Response System Coordinator(P5)

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 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 Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) is part of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security and reports to the Deputy Director General, Head of the Department. The IEC serves as the IAEA’s focal point for preparedness and response to nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies regardless of their cause, and for strengthening Member States’ preparedness for response.

Main Purpose

As a member of a team led by the IEC Director, the Response System Coordinator (RSC) develops and implements the Agency’s policy and strategy for enhancing the Agency’s emergency management system for nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies. This includes strengthening the IEC’s preparedness and response capabilities and arrangements, in terms of deciding on the magnitude of effort in developing specific programme components, particularly the in-house response plan, procedures and other tools and efforts required for the implementation of in-house training and exercising.

Role

The RSC plays a multifunctional role: (1) as a manager and team leader to develop procedures and documentation for the IAEA, Member States and international organizations to implement the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency; (2) to manage the day-to-day operations of the Agency’s response system, including training and exercises, and to ensure that the ability to communicate with all Member States and relevant international organizations is functional at all times; (3) to provide/facilitate assistance requested under the aforementioned Conventions; (4) to independently assess the technical status of technical cooperation projects related to emergency planning and response, advise State counterparts and develop appropriate plans of action for strengthening Member States emergency response capabilities.

Functions / Key Results Expected

To maintain and enhance the operation of and arrangements for the Agency’s response system in the case of an actual, potential or perceived nuclear or radiological incident or emergency. To maintain and enhance the Agency’s Response Plan for Incidents and Emergencies (REPLIE) and the Operations Manual for Incident and Emergency Communication (EPR-IEComm).

To ensure fulfilment of the Agency’s obligations under its Statute and under the terms of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, in accordance with international safety standards, with decisions of the policy-making organs and with inter-agency agreements.

To supervise the necessary Secretariat arrangements to be able to activate the Agency’s Response and Assistance Network (RANET) of national capabilities prepared to render urgent and/or emergency assistance on request. To supervise the training and exercise programme of the IEC for Agency staff members who could be involved in responding to an incident or emergency. To supervise the maintenance of the response infrastructure including telecommunication systems.

To initiate proposals for change based on identification of relevant issues and feedback from past experience, and to develop policy for and direct the implementation of solutions. To manage and coordinate changes to the Agency’s response system. To ensure the sustainability of solutions.

To coordinate the response to actual, potential or perceived nuclear or radiological incidents or emergencies, including the provision of international assistance as requested, and identify and, where appropriate, disseminate lessons identified.

Liaise with relevant staff in the Agency, with competent authorities and with relevant international organizations with a view to reviewing and, where necessary, revising, operational arrangements in support of the Agency’s response system.

To carry out duties as on-call emergency response manager within the Agency’s response system, and to provide technical support as required when the IEC is activated.

Competencies and Expertise

Core Competencies(Competency Framework)

Name	Definition
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.
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.

Functional Competencies

Name	Definition
Commitment to continuous process improvement	Plans and executes activities in the context of quality and risk management and identifies opportunities for process, system and structural improvement, as well as improving current practices. Analyses processes and procedures, and proposes improvements.
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.
Knowledge sharing and learning	Actively seeks learning opportunities and actively shares knowledge and information with others; shares specialized knowledge, skills and learning from experience across different situations and contexts effectively.

Required Expertise

Function	Name	Expertise Description
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Assessment and Prognosis in Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies	Expertise in developing and using assessment and prognosis tools for emergencies at nuclear facilities and for radiological emergencies such as severe overexposure due to inadequate handling of radioactive sources
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Emergency Management	Expertise in the management of nuclear and radiological emergencies covering the actual response to emergencies
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Emergency Planning	Expertise in emergency response planning at nuclear or radiological facilities or at emergency response centres of regulatory and other response organisations at national or international level
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Emergency Preparedness and Response	Expertise in developing and implementing emergency response plans and procedures for emergency response centers in line with the IAEA EPR Safety Standards and guidance
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Provision of Assistance in Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies	Expertise in coordinating the provision of international assistance or in receiving international assistance as described in the IAEA RANET documentation

Asset Expertise

Function	Name	Expertise Description
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Emergency Response Exercise Planning	Expertise in planning, developing, and conduct of nuclear or radiological emergency response exercises including the developing and conduct of training for the staff participating in exercises
Emergency Preparedness and Response	Radioactivity Monitoring in Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies	Expertise in conducting field measurements (including spectrometric measurements) and expertise in preparing and reporting data which is relevant to technical experts and decision makers

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree in physical sciences, engineering, radiation protection or a related field

Bachelor’s Degree – A university degree in physical sciences, engineering, radiation protection or a related field, with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of 10 years’ experience in radiation protection and emergency planning and preparedness.

Experience in managing nuclear and radiological emergency response. 

Experience in international activities related to the development of nuclear and radiological emergency response capabilities and guidance.

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 $ 55546, 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.