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Unit Head, Radiation Safety Technical Services Unit (P-5)

Organizational Unit:Radiation Safety Technical Services Unit
Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section
Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
Duty Station:Vienna, Austria
Issue Date:5 April 2013
Application Deadline:4 May 2013
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 formulates and implements the IAEA's Major Programme 3, "Nuclear Safety and Security", which encompasses the IAEA's activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the safety and security related needs of its Member States.

The Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety develops and maintains standards for radiation protection, radioactive waste safety, and safety in the transport of radioactive material that enable the beneficial uses of radiation to be exploited while ensuring appropriate protection of workers, the public and patients. It also assists Member States in the implementation of these standards and provides related services.

The Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section is responsible for the delineation of an international programme to protect workers, patients and the public from all types of exposure to natural or artificial radiation, in line with the most recent scientific knowledge and information. The Section is also responsible for the provision of radiation safety technical services to staff members and experts who may be exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of activities conducted by the IAEA.

Main purpose

Reporting to the Section Head, the Unit Head assures the provision of duly accredited radiation safety technical support services required by Directors in Charge in all IAEA Departments in order for them to be able to fulfil their responsibilities for radiation safety. In addition, he/she shall also ensure the provision of technical support services and radiation protection and safety-related information to the IAEA Radiation Safety Regulator, and to the IAEA Medical Director if required. He/she shall also participate in the development and implementation of Section programmes and methodologies related to the provision of radiation technical support, taking into account recommendations of the ICRU on radiation related quantities and units, terminology and measurement procedures. He/she leads the Unit's activities in these areas to ensure the efficacy and timely provision of radiation safety technical support services and is responsible for the management of the Unit's financial and human resources. The Unit Head is required to balance his/her work time between two duty stations: the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna and the IAEA's laboratories at Seibersdorf.

Role

The Unit Head is: (a) a team leader and manager in a specialized, multilateral environment, ensuring the efficient and effective management of the assigned staff and financial resources including procurement for laboratory operations; (b) a technical specialist ensuring the IAEA's radiation safety technical services meet international standards and are carried out in accordance with IAEA safety standards; (b) an adviser, providing analysis and background information to senior managers on the strategies, programmes and policies related to the Unit's technical responsibilities and facilitating their implementation; and (c) a facilitator of cooperation with other IAEA Departments and in particular with the Directors in Charge and with the Radiation Safety Regulator to ensure the Unit provides the appropriate technical support for them to carry out practices in accordance with the IAEA's Radiation Safety Regulations.

Partnerships

The Unit Head coordinates the planning and implementation of radiation safety technical services throughout the IAEA. He/she liaises at divisional and departmental level within the IAEA on the utilization of the services in IAEA activities and discusses operational issues, priorities and expected results from the radiation safety technical services with Directors and Section Heads. The Unit Head engages with senior counterparts in Member States and in other international and specialist organizations, in particular ICRU, concerned with the provision of radiation safety technical services to ensure the IAEA's support services maintain its state-of-the-art level. In developing this approach and managing the Unit, the Unit Head works closely with the Section Head, other Unit Heads, the staff in the Unit and in other areas of the IAEA in achieving the desired goals, and advises on project evaluation, programme planning and implementation.

Functions / Key Results Expected

  • Lead the development of the IAEA's radiation safety technical services, based on the most recent knowledge and experience in this area, in order to promote an improved level of radiation safety for IAEA staff and to enable the IAEA's service to be used as a model for Member States to follow. Develop and/or maintain and improve the infrastructure for the IAEA's radiation safety technical services with a view to establishing a service that fully complies with the IAEA safety standards and provides an assurance of a high level of safety for IAEA staff and experts who may be exposed to radiation due to activities conducted by the IAEA.
  • Manage the Radiation Safety Technical Services Unit, including the management of staff and financial resources and the procurement of laboratory equipment necessary for the provision of the service. Ensure the completeness of the service for all operations including a regular review of the IAEA training programme for radiation safety with special attention to its completeness with respect to the nature of the relevant hazards, protection and safety and its frequency.
  • Build and maintain strategic partnerships across organizational areas in the IAEA to ensure a harmonized approach to the utilization of radiation safety technical services required by the Directors in Charge to enable them to fulfil their responsibility for radiation safety as laid out in the IAEA's Radiation Safety Regulations. Lead the development of new service agreements and the regular review of existing service agreements with IAEA divisions to correctly reflect the support required.
  • Act as the interface between IAEA Radiation Protection Officers in all IAEA Departments and the Unit to foster safety culture in IAEA activities and to ensure an appropriate flow of information between the Service and the implementing Divisions.
  • Identify and follow up on actions needed to retain the accreditation of the IAEA's Testing Laboratory, including the implementation of the quality management system to ensure compliance with the ISO 17025 quality system.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent knowledge of: (a) radiation protection principles as defined in the IAEA's Basic Safety Standards and their application; (b) dosimetry and monitoring of personnel as well as the workplace; and (c) practical occupational radiation protection.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team of professional and support staff and provide effective guidance to them.
  • Communication skills:
    • Strong presentation skills; and
    • Ability to write and edit technical reports.
  • Interpersonal skills:
    • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with IAEA staff at all levels, with representatives of Member States and with counterparts in international organizations; and
    • Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative partnerships across organizational boundaries.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Education, Experience and Language Skills

  • Advanced university degree in radiation safety or physical sciences appropriate to the duties of the post.
  • At least 10 years' experience in the field of occupational radiation protection, of which at least five should have been at a managerial level in a radiation safety technical support service.
  • Experience in management of services of personal dosimetry and workplace monitoring, including systems for dosimetry data processing and record keeping.
  • Experience in accreditation of testing laboratory according to ISO 17025 quality standard for testing and calibration laboratories.
  • Proven experience in managing staff in a laboratory environment.
  • Experience in interaction with senior counterparts concerned with the provision of radiation safety technical services at the international level, and with relevant international and specialist organizations desirable.
  • Fluency in both written and spoken English. Working knowledge of another official IAEA language (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or German would be an asset.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $80 734 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $43 839*, dependency benefits, diplomatic status, rental subsidyeducation grantrelocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation,home leavepension plan and health insurance.

How to apply to the IAEA

Complete an Online Application

* 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. 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): IntegrityProfessionalism and Respect for diversity. 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 with a different contract type, 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.