Senior Statistical Data Evaluator (P-5)

Organizational Unit:	Nuclear Fuel Cycle Analysis Section Division of Information Management Department of Safeguards
Duty Station:	Vienna, Austria
Issue Date:	24 January 2012
Application Deadline:	23 February 2012
Type/Duration of Appointment:	Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting

The Department of Safeguards is the organizational hub for the implementation of IAEA safeguards. The IAEA implements nuclear verification activities for more than 170 States in accordance with their safeguards agreements. The safeguards activities are undertaken within a dynamic and technically challenging environment including advanced nuclear fuel cycle facilities and complemented by the political diversity of the countries. The Department of Safeguards consists of six Divisions: three Operations Divisions: A, B and C, for the implementation of verification activities around the world; and three Technical Divisions, (i) Division of Concepts and Planning, (ii) Division of Information Management, and (iii) Division of Technical and Scientific Services, as well as two Offices: the Office of Safeguards Analytical Services and the Office of Information and Communication Systems. The Division of Information Management (SGIM) comprises four sections and provides the Department of Safeguards with services of data processing, secure information distribution, information analysis and knowledge generation necessary to draw independent, impartial and credible safeguards conclusions.

Main purpose

As a Senior Statistical Data Evaluator reporting to the Head of the Section for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Analysis, the incumbent leads the Material Balance Evaluation and Statistical Support team in terms of planning, supervision and implementation of its activities. The Senior Statistical Data Evaluator manages and leads a team of safeguards data analysts and technicians in the most effective and efficient way so as to meet the needs of the Department's stakeholders in support of the Divisional and Departmental strategic objectives. Under the supervision of the Section Head, the incumbent contributes to the Agency's overall objective to maintain and further develop an effective and efficient verification system through the development and implementation of statistical methodologies for the analysis of declared data and verification measurement results and the design of safeguards approaches based on probabilistic concepts.

Role

Senior Statistical Data Evaluator is: (1) a manager of safeguards data analysts and technicians who implements innovative and clever management practices to achieve the objectives of the team; (2) a specialist, who provides comprehensive advice on the most effective and efficient statistical and probabilistic methodologies; (3) an expert analyst, who leads the regular review of material balance evaluations and other statistical and probabilistic studies and ensures that the corresponding information is efficiently processed and disseminated within the Department in a timely manner, according to the highest standard of quality and in compliance with security policies; (4) an adviser to other team leaders, the Section Head and the Divisional Director on probabilistic verification approaches, material balance evaluation as well as analytical methods and measurement techniques used for safeguards verification; and (5) a mentor who provides guidance, training, and directions to its team members.

Partnerships

The Senior Statistical Data Evaluator collaborates with colleagues, particularly from within the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Analysis Section and from other SGIM sections but also from other divisions in the Department, in the field of verification approaches, the evaluation of verification results and related issues; She/he advises and provides authoritative guidance to nuclear safeguards inspectors and staff of the Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL) on Destructive Assay strategies and data interpretation; She/he promotes the timely analysis of samples and reporting of results from the SAL and consults with a broad range of experts on the development of nuclear material analysis methods, measurement techniques and statistical methodologies for the evaluation of safeguards verification results , She/he explores and promotes research and development to further advance the statistical analysis of safeguards verification data and the design of probabilistic verification approaches.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Manage a team of statistical data evaluators for the timely production of high quality material balance evaluation reports and flow and trend analyses in support of the detection of diversion of nuclear material from declared facilities and coordinate the team's contributions to the yearly Safeguards Implementation Report (SIR) and the State Evaluation Reports (SER) as requested by Operation divisions. Supervise and participate in the design of optimized verification schemes based on the use of statistical and probabilistic methodologies (e.g. sampling plans, random inspection (RI) schemes) and in the determination of their detection power. Supervise the development and implementation of Near Real Time Accountancy (NRTA) systems for large plutonium Bulk Handling Facilities (BHF) as well as the statistical evaluation of their results. Supervise the timely production of high quality Destructive Assay (DA) reports and the liaison with the Safeguards Office of Analytical Services (SGAS). Supervise the collection and analysis of Destructive Assay (DA) and Non Destructive Assay (NDA) results and the analysis of their trends over time as well as the statistical analysis of paired data for the estimation of the operators' and inspectors' measurement uncertainties. Supervise the review and improvement of currently applied statistical methodologies and the development and implementation of state-of- the-art methodologies. Serve as Project Manager for the Statistical Analysis project SGIM-008, which coordinates Member State Support Programme tasks to investigate, develop, and/or improve statistical methods, sampling procedures or strategies, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) measures, innovative evaluation approaches, etc. Subject to the approval by the Board of Governors, carry out safeguards inspections and complementary accesses (CA) and provide support to in-field verification activities. Direct participation in safeguards inspections promotes a sound understanding of the needs and constraints of inspectors as well as an effective follow-up on the Section's recommendations regarding the quality of DA sampling and NDA measurement practices. Participate as lecturer in conferences and training courses. Plan and manage the programmatic direction and the development of the team and ensure that the appropriate balance of skills and resources is maintained through training, mentoring and recruitment as well as a sound assessment of the team members' performance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Professional expertise: Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of statistical methods applied to safeguards including material balance evaluation, sampling methodologies, measurement error propagation, NRTA systems, the determination of the detection probabilities of verification schemes, the design of random verification approaches and sound understanding of the role of these activities in the safeguards regime; Comprehensive knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle activities with particular emphasis on potential pathways relevant to nuclear proliferation; In-depth understanding of inspection activities, including, in particular, physical inventory verifications (PIV), stratification and sampling plans, DA sample taking and NDA measurements. Interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to exercise diplomatic and prudent judgement on sensitive issues; Ability to gain agreement and commitment from others through negotiation; Ability to work in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; Ability to create an environment for open communication within and across organizational boundaries and to foster team spirit. Management skills: Staff management: Ability to manage staff in a impartial manner, to provide clear direction and to engage them in operational planning, to motivate them, to deal with possible conflicts, to provide regular and effective feedback and to coach them with a view to improving their performance; Result-oriented attitude: Ability to link results to strategic goals and to set realistic targets, while ensuring the availability of resources. Analytical and strategic thinking skills: Demonstrated ability to apply an analytical approach and to adopt a strategic perspective, to convert organizational objectives and priorities into strategic action plans, to step back from operational issues and focus on the long-term direction of the team and to align plans accordingly. Knowledge management: Ability to create knowledge and information sharing conditions, to identify critical areas and develop methods for the management, sharing and preservation of knowledge in these areas and to encourage staff to participate in cross-training and knowledge-sharing activities. Communication skills: Demonstrated ability to deliver oral and written information in a clear and concise manner.

Education, Experience and Language Skills

Advanced university degree (or equivalent) in statistics, physics, chemistry or nuclear engineering or related disciplines. At least 15 years' experience in nuclear fuel cycle analysis and statistical methodologies applied to safeguards. Supervisory and management experience. Fluency in written and oral English essential. Knowledge of at least one other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) highly desirable.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $80 734 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $42 466*, dependency benefits, diplomatic status, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance. How to apply to the IAEA Complete an Online Application * Subject to change without notice

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. 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.