Safeguards Inspector Radioanalyst - Tenders Global

Safeguards Inspector Radioanalyst

International Atomic Energy Agency

tendersglobal.net

<!–

Description

–>

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 Office of Safeguards Analytical Services (SGAS) is responsible for the analysis of inspection samples collected in the field. Located about 45 km south of Vienna in Seibersdorf, SGAS is organized into three sections: the Nuclear Material Laboratory (NML), the Environmental Sample Laboratory (ESL) and the Coordination and Support Section (CSS). The laboratory sections conduct the screening, chemical treatment and measurement of the inspection samples. The Coordination and Support Section provides a variety of key services to the laboratories, as well as managing the network of analytical laboratories. SGAS also manages analytical and inspection activities in a dedicated On-Site Laboratory at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant in Japan.

Main Purpose

The Safeguards Inspector (Radioanalyst) is a member of the On-Site Laboratory (OSL) Team and participates in the analytical operations located on the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (RRP) site in Japan. His/her main assignment is to perform treatments and measurements on samples for the purpose of IAEA safeguards. He/she also conducts appropriate analytical evaluation, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) measures in consultation with the OSL Radioanalyst QA Manager.

Role

The Radioanalyst is: (1) an analyst who performs routine sample treatments and measurements from safeguards samples at the OSL; and (2) a safeguards inspector who performs safeguards verification activities.

All Safeguards Inspectors are subject to the approval of the Board of Governors and acceptance of the designation by relevant countries. The work involves extensive travel and time away from the duty station (more than 100 days a year), including travel and work on weekends and IAEA holidays.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

  • Carry out radiochemical work on nuclear material samples, such as sample dissolution, chemical separation (i.e., uranium/plutonium separation or fission product separation) and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS).
  • Perform or observe the sample processing inside hot cells carried out by facility operators using master-slave manipulators.
  • Carry out measurements on several different analytical instruments, such as neutron coincidence counters, alpha and gamma spectrometers, hybrid K-edge densitometers (HKED), spectrophotometers, thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS) and densitometers.
  • Analyse and evaluate analytical data and report analytical results.
  • Plan and coordinate analytical activities on site and generate regular weekly report of activities.
  • Perform data verification and validation, as well as make assessments of measurement uncertainties associated with analytical results.
  • Ensure that analytical results are obtained under the appropriate authentication measures in force at the OSL.
  • Implement adequate nuclear material accountancy and QA procedures, identify the source of any deviation from the required accuracy and/or precision of sample results, and implement appropriate corrective actions when deviations occur.
  • When applicable, perform routine maintenance of the analytical equipment, track maintenance records and analytical equipment performance, participate in periodical calibrations, interlaboratory comparisons and the preparation of QC samples, performing routine QC measurements.
  • Prepare and carry out IAEA safeguards inspections at various nuclear facilities/sites and collect information to confirm the operators’ declarations.
Qualifications, Experience and Language skills:
  • Bachelor’s Degree – University degree in Physics, Chemistry or Engineering.
  • At least five years of relevant experience in a relevant analytical field, preferably associated with laboratory operations or analytical method development in a laboratory environment.
  • Experience in and sound knowledge of quality systems as applied to a laboratory setting.
  • Experience in and sound knowledge of handling uranium, plutonium and other actinides; ability to perform high quality work in an analytical laboratory (preferably a nuclear laboratory); practical work experience with highly radioactive samples using hot cell manipulators is desirable.
  • Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

<!—

<!–

–>

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (tendersglobal.net) you saw this internship posting.

Job Location