Consultant – Transportable Nuclear Power Plant

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Safety and Security (NS) formulates and implements the IAEA’s nuclear safety and security programme, which encompasses the IAEA’s activities to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure, and responds to the needs of its Member States related to nuclear safety and nuclear security.

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, patients and the environment. It also assists Member States in the implementation of these standards and provides related services.

The Regulatory Infrastructure and Transport Safety Section (RIT) is responsible for providing Member States with safety standards, guidance and tools to foster regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety, for the safe transport of radioactive material and for managing information to identify the needs of Member States with a view to improving radiation, transport and waste safety.

The Transport Safety Unit is responsible for establishing and maintaining safety standards related to the worldwide safe transport of radioactive material, including the IAEA’s Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, and to appraise the application of the safety standards in Member States. This includes efforts to foster the harmonized incorporation of the Transport Regulations and other associated safety standards by international organizations. In addition, the Unit manages projects concerned with key aspects of the Transport Regulations, provides training related to the safe transport of radioactive material, and operates and maintains databases relating to transport issues. The Unit convenes meetings to guide its activities, involving experts from Member States and associated international organizations, including the periodic convening of the Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC). It is also involved in the provision of technical cooperation to Member States, including training activities.

Main Purpose

Reporting to Unit Head TSU, the consultant will provide technical expertise in relation to the evaluation and development of safety standards and associated regulatory infrastructure for TNPP considering their life cycle phases which could impact transport safety such as design, manufacturing, commissioning, deployment, operations, refuelling and decommissioning.. He/she will provide technical input to the unit for multi-disciplinary, technical assistance projects/activities aimed at supporting States in establishing/strengthening their national regulatory infrastructure for SMRs/TNPP as designer states, transit states and end user.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Technical analysis and assessment of States’ needs (as designer states, transit states and user states) in the area of regulatory infrastructure and operational aspects of transport safety throughout the life cycle of TNPP, in collaboration with UN Organizations and IAEA departments/divisions (NS, NE, OLA) and other having relevance, subsequently propose innovative approaches to address identified shortcomings.
• Provide advice to the Unit Head on matters related to TNPP design, operation and licensing from transport safety aspects.
• Provide advice and technical guidance to the Unit Head for organizing capacity building events related to national regulatory infrastructure for TNPP design, operation and licensing; and
• Provide technical input to the Unit Head for the development of transport safety documents in the subject area, in collaboration with relevant IAEA organizational units, international non-governmental/governmental organizations and Member State experts.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required –

Language

•    English

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced University Degree in Nuclear Science/Engineering/Technology/Safety or a closely related technical field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in nuclear safety and transport safety.
• In-depth knowledge of IAEA Safety Standards related to Nuclear Power Plants.
• Proven experience in analyzing technical data in the field and in the design and implementation of technical assistance projects.
• Understanding of international conventions, laws, codes and treaties for nuclear power plants or transport safety.
• Understanding of Transport Safety Standards for radioactive material or experience of regulating or operating nuclear power plants or nuclear-powered ships will be considered as an asset.
• Experience of analyzing technical documents to ensure compliance with acceptable technical standards.
• Experience in organizing events such as workshops, meetings etc.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Remuneration

The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 300, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.