Pipeline for Research Reactor Professionals and Experts-Short-Term Consultancy

Organizational Setting

The Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology (NEFW) comprises the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section, the Waste Technology Section, the Decommissioning & Environmental Remediation Section and the Research Reactor Section. The Division seeks to support Member States in building their capacity to access technologies, to share good practices and to develop safe and effective approaches across all aspects of research reactors, nuclear fuel cycle, decommissioning, radioactive waste management and environmental remediation.

The Research Reactor Section (RRS) assists Member States in every stage of the research reactor life cycle: from the initial decision to build a research reactor, including the development of the national supporting infrastructure, to ensuring safe and sustainable operation, including maintenance, modernization, spent fuel management, development and qualification of new fuels, effective utilization, to preparation for decommissioning. The Section also promotes and facilitates Member States’ access to research reactors for nuclear capacity building and, upon request, assists Member States in minimizing the use of high enriched uranium for research reactor fuel and applications. The Section works with Member States individually, regionally, and in international coalitions to carry out its activities.

Main Purpose

In order to provide qualified candidates to IAEA Departments for multiple short-term positions, the Research Reactor Section creates a roster of interested applicants. The experts will advise the Agency on the issues related to research reactors and will contribute to the development of publications related to research reactors, knowledge transfer and information exchange at meetings and training events, implementation of peer review services and expert missions.

Qualified consultants and experts worldwide who are available for short-term and/or temporary assignments are encouraged to register and create their profiles. If you are interested in working at the IAEA and fulfil the requirements to work within the Research Reactor Section in any of the fields listed below, please complete an online application.

Registration into the Pipeline does not constitute in any form a commitment on the part of the IAEA for taking a particular application into consideration in the recruitment process for any vacancy. Pipeline registration is only valid for two years. Candidates need to re-register again after two years of initial date of registration to be considered as an active pipeline applicant.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/Candidate Eligibility

The Research Reactor Section reaches out to qualified experts who have the required knowledge and skills for the following functions::

• perform technical editing of multi-author documents;
• develop training courses based on existing guidance/reference material and lectures;
• develop e-learning materials based on published documents;
• prepare and review technical specifications, reports, and plans;
• provide specialized advice for peer review and expert missions.

Depending on the specific assignment, the expected adequate level of expertise ranges from general knowledge to prior professional experience with in-depth technical understanding in (list includes, but not limited to):

• Research Reactor Operation and Maintenance: Research reactor design, analysis and modelling, commissioning, operation, reliability, maintenance, in-service inspections, ageing management, refurbishment, modernization, preparation for decommissioning
• Research Reactor Fuel Cycle: Research reactor fuel development and qualification, fresh fuel supply, spent fuel management, minimization of high enriched uranium use in civilian sector, application of back-end decision support tools
• New research reactor programmes and capacity building: Development of national nuclear infrastructure for new research reactor programmes, capacity building for research reactors and using research reactors, access to research reactor facilities

Education, Experience and Language Skills

• University Degree or Advanced University Degree (Masters, PhD) in Applied Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanics, or related field.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience in editing, document writing and/or training and knowledge transfer in the expert areas of research reactors.
• Relevant professional experience at the national, regional and/or international level is an asset.
• Experience in application of the IAEA standards, guides, and recommendations is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of another official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) an asset.

Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are 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. Staff members may be assigned to any location. 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. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.