Nuclear Safety Culture Specialist

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 intergovernmental agency which operates under the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD). It facilitates co-operation among countries with advanced nuclear technology infrastructures to seek excellence in nuclear safety, technology, science, related environmental and economic matters and law. The mission of the NEA is to assist its 34 member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international co‑operation, the scientific, technological and legal bases required for a safe, environmentally sound and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. It strives to provide authoritative assessments and to forge common understandings on key issues as input to government decisions on nuclear technology policies.

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 is looking for a Nuclear Safety Culture Specialist who will, under the supervision of the Head of Division, support the work of one or more of the working dealing with both technical and non-technical subjects of nuclear safety regarding safety culture, human and organizational factors, personnel training policies and practices.

Main Responsibilities

Working group management

• Support the Head of Division in carrying out meetings and conducting analysis in support of country level safety culture and other related reviews.  Engage with and lead technical missions that involve the participation of top level regulators, government, senior scientists and industry leaders on topics related to safety culture and other human aspects of nuclear safety.
• Provide support as directed to the standing technical committees and working groups in the areas of responsibility of the division.

Planning and coordination

• Plan and organise activities of the Division, provide guidance to the technical groups, analyse data, prepare working documents and maintain liaison and co-ordination with relevant national administrations and international organisations.
• Ensure close coordination with the other units of the NEA and cross cutting areas with OECD Directorates as and when required.

Drafting

• 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.

Representation and meetings

• Represent the NEA at conferences and international meetings, summarising relevant activities at the NEA, and provide reports on such events.

Engagement activities

• Anticipate the implications of trends and identify the specific needs of member countries in his/her area of technical expertise, and advise the Head of Division on how to respond.

Candidate’s profile

Academic Background

• University degree in a relevant field such as nuclear engineering, psychology, sociology or other social sciences, or equivalent social science professional training.  An Advanced degree is an asset.

Professional Background

• Three to five years of professional experience in planning and co-ordinating projects and studies in the areas of safety culture, human and organizational factors and safety-related public communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience as an inspector reviewing safety culture or as a practioner with a licensee responsible for organisational safety culture programmes would be a definite asset.
• Proven experience in interacting with national and international experts, regulatory authorities and safety institutions for developing consensus on nuclear safety priorities.
• Proven experience in the managing of complex projects within a team and ability to manage programmes of works with strict deadlines and within a set budget.

Languages

• Excellent ability to communicate clearly and convincingly, both orally and in writing, in one of the two official languages of the Organisation (English and French); working knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the other. 

• 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, Diplomatic Sensitivity,  Client focus.
• Please also refer to the  OECD Core Competencies  and the level 3 indicators.

Contract duration

• 2 year fixed term appointment with possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 6 415 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 the NEA or OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.