Safeguards Information Analyst (Environmental Sampling)(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 Safeguards carries out the IAEA’s duties and responsibilities as the world’s nuclear inspectorate, supporting global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The primary role of the Department is to develop and implement IAEA safeguards to ensure that there is no diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful activities and no indications of undeclared nuclear material or activities in a State as a whole.
The Department comprises nuclear safeguards inspectors, responsible for carrying out inspections and verifications of all-safeguards relevant information for nuclear facilities in over 180 States; and technical staff responsible for a wide range of activities including: developing concepts and approaches for implementing safeguards; developing and maintaining safeguards equipment; providing analytical and laboratory services for sample analysis; collecting, evaluating and analysing safeguards-relevant information; providing information and communication technology infrastructure and services; and providing programme coordination support.
The Division of Information Management (SGIM) implements state of the art methodologies and techniques for the collection, processing and analysis of a range of safeguards-relevant information, including declarations submitted by States, evaluations resulting from the analysis of samples or measurements collected during infield activities, and information from open sources, including nuclear trade-related data and satellite imagery. Staff perform data validation and complex information analysis and evaluation to support infield activities and provide key input to the State evaluation process.
Main Purpose
Reporting to the Team Leader (Environmental Sampling), the Safeguards Information Analyst (Environmental Sampling) contributes to the IAEA’s overall objective to maintain and further develop an effective and efficient verification system through the implementation and development of the environmental sampling programme for safeguards. The Safeguards Information Analyst (Environmental Sampling) contributes directly to the IAEA’s ability to draw timely and sound safeguards conclusions through the prompt acquisition and analysis of data from safeguards activities and safeguards declarations.
Role
The Safeguards Information Analyst (Environmental Sampling) is: 1) a specialist, providing comprehensive advice on the most efficient and effective methods of conducting environmental sampling; 2) a key player in developing and improving environmental sampling plans and in assessing the quality of measurements and the effectiveness of inspection results as a service to the Department; and 3) a team member, collaborating with colleagues to identify and apply the best methods for sound and timely interpretation and evaluation of analysis results from environmental samples.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Perform complex evaluations of Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL) analytical results for forensic nuclear significance of material present on environmental samples collected by safeguards inspectors.
Perform quality control on the results, follow up on any issues, and provide in-depth environmental sampling reports to the Department, thereby contributing to State Evaluation Reports and the annual Safeguards Implementation Report which address the correctness and completeness of Member States’ declarations concerning their nuclear materials and activities.
Supervise the evaluation of environmental sampling results provided by NWAL as well as the timely reporting of the related conclusions to relevant Departmental stakeholders and liaise with SGAS and NWAL in the framework of environmental sampling analysis matters.
Participate in the planning of environmental sample collections, contribute to improvements in sampling procedures and sample processing, as well as to the implementation of environmental sampling under the Additional Protocol and procedures related to illicit trafficking.
Design, implement and utilize nuclear fuel cycle modelling tools and participate in State Evaluation Groups for assigned States to contribute to the State Evaluation Process and related activities.
Serve as a task officer for Member State Support Programme tasks to investigate, develop, and/or improve analytical methods, sampling procedures or strategies, QA/QC measures, and evaluation approaches.
Subject to approval by the Board of Governors, participate in safeguards inspections and complementary accesses and provide support to in-field verification activities.
Participate as a lecturer in conferences, seminars and training courses for safeguards inspectors and State representatives.
Competencies and Expertise
Core Competencies(Competency Framework)
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
Functional Competencies
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Analytical thinking | Analyses information to identify cause and effect relationships and correlations. Identifies critical elements and assesses consequences of different courses of action and proposes solutions. |
| 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. |
Required Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | Data Analysis | Proven expertise with environmental sampling data loading and reporting or similar processes. Ability to make and modify SQL (Structure Query Language) database queries and manage processing scripts. |
| Safeguards | Environmental Samples Results Evaluation | Strong expertise in scientific approaches related to environmental sampling evaluation processes and measurement technologies (HRGS, LG-SIMS, FT-TIMS, bulk analysis, impurity analysis, etc.). |
| Safeguards | Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Nuclear Facilities | Comprehensive knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle, potential nuclear proliferation pathways, and nuclear materials and activities present in facilities. |
| Safeguards | Safeguards Inspecting | Understanding of inspection activities, including verification, sampling and nuclear fuel modelling techniques. Ability to advise on environmental sampling approaches. |
Qualifications, Experience and Language skills
- Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree in chemistry, physics, nuclear engineering or a related scientific or technical discipline.
- Bachelor’s Degree – First level university degree in one of the stipulated fields with two years of additional relevant experience
may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree. - Minimum of seven years of experience in environmental sampling evaluation methodologies applied to safeguards.
- Experience of evaluating analytical results from multiple laboratories in order to corroborate observations and follow up on identified issues.
- Experience in performing uranium enrichment calculations and reactor fuel burn up calculations for various reactor types (research reactors, plutonium production reactors, light waterpower reactors and fast breeder reactors).
- 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 $ 45158*, 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.
