Senior Safeguards Analyst (Satellite Imagery)(P5)
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 Section Head, the Senior Safeguards Analyst (Satellite Imagery) supervises analytical products and provides expert multi-senor satellite imagery analysis to support the Department’s verification activities. The Senior Safeguards Analyst (Satellite Imagery) contributes to the review and assessment of the status of nuclear facilities and infrastructure, including advising Nuclear Safeguards Inspectors in their preparations for infield inspection activities. This work involves interesting and challenging satellite imagery and geospatial analysis, the preparation and peer-reviewing of reports and analytical products, and leadership of projects to develop and implement innovative analytical methods and tools.
Role
The Senior Safeguards Analyst (Satellite Imagery) is: 1) a subject matter expert in the exploitation and analysis of multi-sensor imagery, leading and mentoring a group of imagery and/or geospatial analysts; 2) a substantive contributor and coordinator of complex satellite imagery analysis and ensuring efficient processing and dissemination within the Department; 3) a strategist, exploring and implementing inter-organizational technical cooperation to support the development and use of geospatial information, including satellite imagery analysis; 4) a technical leader, seeking and promoting innovative methods and tools to advance analytical tradecraft and dissemination of geospatial and secure information to support the verification mission of the Department.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Lead and coordinate teams of imagery and/or geospatial analysts conducting complex imagery analysis focused on but not limited to high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imagery in support of the Department’s preparation of field activities and the overall State valuation process.
Conduct and/or coordinate special studies or satellite imagery analysis, including managing simultaneous tasks and deadlines and responding to tasking on evolving issues.
Review analytical products authored by analysts, ensuring relevancy, objectivity, completeness and compliance with high professional standards.
Provide advice and actively contribute to State Evaluation Groups and to the drafting of State Evaluation Reports.
Mentor and guide analysts in the imagery acquisition process, the pre-processing and management of supporting geospatial data, the research and collection of open source information, and the analysis of multi-sensor satellite imagery pertinent to the nuclear fuel cycle and to proliferation pathways.
Proactively seek to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of safeguards analytical methodologies and techniques and provide guidance and advice for the development and implementation of new solutions or cutting edge technologies.
Proactively seek to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of safeguards analytical methodologies and techniques and provide guidance and advice for the development and implementation of new solutions or cutting edge technologies.
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 |
|---|---|
| Client orientation | Helps clients to analyse their needs. Seeks to understand service needs from the client’s perspective and ensure that the client’s standards are met. |
| 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. |
| Resilience | Maintains a high level of performance when facing pressure and uncertainty. Able to remain calm and self-controlled, and to respond logically and decisively in difficult situations. |
| Technical/scientific credibility | Ensures that work is in compliance with internationally accepted professional standards and scientific methods. Provides scientifically/technically accepted information that is credible and reliable. |
Required Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
| Information Management | Geoinformation Sciences | Broad understanding of and expertise in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis within imagery analysis workflows. |
| Information Management | Information Analysis | Demonstrated ability to exercise unbiased, tactful and prudent judgement on sensitive issues, based on in-depth factual analysis. |
| Safeguards | Safeguards System, Advanced | Demonstrated knowledge of the contributions of remote sensing to safeguards implementation and conclusions, and a thorough understanding of the signatures and observables related to nuclear fuel cycle activities. |
| Information Management | Satellite Imagery Analysis | Extensive experience performing satellite imagery analysis (specifically reporting on industrial facilities), including demonstrated knowledge of image processing software and techniques. |
Asset Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
| Management and Programme Analysis | Proliferation and Network Analysis | Ability to provide assessments on the status of nuclear programmes and proliferation activities based on the analysis of multi-sensor satellite imagery. |
| Safeguards | Quality Management | Ability to conceptualize and promote the implementation of new technical concepts for safeguards enhancements, as well as to keep abreast of developments in relevant information management technologies. |
Qualifications, Experience and Language skills
- Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree relevant to the technical analysis of nuclear proliferation or remote sensors (such as physics, chemistry, statistics, engineering, political science, economics) or a related field.
- Bachelor’s Degree – University degree relevant to the technical analysis of nuclear proliferation or remote sensor, with two additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced university degree.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in satellite imagery analysis, including substantial experience related to nuclear proliferation and nuclear-related infrastructure analysis.
- Extensive experience conducting in-depth analysis of very-high-resolution satellite imagery (EO, SWIR, MWIR/TIR, HIS, SAR, etc.) and incorporating diverse sources of collateral information into integrated, thorough, coherent and high-quality analytical reports and products.
- Extensive experience training and mentoring staff, and presenting methods, techniques, and findings to users and stakeholders.
- Experience in and detailed knowledge of procedures for handling sensitive technical information, knowledge and issues.
- Experience in the design and implementation of new analytical concepts, processes and tools an asset.
- 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 $92731 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 56288*, 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.
