Response and Assistance Officer(P4)
JOB DETAIL
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please note that the closing date for submission of applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.
Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) formulates and implements the IAEA’s nuclear safety and security programme, which encompasses the IAEA’s activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the needs of its Member States related to nuclear safety and nuclear security.The Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) is part of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security and reports to the Deputy Director General, Head of the Department. The IEC serves as the IAEA’s focal point for preparedness and response to nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies regardless of their cause, and for strengthening Member States’ preparedness for response.
Main Purpose
Reporting to the Response System Coordinator, the Response and Assistance Officer is the Coordinator’s backup and the IAEA’s focal point for emergency assistance who maintains, develops and strengthens the Response and Assistance Network (RANET) with States Parties and its arrangements; the technical guidance, procedures and publications related to the provision of emergency assistance; the registry of States Parties that join RANET and training for States Parties; leads international Assistance Missions; and in addition liaises with Member States regarding national assistance capabilities and related strategy and policies. In a nuclear or radiological incident or emergency, the Emergency Assistance Officer supports the Emergency Response Manager in arranging the requested international assistance.
As a member of the team led by the Response System Coordinator, the Response and Assistance Officer supports the development and implementation of the Agency’s policy and strategy for enhancing the Agency’s emergency management system for nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies. This includes strengthening and the testing of the IEC’s preparedness and response capabilities and arrangements, through reviews of the in-house response plan and procedures and support in the preparation and conduct of internal and international EPR response exercises.
Role
The Response and Assistance Officer is: (1) a nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response (EPR) technical expert, coordinator and analyst, reviewing, and organizing the delivery of international assistance and working to optimize and implement EPR response arrangements including the delivery of assistance and the preparation and conduct of EPR response exercises; (2) a liaison officer, collecting relevant information from national authorities assigned by their governments to be focal points to RANET and from relevant divisions and departments within the IAEA, as delegated, on matters of EPR assistance and response; (3) a technical expert in nuclear safety, radiation protection, monitoring and detection equipment, ensuring that harmonization of national assistance capabilities and response arrangements are supported by relevant IAEA guidance; and (4) a trainer, preparing and implementing emergency response training and exercise programmes in house, and at national, regional and international levels. (5) An Emergency Response Manager, in case of nuclear or radiological incidents and emergencies.
Functions / Key Results Expected
• Assist and back-up the Response System Coordinator in the coordination of response to actual, potential or perceived nuclear or radiological incidents or emergencies, including the provision of international assistance as requested, and implement corrections and improvements identified in actual response activities and EPR exercises.
• Coordinate RANET activities as well as other IAEA activities related to the delivery of emergency assistance to Member States.
• Maintain through review and revision the authoritative IAEA RANET publication (EPR-RANET), focusing on consistency with existing IEC policy and harmonization of assistance capabilities and arrangements.
• Prepare, coordinate, and serve as officer in charge of field missions delivering expert assistance and deploying needed capabilities and equipment.
• Liaise with relevant departments and divisions within the IAEA on matters of emergency assistance and RANET to ensure a coordinated approach.
• Review RANET national assistance capabilities, including thorough preparing for and leading RANET review missions focused on the harmonization of assistance capabilities.
• Maintain the RANET Registry and prepare, conduct and evaluate RANET and EPR workshops and exercises.
• Prepare, conduct and evaluate training for Member States on the implementation of compatibility arrangements to help enhance the harmonization of national assistance capabilities in states providing assistance and the response capabilities in states receiving assistance so that the assistance may be rendered effectively.
• Strengthen internal partnerships and knowledge capabilities to support the IEC objective of building and maintaining in-house preparedness to respond to incidents and emergencies.
• Provide support and relevant expertise for the Incident and Emergency System in the capacity of the on-call officer and participate in associated training and exercises.
• Participate in the IAEAs Incident and Emergency System (IES) as Emergency response Manager, participate in associated training and exercises, and provide technical support as required when the IEC is activated, including as back-up to the Response System Coordinator.
Competencies and Expertise
Core Competencies(Competency Framework)
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Communication | Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise and impartial manner. Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and proposes solutions. |
|   | |
| Achieving Results | Takes initiative in defining realistic outputs and clarifying roles, responsibilities and expected results in the context of the Department/Division’s programme. Evaluates his/her results realistically, drawing conclusions from lessons learned. |
|   | |
| Teamwork | Actively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions. |
|   | |
| Planning and Organizing | Plans and organizes his/her own work in support of achieving the team or Section’s priorities. Takes into account potential changes and proposes contingency plans. |
Functional Competencies
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
|   | |
| Commitment to continuous process improvement | Plans and executes activities in the context of quality and risk management and identifies opportunities for process, system and structural improvement, as well as improving current practices. Analyses processes and procedures, and proposes improvements. |
|   | |
| Judgement/decision making | Consults with supervisor/manager and takes decisions in full compliance with the Agency’s regulations and rules. Makes decisions reflecting best practice and professional theories and standards. |
|   | |
| Knowledge sharing and learning | Actively seeks learning opportunities and actively shares knowledge and information with others; shares specialized knowledge, skills and learning from experience across different situations and contexts effectively. |
Required Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Assessment of Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies | Expertise in developing and using assessment tools for emergencies at nuclear facilities and for radiological emergencies such as severe overexposure due to inadequate handling of radioactive sources |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Emergency Management | Expertise in the management of nuclear and radiological emergencies covering the actual response to emergencies |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Emergency Response Exercise Planning | Expertise in planning, developing, and conduct of nuclear or radiological emergency response exercises including the developing and conduct of training for the staff participating in exercises |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Field Monitoring in Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies | Expertise in conducting field measurements (including spectrometric measurements) and expertise in preparing and reporting data which is relevant to technical experts and decision makers |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Provision of Assistance in Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies | Expertise in coordinating the provision of international assistance or in receiving international assistance as described in the IAEA RANET documentation |
Asset Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Dispersion Calculations and Dose Projection | Expertise in performing radioactive dispersion calculations and dose projections in events of radioactive release at nuclear facilities or events of radioactive release involving radioactive sources |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Dosimetry and Dose Modelling | Expertise in performing dosimetry calculations related to actual or potential exposures, dose modelling related to events involving radioactivity release to the environment |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Emergency Planning | Expertise in emergency response planning at nuclear or radiological facilities or at emergency response centres of regulatory and other response organisations at national or international |
|   |   |   |
| Emergency Preparedness and Response | Information Management and Technology | Expertise in developing IT products such as databases and web applications in areas such as emergency notification and sharing of information and collecting and sharing of radiation monitoring data |
Qualifications, Experience and Language skills
Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in nuclear science, physics or engineering or other related field.
Bachelor’s Degree – University degree in nuclear science, physics or engineering or other related field with two years of additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.
• Minimum of seven years of work experience in the area of radiation emergency preparedness and response, including a minimum of two years of involvement in international cooperation in radiation emergency response.
• Experience in managing the response to a nuclear and radiological emergency.
• Experience in either providing or receiving international assistance missions is desirable.
Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.
Remuneration
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $77326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 38431*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; Other benefits include 6 weeks’ annual leave, home leave travel, pension plan and health insurance. More information on the conditions of employment can be found at: https://www.iaea.org/about/employment/professional-staff/conditions
General Information
- The IAEA’s paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff member is to secure employees of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
- Staff Members shall be selected without any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person’s race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, language, social origin or other similar shared characteristic or trait.
- The IAEA is committed to gender equality and to promoting a diverse workforce. Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are strongly encouraged.
- Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity.
- The IAEA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and the IAEA, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
Evaluation process
- The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the selection criteria stated in the vacancy announcement. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
- Candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to reference and background checks as part of the recruitment process.
Appointment information
- Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report.
- Staff members may be assigned to any location.
- Candidates appointed to posts in the Professional and higher categories are subject to IAEA rotation policy and their maximum tour of service shall normally be seven years.
- The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above.
