Senior Expert for Nuclear Safety Culture

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is an agency within the framework of the OECD that supports its 34 member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international co-operation, the scientific, technological and legal bases required for a safe, environmentally-friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful uses. The critical priority of NEA responsibilities focuses on safety and regulation of nuclear facilities. Recent operating experience has demonstrated a vital need to place more attention on areas of nuclear safety such as safety culture, human and organisational factors, personnel training policies and practices, and safety related public communication and stakeholder engagement.  The NEA division of Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety (RP-HANS) deals with these important subjects.

The NEA seeks a dynamic, proven senior specialist in a relevant field to serve as Senior Expert for Nuclear Safety Culture to support the work of the Agency in areas specifically in areas such as safety culture and human and organisational factors.  S/he will work under the supervision of the Head of the RP-HANS Division and work directly with other senior officials of the Agency, including the Director-General.

Main Responsibilities

Programme management, representation and liaison

• Provide high-quality leadership and support to Agency  activities, projects and events related to safety culture and human and organisational factors and be able to act as principal contact, liaison on country specific activities which involve the participation of leaders from government ministries, nuclear safety regulators, government, scientific organisations, and industry.
• Provide senior expert input and advice to ensure the effective conduct of country specific safety culture initiatives including data collection and analysis, report writing and coordination.

• Support the work of technical committees and working groups and specialist meetings concerned with nuclear safety culture, human and organisational factors, training, and related areas.
• Maintain liaison and co-ordination with relevant national administrations and international organisations and represent the NEA at conferences and international meetings, summarising relevant activities at the NEA, and provide reports on such events.
• Anticipate the implications of trends and identify the specific needs of member countries in his/her area of resposibilty, and advise the Head of Division on how to respond.
• Assist the Head of Division in overall management activities for the division, including the supervision and guidance of junior staff and external contributors, as and when required.

Analysis and drafting

• Analyse data and draft working documents.
• Prepare summaries and documentation based on the technical information arising from these activities, co-ordinate and participate in the preparation of state-of-the-art reports and technical notes.

Ideal Candidate profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as engineering, science, psychology, sociology or other social sciences, or equivalent social science professional training. University degree coupled with extensive professional experience will be considered.

Professional Background

• At least eight years of professional experience in planning and co-ordinating projects and studies in areas related to nuclear energy that are relevant to the mission of the Division, ideally with a nuclear safety or nuclear operations organisation.
• Proven experience in interacting with a broad variety of stakeholders including national and international safety experts, regulatory authorities and safety institutions and the public for developing consensus on nuclear safety priorities.
• Experience in the supervision of a team and ability to manage a Programme of Work with strict deadlines and within budget.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level. 
• Working level abilities in other languages such as Japanese would be an asset.

Core competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important\: Analytical thinking, Achievement Focus, Drafting skills, Flexible thinking, Managing resources, Teamwork and team leadership, Client focus.

• Please also refer to the level 4 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies.

Contract duration

Two-year fixed term appointment, with possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers 

• Monthly base salary starting from 9 198 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

• Click here to learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.
• Click here to browse our People Management Guidebook and learn more about all aspects relating to people at the OECD, our workplace environment and many other policies supporting staff in their daily life.

Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant. ​​​​​​​

Selection Process

For retained candidates, written tests and video-recorded interviews are foreseen mid-December 2022 and panel interviews are planned for mid-January 2023.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of NEA or OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.