Response and Assistance Officer

Reporting to the Response System Coordinator, the Response and Assistance Officer is the Coordinator’s backup and the IAEA’s focal point for emergency assistance who maintains, develops and strengthens the Response and Assistance Network (RANET) with States Parties and its arrangements; the technical guidance, procedures and publications related to the provision of emergency assistance; the registry of States Parties that join RANET and training for States Parties; leads international Assistance Missions; and in addition liaises with Member States regarding national assistance capabilities and related strategy and policies. In a nuclear or radiological incident or emergency, the Emergency Assistance Officer supports the Emergency Response Manager in arranging the requested international assistance.

As a member of the team led by the Response System Coordinator, the Response and Assistance Officer supports the development and implementation of the Agency’s policy and strategy for enhancing the Agency’s emergency management system for nuclear and radiological incidents and emergencies. This includes strengthening and the testing of the IEC’s preparedness and response capabilities and arrangements, through reviews of the in-house response plan and procedures and support in the preparation and conduct of internal and international EPR response exercises.

Role:

The Response and Assistance Officer is: (1) a nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response (EPR) technical expert, coordinator and analyst, reviewing, and organizing the delivery of international assistance and working to optimize and implement EPR response arrangements including the delivery of assistance and the preparation and conduct of EPR response exercises; (2) a liaison officer, collecting relevant information from national authorities assigned by their governments to be focal points to RANET and from relevant divisions and departments within the IAEA, as delegated, on matters of EPR assistance and response; (3) a technical expert in nuclear safety, radiation protection, monitoring and detection equipment, ensuring that harmonization of national assistance capabilities and response arrangements are supported by relevant IAEA guidance; and (4) a trainer, preparing and implementing emergency response training and exercise programmes in house, and at national, regional and international levels. (5) An Emergency Response Manager, in case of nuclear or radiological incidents and emergencies.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

• Assist and back-up the Response System Coordinator in the coordination of response to actual, potential or perceived nuclear or radiological incidents or emergencies, including the provision of international assistance as requested, and implement corrections and improvements identified in actual response activities and EPR exercises.
• Coordinate RANET activities as well as other IAEA activities related to the delivery of emergency assistance to Member States.
• Maintain through review and revision the authoritative IAEA RANET publication (EPR-RANET), focusing on consistency with existing IEC policy and harmonization of assistance capabilities and arrangements.
• Prepare, coordinate, and serve as officer in charge of field missions delivering expert assistance and deploying needed capabilities and equipment.
• Liaise with relevant departments and divisions within the IAEA on matters of emergency assistance and RANET to ensure a coordinated approach.
• Review RANET national assistance capabilities, including thorough preparing for and leading RANET review missions focused on the harmonization of assistance capabilities.
• Maintain the RANET Registry and prepare, conduct and evaluate RANET and EPR workshops and exercises.
• Prepare, conduct and evaluate training for Member States on the implementation of compatibility arrangements to help enhance the harmonization of national assistance capabilities in states providing assistance and the response capabilities in states receiving assistance so that the assistance may be rendered effectively.
• Strengthen internal partnerships and knowledge capabilities to support the IEC objective of building and maintaining in-house preparedness to respond to incidents and emergencies.
• Provide support and relevant expertise for the Incident and Emergency System in the capacity of the on-call officer and participate in associated training and exercises.
• Participate in the IAEAs Incident and Emergency System (IES) as Emergency response Manager, participate in associated training and exercises, and provide technical support as required when the IEC is activated, including as back-up to the Response System Coordinator.

Qualifications, Experience and Language skills:

• Master’s Degree – Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in nuclear science, physics or engineering or other related field.
• Bachelor’s Degree – University degree in nuclear science, physics or engineering or other related field with two years of additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.
• Minimum of seven years of work experience in the area of radiation emergency preparedness and response, including a minimum of two years of involvement in international cooperation in radiation emergency response.
• Experience in managing the response to a nuclear and radiological emergency.
• Experience in either providing or receiving international assistance missions is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

Source: https://iaea.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2024/0119%20(018460)