Back Safeguards Information Analyst (Statistical Data Analysis)(P4)

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

Reporting to the Team Leader (Statistical Analysis), the Safeguards Information Analyst (Statistical Data Analysis) contributes to the IAEA's overall objective to maintain and further develop an effective and efficient verification system through the implementation and development of statistical and probabilistic methodologies for safeguards applied to declared nuclear material accounting data and verification measurement data. The Safeguards Information Analyst (Statistical Data) contributes directly to the IAEA’s ability to draw timely and sound safeguards conclusions through the prompt acquisition and analysis of data from safeguards activities and State declarations.

Role

The Safeguards Information Analyst (Statistical Data Analysis) is: 1) a specialist, providing, inter alia, statistical evaluations of safeguards data and preparing evaluation reports; 2) a key player in developing and improving sampling plans and random inspection strategies, and in assessing the quality of measurements and the effectiveness of inspection results as a service to the Department; and 3) a team member, collaborating with colleagues to identify and apply the best methods for the evaluation and timely interpretation of analysis results from State declarations and verification measurement data, and for offering sound methodological advice on sampling plans and random verification activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Perform complex evaluations of data (Material balance Evaluations) consisting of accounting records and independent verification measurement results obtained by NDA (non-destructive assay) and DA (destructive analysis).

Perform quality control on the data and provide expert statistical evaluation reports to the Department, thereby contributing to the annual Safeguards Implementation Report.

Estimate nuclear plant operators’ and inspectors’ measurement uncertainties from accounting records and NDA and DA verification results or by error propagation from documented measurement systems uncertainties and international standards.

Supervise the evaluation of the DA analytical results provided by the Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL) including the SAL, as well as the timely reporting of the related conclusions to relevant Departmental stakeholders and liaise with SGAS in the framework of nuclear material analysis matters.

Evaluate and report the results of IAEA-SSAC-Operators’ inter-laboratory comparisons of DA results.

Implement near real time accountancy (NRTA) systems for large plutonium bulk handling facilities (BHFs) and interpret the results.

Participate in the preparation of verification sampling plans, contribute to improvements in stratification and sampling procedures, as well as to the broader implementation and evaluation of random inspection schemes.

Develop methodologies supporting State level and facility level nuclear material flow analysis and material balance evaluation under the State level concept and participate in State Evaluation Groups for assigned States to contribute to the State Evaluation Process.

Serve as a task officer for Member State Support Programme tasks to investigate, develop and/or improve statistical techniques and sampling procedures, as well as verification and evaluation methodologies.

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

Participate as a lecturer in conferences, seminars and training courses for safeguards inspectors and State representatives.

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   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   Analytical thinking Analyses information to identify cause and effect relationships and correlations. Identifies critical elements and assesses consequences of different courses of action and proposes solutions.   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.

Required Expertise Function Name Expertise Description       Statistics Advanced Statistical Methods Strong expertise with statistical sampling methodologies and familiarity with nuclear material accountancy and reporting schemes.       Safeguards Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Nuclear Facilities Comprehensive knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle, potential nuclear proliferation pathways, nuclear materials present in facilities and measurement methods used by operators and inspectors to determine quantities.       Safeguards Safeguards Inspecting Understanding of inspection activities, including verification, sampling and experience of nuclear fuel cycle metrology.       Safeguards Uncertainty Quantification Proven expertise with statistical methods, particularly as they pertain to statistical inference and to the estimation and propagation of measurement errors.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills

• Master's Degree - Advanced university degree in nuclear engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, applied statistics, computer science or a related discipline.
• Bachelor's Degree- University degree in nuclear engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, applied statistics, computer science or a related discipline, plus two additional relevant years of experience.
• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in mathematics, statistics and /or data analysis. 
• Experience with nuclear fuel cycle metrology and in measurement error estimation and propagation, and statistical sampling methodologies.
• Knowledge of mathematical and statistical programming languages.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, 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 $84672 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 39372*, 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.