Vacancy Notice No. 2009/080


Position and Grade:	Centre Head (P-5)
Organizational Unit:	International Seismic Safety Centre Division of Nuclear Installation Safety Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
Duty Station:	Vienna, Austria
Issue Date:	31 August 2009 (re-opened on 11 November 2009)
Application Deadline:	25 November 2009
Type/Duration of Appointment:	Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) 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 (NSNI) is to achieve and maintain a high level of safety of nuclear installations under design, construction or operation worldwide by: establishing and promulgating standards of safety for the protection of health, including standards for nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations and facilities (such as research reactors and fuel cycle facilities); and providing for the application of these standards through, inter alia, the rendering of safety review and advisory services, the promotion of capacity building through education and training, the fostering of information and operating experience exchanges, the coordination of research and development and support for the Agency's technical co-operation programme. In addition, NSNI helps assure safety at nuclear installations by promulgating international safety instruments such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors.

The objective of the International Seismic Safety Centre (ISSC) is to serve as a global focal point for information and expertise on nuclear installations regarding seismic and other external hazards, as well as the selection and evaluation of the sites for these facilities, including their related design and site environmental aspects, and to facilitate broad participation from the communities of academia, engineering and nuclear regulators and industry.

The main fields of activity of the Centre are the safety aspects of: (1) site selection and site evaluation; (2) design to protect against external and internal events of natural and human-induced origin, plant layout, structural mechanics and civil engineering. The Centre also collects and disseminates the experience and lessons learned from the occurrence of extreme external events, including the organization of related databases, implementation of topical research projects and assistance to Member States in the aftermath of major natural events (earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme meteorological phenomena, volcanism, etc.).

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 nuclear community.

Main purpose

Reporting to the Director, the Centre Head is the manager and team leader of the International Seismic Safety Centre (ISSC), initiating, developing and implementing the IAEA's policy and programme in relation to the areas under the responsibility of the Centre. He/she leads the Centre's activities, to ensure the efficacy of the IAEA's programme on a global level, and manages the Centre's financial and human resources.

Role

The ISSC Centre Head is: (a) a programme manager in a specialized, multilateral environment with diverse views on the issues, finding practical solutions and presenting arguments that can achieve results; (b) an adviser, providing analysis and background information to the Director on the formulation and implementation of strategies and policies related to the Centre's technical responsibilities; (c) a managerial team leader, planning, managing, coordinating and supervising the activities of the Centre in accordance with IAEA policies and programmes and Member States' needs and ensuring that programmes and tasks are implemented effectively; (d) a promoter, conveying to multiple audiences the IAEA's vision and mission in the area of activity of the Centre; (e) a substantive expert contributor, managing and implementing projects of particular complexity and/or sensitivity; and (f) a facilitator of cooperation with other organizations and with other Departments in the IAEA dealing with this area of work.

Partnerships

The Centre Head engages with senior technical and political counterparts in Member States and in other international, multilateral and bilateral, national and specialized organizations concerned with the technical areas under the Centre's responsibility to promote the IAEA's activities and to ensure the IAEA's programme maintains its highly recognized level. In developing this approach and managing the Centre, the Centre Head works closely with the Director and the other Section Heads, and with senior staff in the Department and the Secretariat in achieving the desired goals. The Centre Head also works closely with and coordinates work with the Department of Technical Cooperation and other Departments to ensure seamless integration of all projects and programmes. The Centre Head builds and maintains strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of stakeholders in Member States, international and other governmental organizations to ensure acceptance of the IAEA's relevant standards. He/she leads efforts within the IAEA to ensure the coherence and synergy of related programmes of work.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Plan, initiate, develop, implement, guide, coordinate and supervise the activities of the Centre, and provide technical and managerial leadership of the ISSC in the following areas:
- site selection and evaluation processes for new and existing nuclear installations, including site-related environmental aspects;
- seismic safety of new and existing nuclear installations, including all aspects of hazard assessment, design and qualification, and safety re-evaluation;
- safety of new and existing nuclear installations against other external natural and human-induced events, including those of malevolent origin and covering all aspects of hazard assessment, design and qualification, and safety re-evaluation, from the point of view of the site, plant layout, structural mechanics and geotechnical and civil engineering aspects;
- design safety of new and existing nuclear installations against external and similar internal events.
Collect and disseminate experience, findings and lessons learned from the occurrence of extreme external events including the organization of related databases, implementation of topical research projects and assistance in the aftermath of major natural events through:
- organizing scientific meetings, preparing scientific programmes, and contributing to the preparation and editing of scientific reports, manuals, proceedings and other scientific publications;
- establishing and maintaining contacts with individual scientists at various centres and in other relevant international organizations, committees and scientific societies.
Plan, direct and lead the development, review and publication of the safety standards which are under the responsibility of the Centre.
Plan, organize and lead complex safety review missions to nuclear installations worldwide, such as a comprehensive and tailored-to-needs set of Site Safety Review Services (SSRS).
Identify strategies and analyse information to enhance the capability of the Centre's programme to address Member States' needs, and lead the IAEA's activities related to supporting the further strengthening of the international nuclear safety regime in the assigned technical areas.
Coordinate the Centre's provision of specialized technical input to technical cooperation projects in the subject area.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of relevant international nuclear safety standards.
Knowledge of scientific and technical fields related to site selection, site evaluation and related hazard assessment and design aspects of the safety of nuclear installations, including awareness of current issues in this field which may influence the IAEA's programme of work.
Knowledge of structural mechanics, plant layout, civil engineering and site-related environmental aspects, which are essential for the multi-disciplinary activities specific to the post.
Demonstrated ability to manage human, financial and material resources to achieve established objectives and to plan and manage work programmes.
Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team of professional and support staff and provide effective guidance to them, to provide feedback on performance and to encourage staff development.
Demonstrated analytical skills in interpreting organizational procedures and guidelines, judging their appropriateness and determining the necessity for adapting them, if required.
Demonstrated ability to set clearly defined objectives and to plan activities/projects well in advance, taking into account possible changing circumstances, and to monitor performance against deadlines, milestones and resources.
Demonstrated ability to exercise unbiased, tactful and prudent judgement on sensitive issues on the basis of in-depth factual analysis.
Strong ability to deliver presentations/briefings to a diverse target audience and ability to write and edit analytical and policy documents.
Ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of stakeholders in the IAEA and in Member States to ensure the visibility and impact of the Centre's activities.

Education, Experience and Language Skills

Advanced degree in engineering or physical/nuclear sciences or equivalent experience, with in-depth knowledge and broad experience of several of the scientific and technical disciplines of earth and engineering sciences related to site selection, site evaluation and design and protection of nuclear installations against external events.
At least 10 years' experience in nuclear-related applications, of which 5 should be in a senior position.
At least 4 years' experience at the international level.
Fluency in oral and written English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is desirable.

Remuneration

The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $77 190 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $50 945*, 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.