provision of effective and efficient NSEL service, to improve the performance of equipment for nuclear security applications and the overall capability of Member States to combat illicit trafficking and other malicious acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material.

Role
The Unit Head has several roles: manager and team leader, ensuring that programmes and tasks are implemented effectively; innovator of radiation detection techniques; adviser on methodologies; evaluator of radiation detection systems used to monitor for the possible presence of nuclear and radioactive material.

Partnerships
The Unit Head is the key NSEL counterpart for colleagues in the Section for Attended and Unattended NDA and clients in the Office of Nuclear Security. He/she also provides liaison with authorities in Member States responsible for the implementation of nuclear security measures, provides definitive technical requirements to vendors to improve the performance of radiation detection instruments and collaborates on technical matters with research institutions under a CRP framework.

Functions / Key Results Expected
The Unit Head leads NSEL in providing a service for Member States to enhance their capability to detect and respond to illicit trafficking of nuclear material and other radioactive material. NSEL supports the Office of Nuclear Security in the implementation of the programme for strengthening Member States' abilities to detect and respond to criminal and unauthorized acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material. In particular, to:
  • Plan, coordinate and supervise the activities of NSEL staff in order to ensure delivery of the programme objectives, covering acceptance testing of radiation detection equipment, travel activities, R&D and maintenance of laboratory facilities and equipment, development and follow-up of the work plan, including travel, budget and other activities, for the team.
  • Update specifications and develop test procedures for border monitoring equipment along with implementation of new technologies to increase Member States' capabilities to counteract illicit trafficking.
  • Develop and implement training courses for Member State authorities and front line officers on methodologies and techniques to detect, identify and assay seized material. In collaboration with Office of Nuclear Security teams, provide analysis to assess Member State capabilities and needs for combating illicit trafficking and terrorism activities related to nuclear material.
  • Maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of relevant radiation detection equipment.
  • Identify, select and evaluate advanced radiation detection instruments and technologies for deployment and implementation in Member States.
  • With guidance from the Section Head, implement and administer the CRP to address on-going R&D issues involving nuclear security. Follow up on tasks and activities and organize Research Coordination Meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Innovative thinking and strong analytical and problem solving skills to deal with complex situations.
  • Technical expertise:
    • Ability to design, develop or implement radiation detection instruments used to detect the presence of illicit nuclear material;
    • 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 border radiation detection and low level detection measurements.
  • 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.
  • Management skills: Ability to manage human, financial and material resources to achieve stated objectives and to provide effective guidance to a team of professionals and support staff.
  • Learning attitude: Ability to keep abreast of technological developments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with internal and external counterparts (designers, manufacturers and facility operators).
  • 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 nuclear physics with specialization in subjects relevant to detecting nuclear and other radioactive materials.
  • At least 10 years of relevant work experience in the development of radiation detection equipment, detection and characterization of nuclear and radioactive materials to combat illicit trafficking, and with border radiation detection instrumentation and techniques.
  • Of those, at least 5 years of experience in supervising staff, preferably with formal management experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, operational planning, budgeting, allocation of resources, procurement, property management, quality control and assurance, project management and safety.
  • Experience in developing, evaluating, and implementing various types of radiation detection equipment (gamma ray detectors: scintillation detectors - CsI, NaI, LaBr3, Li-6I, plastic; semiconductor detectors - HPGe, CdZnTe; neutron detectors: He-3 proportional counters, Li-6I).
  • Experience in gamma ray spectroscopy, particularly isotope identification (both with semiconductor and scintillation detectors).
  • Experience in developing, refining, and revising specifications and test procedures for radiation detection equipment for border monitoring.
  • Experience in developing and delivering lectures and presentations regarding radiation detection technologies for border monitoring and their uses.
  • Experience in working with radioactive sources.
  • Demonstrated experience in computer data acquisition systems.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English.

NOTE: The incumbent of the post will be considered to be a radiation worker and be subject to an appropriate programme of physical and special medical surveillance arranged by the IAEA.
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 $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.