Section Head (Safeguards Information Management)(P5)

Section Head (Safeguards Information Management)(P5) – (2024/0642 (010184))

Organization

: SGIM-Nuclear Fuel Cycle Analysis Section

Primary Location

: Austria-Vienna-Vienna-IAEA Headquarters

Job Posting

: 2024-12-03, 2:53:14 PM

Closing Date

: 2025-01-21, 10:59:00 PM

Duration in Months: 36

Contract Type: Fixed Term – Regular

Probation Period: 1 Year

Full Competitive Recruitment: Yes

This selection exercise may be used to generate a roster of pre-approved candidates to address future staffing needs for similar functions in any of the Departments and Offices of the Organization.

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

As part of the management team of the Division and reporting to the Director, the Section Head leads and motivates the staff of the Section in line with the strategic direction of the Division and Department, managing resources and driving process improvements to ensure the delivery of results. The Section Head provides leadership for the information management contributions of the Section to safeguards verification activities and the State evaluation process, in particular in verifying the completeness and correctness of State declarations through consistency analysis of the results of in-field activities and State submitted data. The Section Head is responsible for ensuring the efficient integration of the Section’s analytical outputs in the State evaluation process and other safeguards evaluation and implementation efforts.

Role

The Section Head is: 1) a leader and manager, providing guidance and support to the team, and planning resources with a view to achieving efficient and effective results in accordance with Divisional objectives; 2) a substantive expert, leveraging knowledge and experience in the field of safeguards verification activities, and advanced analytical techniques and methodologies; 3) an adviser on matters of policy, strategy and complex cases; and 4) a developer, implementer and change manager of new strategies, based on improved processes and technologies.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Lead the Section, motivate the team and promote internal and external collaboration in order to optimize the outcomes from available resources in line with strategic objectives, establishing concrete objectives, milestones and performance indicators.

Ensure, through training and recruitment, that the Section maintains an appropriate balance of skills and resources to support its contribution to the State evaluation process and safeguards implementation.

Play a key role in the State evaluation process and support to Operations Divisions by verifying the completeness and correctness of State declarations through consistency analysis of the results of in-field activities and State submitted data.

Provide support to Operations Divisions for the preparation of in-field verification activities.

Manage the development of work plans, project planning and integration of analytical results with information from other teams with a view to enhancing the Department’s information collaborative approach.

Oversee the Section’s contributions to State Evaluation Groups (SEGs) and the production of the annual Safeguards Implementation Report (SIR).

Ensure that services and products conform to applicable quality standards and that processes are implemented in line with information security procedures.

Identify questions, inconsistencies and nuclear non-proliferation issues related to the consistency of State declared information and the results of in-field verification activities and ensure the associated secure circulation of information products.

Provide advisory expertise on relevant aspects of safeguards agreements to other Divisions in the Department and corresponding State representatives.

Participate as a technical expert, scientific secretary or instructor in meetings or training courses and assist in the preparation of policy and technical documents as required.

Liaise with counterparts on technical issues and with the Member State Support Programme (MSSP) to raise assistance.

Drive the development of competences, methodologies and tools to enhance the contribution of the Section to analytical processes, including State evaluations as well as other safeguards implementation activities.

Subject to approval by the Board of Governors, participate in safeguards inspections and complementary accesses and provide support to infield verification activities.

The incumbent may perform his/her work in areas involving exposure to radioactive materials. Therefore, as an Occupationally Exposed Worker, he/she must be medically cleared by VIC Medical Service and is subject to an appropriate radiation and health monitoring programme, in accordance with the IAEA’s Radiation Safety Regulations.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Name Definition Communication Encourages open communication and builds consensus. Uses tact and discretion in dealing with sensitive information, and keeps staff informed of decisions and directives as appropriate. Achieving Results Sets realistic targets for himself/herself and for the team; ensures availability of resources and supports staff members in achieving results. Monitors progress and performance; evaluates achievements and integrates lessons learned. Teamwork Encourages teamwork, builds effective teams and resolves problems by creating a supportive and collaborative team spirit, remaining mindful of the need to collaborate with people outside the immediate area of responsibility. Planning and Organizing Sets clearly defined objectives for himself/herself and the team or Section. Identifies and organizes deployment of resources based on assessed needs, taking into account possible changing circumstances. Monitors team’s performance in meeting the assigned deadlines and milestones.

Functional Competencies

Name Definition Analytical thinking Applies business analytics to establish programme priorities. Makes rational judgements from the available information and analysis. Commitment to continuous process improvement Assesses the effectiveness of functions and systems as well as current practices; streamlines standards and processes and develops innovative approaches to programme development and implementation. Judgement/decision making Consults with and seeks advice at the appropriate managerial level when making complex decisions. Facilitates dialogue and development of best practice to support judgement/decision making, in full compliance with the Agency’s regulations and rules.

Required Expertise

Function Name Expertise Description Management and Programme Analysis Analytical Techniques Ability to conceptualize and promote the implementation of new technical concepts for safeguards enhancement as well as to keep abreast of developments in relevant information management and technologies. Management and Programme Analysis Data Analysis Strong analytical skills with the ability to oversee the enhancement and or/development of methodologies and processes for the delivery of high-quality analytical products. Information Management Information Analysis Demonstrated ability to exercise unbiased, tactful and prudent judgement on sensitive issues, based on in-depth factual analysis. Safeguards Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Nuclear Facilities Expertise in one or more of the following: nuclear material accounting, material balance evaluations, statistical analysis, evaluation of infield verification activities and sampling results. Safeguards Safeguards System, Advanced Strong understanding of safeguards verification activities, including State declarations, nuclear material accounting, and in-field verification techniques.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

• Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree relevant to the technical analysis of nuclear proliferation (physics, chemistry, statistics, engineering, computer sciences, etc.).
• Bachelor’s Degree – University degree one of the above fields plus two additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience, including at international level, in information management and analysis related to the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear non-proliferation issues, nuclear material accounting and nuclear related research.
• Extensive experience and expertise in one of the following areas:
• 1) Analytical methodologies for nuclear fuel cycle information analysis, including expert knowledge of the techniques for in-field sampling campaigns and the subsequent analysis of inspection data and sample evaluations (environmental sampling evaluations, DA/NDA, material balance evaluations, uncertainty quantifications, etc.).
• 2) Analytical methodologies for verifying the completeness and consistency of State declarations, including expert knowledge of the information submitted by States in accordance with their safeguards agreements and the principles of nuclear material accounting, including transit matching.
• Extensive demonstrable experience in information collection, processing, analysis and the use of complex tools and techniques.
• Significant experience in developing, leading and motivating teams; determining clear goals, roles and responsibilities; providing feedback on performance; and encouraging staff development.
• 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 $ 55453*, 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.

Read Full Description