CAREERS AT THEINTERNATIONAL ATOMICENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)

Winner of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize

Employment Opportunities at the “Atoms for Peace” Agency

Photos credit: IAEA

“The Agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall ensure, so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose.” IAEA Statute

Founded in 1957, the IAEA serves as the world’s intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear en-ergy. The IAEA is committed to promoting safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology to contribute to international peace and security and to promote sustainable development. The IAEA’s three main pillars are: promoting safeguards and verification, promoting safety and security, and promoting science and technology.

IAEA programs have enabled over 100 developing Member States to uti-lize nuclear technology to overcome the challenges of water scarcity, food insecurity, malnutrition, malaria, environmental degradation and many other problems. In recent years, this support has focused on promoting tangible and lasting benefits to member states in fields that are vital to human development, including agriculture, human health and nutrition, water resource improvement and management, and human resource de-velopment.

Working at the IAEA is a rewarding experience and provides an opportu-nity to contribute to the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and to sustainable development. As the largest contributor to IAEA pro-grams, the U.S. is committed to encouraging well-qualified Americans to apply for professional posts at the IAEA.

For more information about the IAEA, please visit their website at: www.iaea.org.

IAEA Opportunities

The IAEA employs professionals from a variety of scientific and policy backgrounds. Most professional posts at the IAEA require an advanced degree in a related field as well as 5-10 years of relevant experience. A list of the current vacancy notices can be viewed on the IAEA’s website: http://recruitment.iaea.org/phf/p_vacancies.asp. Below is a summary of the various IAEA offices and Departments:

Department of Nuclear EnergyThe Department of Nuclear Energy supports Member States that have al-

ready implemented or are considering implementing nuclear power, fuel cy-cle and radioactive waste management programs. The Department of Nuclear Energy assists Member States in mak-ing comparative assessments of the economic, health and environmental

effects of different energy systems as well as the role of these systems in sustainable energy development. Professionals in the Department of Nuclear Energy include nuclear en-gineers, waste technology specialists, energy economists and information and library specialists.

Department of Nuclear Sciences and ApplicationsThe Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications promotes researchand development for the peaceful application of nuclear and isotope

Nuclear Power Plant in Grundremmingen,Germany. Credit: IAEA

Base of one of the Bugey cooling towers.Bugey Nuclear Power Plant, FranceCredit: IAEA

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techniques in areas such as agricultural productivity, water resources management, food security, human health, industrial de-velopment, and environmental protection. The skills needed by professionals in this Department are very specific to the nature of their work. Usually a university degree in a relevant field and several years experi-ence are a minimum requirement.The IAEA is helping countries

throughout the world to tap and manage water supplies. Credit: R. Faidutti, Malaysia/UN FAO

Department of Nuclear Safety and SecurityThe Department of Nuclear Safety Security contributes to efforts to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety through the enhancement of national measures and international co- operation. The Department of Nuclear Safe-ty and Security requires specialists in areas such as radiation effects on humans, waste safety, analysis of the consequences of accidents in nuclear facilities as well as ex-perts in safe design and operation of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities.

Department of SafeguardsThe IAEA Department of Safeguards is responsible for verifying the non-diver-sion of nuclear material and the absence of undeclared nuclear facilities. The Safe-guards Departments employs profession-als from a variety of backgrounds includ-ing: nuclear engineers, physicists, electrical engineers, analytical chemists, system in-

Safeguards SealCredit: IAEA

Personnel Safety Training CourseCredit: IAEA

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tegrators, quality assurance specialists, security experts, software and database developers, network specialists, trainers, equipment techni-cians, intelligence analysts and a variety of support personnel (accoun-tants, technical writers, human resource specialists, translators, etc.).

Department of Technical CooperationThe Department of Technical Cooperation develops effective programs aimed at improving the scientific and technological capa-bilities of developing countries in peace-ful applications of nuclear technology. Professionals in TC require a university degree, preferably in science or nuclear technology, and experience in the ad-ministration/management of nuclear technology related projects.

IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects help developing countries such as Sri Lanka develop cancer treatment programs. Credit: Petr Pavlicek/IAEA

Director General MohammedElBaradei. Credit: IAEA

Offices Reporting to the Director GeneralOffices reporting to the Director General provide services to the

IAEA in a variety of areas including legal, pol-icy coordination, support for governing bodies, liaison with Member States and governmental and non-governmental organizations, audit, and management consultancy. These offices employ professionals with a variety of backgrounds in-cluding legal, international relations, arms con-trol and nonproliferation policy, auditing, etc.

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Department of ManagementThe Department of Management provides a wide range of supporting services to the IAEA’s other Departments. Professionals in this Depart-

ment carry out challenging activities in very diverse areas, including policy, legal, budget, and public information. The skills needed by professionals in this Department are very specific to the nature of their work. Usually, a university degree in a relevant field and several years of ex-perience are a minimum requirement.

Additional informationFor more information on the various divisions detailed above, pleasevisit the IAEA’s website: www.iaea.org/About/Jobs/divisions.html

QualificationsCandidates interested in employment with the IAEA are expected to have a university degree and appropriate prior work experience in their cho-sen profession. The required minimum period of experience depends on the grade of the post stated in the vacancy announcement. There are five grades in the Professional category (P-1 at the junior level to P-5 at the se-nior level) and three in the policy-making category (two in Director grades and the grade of Deputy Director General). For engineering and scientific posts at grades P-4 and above, a doctorate (Ph.D.) or an equivalent quali-fication is generally required.

You must have the minimum years of experience required for the vacancy:

• P-2 — 2 years of relevant experience

• P-3 — 5 years of relevant experience

• P-4 — 7 years of relevant experience

• P-5 — 10 years of relevant experience

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Credit: IAEA

Salary and Employment Benefits for Professional Staff

The IAEA offers an attractive employment package. The salaries, ben-efits and other conditions of employment of all IAEA staff are determined within the framework of the United Nations Common System, which em-braces most United Nations organizations. They are designed to attract individuals of the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity from the IAEA´s Member States.

RemunerationThe IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary (single or dependent rate), a variable post adjust-ment, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses, 6 weeks annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance.

Tax Exempt SalaryThe IAEA salary is free from U.S. Income Tax. The first $85,000 of in-come is exempt from U.S. Income Tax based on the foreign presence test (IRS Form 2555), requiring absence from the United States for 330 days of a 365-day period. Tax must be paid on any income earned from the IAEA in excess of $85,000, but the IAEA will reimburse the employee for the tax paid, making the entire salary tax-free to the IAEA employee.

For more information on the current salaries for Professional staff by grade level, visit www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html.

Post AdjustmentThe post adjustment is an amount paid in addition to net base salary, which varies according to the cost of living at each duty station in comparison to New York (the base of the UN remuneration system). It is designed to ensure that no matter where the United Nations Common System staff work, their take-home pay has a purchasing power equivalent to that at the base of the system.

Dependency BenefitsThe IAEA provides allowances in the form of higher net salaries for a dependant (i.e., spouse) living with you. For those with more than one dependent, the IAEA will provide an additional amount per dependent.

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Rental SubsidyThe rental subsidy scheme aims at ensuring a greater degree of equity and al-leviating hardship by subsidizing housing for newcomers whose rental costs significantly exceed the average for the duty station. The actual subsidy is based on an algorithm that takes into account the staff member’s profession-al level, salary, and number of family members in residence. The subsidy cannot be more than 40% of the actual rent and will decrease with time.

Education GrantTo cover schooling (and university) costs, staff members may be entitled to an education grant. The IAEA pays 75% of education expenses up to the maximum per student up to the first university degree. A fixed rate payment for books and other learning aids can be authorized in cases where the books are not free of charge. The grant is not payable for attendance at a school free of charge or one charging only nominal fees at the duty station.

Relocation ExpensesThe IAEA usually meets the costs of travel from the place of recruitment to the duty station in the case of new staff members who have been inter-nationally recruited and their eligible dependants. It also usually meets the costs of shipping or storing and insuring household effects.

HousingThe Joint Housing Service assists in finding reasonable rented furnished and unfurnished long term accommodation in and around Vienna, and advises staff members on all issues concerning housing, especially lease agreements.

Although there is a wide variety of accommodation available in Vienna, newly appointed staff members are advised to contact the Joint Housing Service as soon as possible if they require assistance in finding appropriate accommodation.

Installation Grant and Repatriation GrantStaff appointed for at least one year receives upon arrival an installation grant for covering initial settling in expenses.

A repatriation grant is payable to internationally recruited staff upon sepa-ration and relocation. The amount is linked to the staff member’s depen-dency status and their length of service with the IAEA.

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Annual Leave and Home LeaveStaff members are entitled to six weeks of annual leave. In addition, there are ten official holidays.

Paid sick and maternity leave (and also various forms of special paid or unpaid leave) may be granted under certain conditions. After two years of service, the IAEA meets the home leave travel costs of internationally recruited staff members who are not of Austrian nationality for traveling (with spouse and dependant children) to their recognized country of ori-gin. Home leave is available once every two years of quality service.

Pension PlanParticipation in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), www.unjspf.org, is compulsory for Professional staff members who have an appointment of six months or more, except when the staff member is al-lowed to continue instead in a national pension insurance scheme or the pen-sion insurance scheme of his/her former employer. Employees contribute 7.9% and the Agency contributes 15.8% of their pensionable remuneration. They become vested in the UNJSPF after five years of service. Anyone leav-ing the Agency before completion of five years of contributory service will be reimbursed the amount of their own contributions plus 3.25% interest.

Besides retirement pensions, the UNJSPF provides disability pensions and, in the event of the death of the participant, survivors´ benefits.

Health InsuranceStaff members may choose between two health insurance schemes, Van Breda or the Austrian National Insurance, the premium costs of which are shared by the staff member and the IAEA.

In addition, the IAEA has a non-contributory compensation scheme for injury, illness or death attributable to the performance of official functions for the IAEA.

Health Care FacilitiesAt the VIC there is a well-equipped Medical Service which provides oc-cupational health checks and where staff members can obtain advice on medical services in Vienna. Travel health information, inoculations and medicines for duty travel and home leave travel are also provided.

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Life InsuranceStaff members have the possibility of enrolling, at their own expense, in a group life insurance scheme with several levels of coverage. The premi-ums depend on the staff member’s age and the level of coverage.

Family Support Services and SchoolingFor staff members´ children aged 3–24 months there is a full-time Child Care Center (run in German) next to the IAEA´s Headquarters at the Vi-enna International Center (VIC). For older children of preschool age there are municipal “kindergartens” in the vicinity of the VIC.

Besides municipal day schools, which are run in German and generally free of charge, there are a number of private fee-paying schools run in English, French and other languages. The Vienna International School is located near the VIC; the American International School and the Lycée Francais located in other parts of the city are a few examples. As these schools often have placement restrictions, new staff members are encour-aged to register their children at the school of their preference as soon as possible.

Training and Staff DevelopmentThe IAEA provides a variety of in-house training programs and professional development opportunities to help staff members update and develop their work related knowledge and skills. These programs include communica-tion, management, career planning and computer courses. In addition, new staff members and their spouses are invited to participate in the Orientation Program that will introduce them to the IAEA and to life in Vienna.

The IAEA also offers training at a reasonable cost in all the official lan-guages as well as German to staff members and their spouses who wish to further develop their linguistic skills for professional or personal reasons.

The Learning Resource Center (LRC)The LRC is a multiple media facility for employees and their spouses. Us-ers can broaden their professional as well as personal skills and develop their career options through self-training and workshops. A wide selection of video tapes, books, CDI, software and other instructional material is available at the LRC and assistance is provided to guide users in the use of these materials. In addition, the LRC offers counseling in relocation mat-ters and support for spouses in the job search process.8

The IAEA Headquarters and Other FacilitiesThe IAEA´s Headquarters is located — together with a number of other United Nations organizations — at the VIC, an office complex comprising several towers and bordering on Vienna’s Donaupark (Danube Park). The site lies about 7 km (4 miles) from the center of Vienna and is easily acces-sible by car and public transport. Parking is available at low cost.

Other facilities at the VIC include a post office, two banks, two travel agencies, a pharmacy, a newsstand, a dry cleaning service, a restaurant, a self-service cafeteria and a gymnasium.

Living in Vienna

Vienna is one of the cultural capitals of Europe and has one of the high-est standards of living. Located in the heart of Europe, Vienna is just a train ride or short flight from Rome, Prague, Budapest, Paris, and many other European cities. For more information on Vienna, visit the official city website at: www.wien.gv.at/english/. Other related information can be found at www.iaea.org/lrc/unwg_employ.

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for an IAEA job, you need to submit an IAEA personal history form (phf) directly to the IAEA. A copy of the IAEA personal history form can be downloaded from or submitted electronically through the IAEA website: http://recruitment.iaea.org/phf/mainpage.asp.

The IAEA is interested in candidates with expertise in:• Accounting• Administration• Agriculture• Computer Sciences• Energy Economics• Environmental Specialties• Financial Management• Human Resources Management• International Cooperation• International Law

• Languages• Library Science• Life Sciences• Nuclear Engineering• Nuclear Medicine• Physical/Chemical Sciences• Political Science• Project Management• Public Affairs• Radiation Protection• Technical Cooperation

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Contact InformationFor information on IAEA non-Safeguards opportunities contact:

Argonne National LaboratoryE-mail: IAEAStaffing@anl.gov

https://international.dep.anl.gov/

For information on IAEA opportunities in the Department of Safeguards contact:

Brookhaven National LaboratoryE-mail: occhio@bnl.govhttp://www.bnl.gov/ispo/

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