Closing Date: Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Position and Grade:
Laboratory Technician (G-4)
Organizational Unit:
Food and Environmental Protection Section
Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
Duty Station:
Seibersdorf, Austria
Issue Date:
18 August 2010
Application Deadline:
15 September 2010
Type of Appointment:
Fixed term extrabudgetary (FAO funded)
CCOG code:
2.J.02
The Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is established between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is housed in the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA in Vienna. The Joint Division assists Member States of FAO and IAEA in the use of nuclear techniques and related technologies to enhance and improve food security, alleviate poverty and to promote sustainable agriculture. It does so by coordinating and supporting research, providing technical and advisory services, laboratory support and training, and collecting, analysing and disseminating information.
The Joint Division consists of five Sections, each with an associated Laboratory, in the areas of food safety, animal production and health, plant breeding and genetics, insect pest control and soil and water management and crop nutrition. The Food and Environmental Protection Subprogramme provides support to countries in their efforts to ensure the safety and quality of food and agricultural commodities while at the same time facilitating international trade in foods. A primary objective of the Subprogramme is to improve Member State laboratory practices and analytical methodologies to enhance food safety and quality control systems. In this context, a major new focus is on techniques and systems to trace contaminated foods to their origin and to establish the authenticity of food commodities.
The Laboratory Technician reports to the Head of the Food and Environmental Protection Laboratory and works in a team environment with other professionals in the subprogramme, including the Food and Environmental Protection Section. Duties are undertaken in the Food and Environmental Protection Laboratory, which is located in Seibersdorf, Austria approximately 45 km south of Vienna.
Under supervision of an Analytical Chemist, to carry out the following tasks:
- Perform laboratory procedures to evaluate and optimise sample preparation techniques and instrumental methods of analysis for food traceability and contaminant control, including preparation of analytical standard solutions, weighing and processing food samples, sample extraction and clean-up techniques and analysis of samples using liquid scintillation counters, stable isotope analysers and chromatographic techniques.
- Support training activities within the Unit through the preparation of materials for laboratory demonstrations and the supervision of trainees in routine analytical procedures.
- Operate and maintain general laboratory equipment and perform basic routine maintenance of analytical instruments such as HPLC, GC, liquid scintillation counter.
- Perform routine analytical procedures using radioisotope-labelled substances.
- Maintain supplies of reagents and solvents for analytical work.
- Perform other routine laboratory tasks and benchwork to support the analytical chemist in method development and validation, as required.
- Practical knowledge of analytical techniques in food analysis.
- Ability to carry out assigned tasks to a high quality and in a timely manner under a minimum of supervision.
- Ability to work under and assist in maintaining a laboratory quality assurance system.
- Proven ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Computer skills: good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 2003 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), which is the Agency's standard.
- English Language Test (Level 2).
- Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of German desirable.
- Completed secondary education.
- Further education or certified training in the field of food analysis desirable.
- A least five years relevant working experience in the laboratory environment.
- Laboratory experience in food analysis, or in stable- and/or radio-isotope analysis.
- Experience in operating and maintaining analytical equipment.
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at €33 020 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), six weeks' annual vacation, pension plan and health insurance.
Internal and external applicants need to complete an IAEA Personal History Form. Internal applicants are required to apply online at https://personnel.iaea.org. External applicants are required to apply online at http://recruitment.iaea.org. You can find more information about employment opportunities and working at the IAEA at http://www.iaea.org/About/Jobs. No e-mail or hard-copy application will be accepted.All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. Applications received after the application deadline will not be considered. Applicants who do not comply with the aforementioned application guidelines or do not meet the essential requirements specified in this Vacancy Notice will not be considered.
Appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical report. Recruitment will be on a LOCAL BASIS only. Outside applicants are required to supply to the IAEA or to authorize it to seek all information relevant to their suitability for employment by the IAEA. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.
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 to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above.
