Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) formulates and implements the IAEA's nuclear safety and security programme, which encompasses the Agency'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 (NSRW) 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 used while ensuring appropriate protection of workers the public, patients and the environment. It also assists Member States in the implementation of these standards and provides related services.

The Waste and Environmental Safety Section is responsible for the delineation of a global waste safety framework based upon the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, and the development and application of safety standards for the management of radioactive waste, decommissioning, remediation and environmental releases.

The Assessment and Management of Releases Unit of the Waste and Environmental Safety Section is concerned with protection of the public and the environment from releases of radioactive material from present and past practices. The Unit's main function is to establish safety standards for the control of radioactive releases to the environment (atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic) and to provide for the application of these standards in Member States. The Unit also engages in providing advice and guidance on procedures and methods for dose and environmental assessment, modelling and monitoring, including through the organization of safety assessment inter comparison projects. It maintains databases of worldwide discharges of radionuclides to the environment and an inventory of past waste disposals at sea. It is also the focal point in the Agency's interactions with international conventions and treaties concerned with radiological aspects of protecting the marine environment.

Main Purpose

The Radiation Protection Specialist reports to the Unit Head and contributes specialized technical knowledge to the planning and implementation of the unit’s work programme. The Radiation Protection Specialist will oversee specific activities in AMER in relation to the development and application of safety standards for protection of the public and environment from radioactive releases to the environment.

Role

The Radiation Protection Specialist is: (1) a substantive expert, coordinating and implementing activities related to the protection of the public and the environment from radioactive releases to the environment.; (2) an adviser, providing authoritative and objective information to Member States and working with them, including through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme; and (3) an analyst, maintaining an overview of the status of the radiation protection standards for the public and environment and their implementation in Member States and working collaboratively with experts in Member States on projects related to control of public exposure from radioactive releases to the environment.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Facilitates the development of international safety standards and/or guidance material related to the responsibilities of the unit to form the basis of international activities in this area.

Provides technical expertise for the application of international safety standards through IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme, in close coordination with the responsible programme management officers in the Department of Technical Cooperation.

Plans and coordinates international projects related to the responsibilities of the Unit with a view to fostering the exchange of information and developing consensus at the international level to improve the level of safety in affected Member States.

Provides assistance to Member States through transfer of technical knowledge on the protection of the public and environment from releases to the environment.

Contributes to the capacity building activities in the Member States by developing training materials and organising training events.

Communicates the results of Member State and IAEA activities to a wider audience beyond higher-level management, including other Member States, through the preparation of papers, articles and documents for publication.

Builds and maintains strategic partnerships and alliances with a wide range of stakeholders in Member States and other international organisations to promote the application of international safety standards.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies

NameDefinition

CommunicationCommunicates 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 ResultsTakes 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.

TeamworkActively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions.

Planning and OrganizingPlans 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

NameDefinition

Judgement/decision makingConsults 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.

Partnership buildingIdentifies and builds partnerships. Develops and maintains long lasting partnerships to strengthen relationships. Delivers programmatic outputs and acquires resources in support of Agency goals.

Technical/scientific credibilityEnsures 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

FunctionNameExpertise Description

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyApplication of Safety StandardsExperience and/or understanding of the practical application of radiation protection and safety standards for the public and environment.

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyControl or Assessment of Radioactive Releases to the EnvironmentExperience in technical assessment of the transfer of radionuclides in the environment and resulting exposures to people and the environment.

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyDevelopment of Radiation Protection PolicyExperience in the technical development of radiation safety and/or radiation protection national or international standards or guidance.

Asset Expertise

FunctionNameExpertise Description

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyTeam Leader and/or Member in International Peer ReviewExperience participating in or leading international advisory and appraisal missions related to radiological and safety assessments.

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyDevelopment of IAEA Safety StandardsExperience in the development and coordination of Standards and technical guidance documents.

Radiation, Transport and Waste SafetyRadiation Measurements and ProtectionExperience or knowledge of monitoring of radionuclides in the environment and requirements for monitoring programmes.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

Advanced (Master's or above) University Degree in chemistry, physics, environment sciences or related field.

A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in chemistry, physics, environment sciences or related field with three additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum seven years' experience in the field of radiation protection, of which at least three years should have been concerned with some aspects of the control and assessment of radioactive releases to the environment, is essential.

Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset