An IPA can work on all types of non-core and non-managerial activities in the ITER Project. IPAs can be given some technical responsibility under the supervision of an ITER Organization Responsible Officer.

The IPA will perform activities for the ITER Organization for a period of time defined in an individual Nomination Form (NF) signed between the Home Institute and the ITER Organization. These activities will be performed for the ITER Organization, on or off the ITER site. IPAs are assigned by the Home Institute to the ITER Organization to carry out these activities on a full time or part-time basis.

Any organization (Domestic Agency, institutions, universities, industrial enterprises) in one of the ITER Members. The Home Institute remains the main employer of the IPA during the IPA assignment, and continues paying the IPA salary.

IPA Profiles are advertised by the ITER Organization under a call for Expressions of Interest on this website, and Home Institutes submit Proposals in reply, using the ITER Organization template.

Click here to download the IO template

In principle, only Proposals from Home Institutes which have signed a MoA / MoU / CA with the ITER Organization can be considered for selection. To know if such MoA or MoU already exists, please contact the Home Institute's internal services or ipa-application@iter.org. In case there is no MoA / MoU / CA, then it shall be mentioned in the Proposal and the ITER Organization may decide to sign a MoA / MoU / CA with the Home Institute in the frame of the selection process before its conclusion.

The Home Institute Proposal shall include, with justification:

(i) Details of existing resources to be nominated as IPA with proposed skill sets in answer to the Expression of Interest;

(ii) Any administrative costs requested from the ITER Organization by the Home Institute to cover the execution of the Implementing Agreement;

(iii) Any other relevant information required for the implementation of the Implementing Agreement.

The Home Institute Proposal should be sent by email from a Home Institute authorized representative to the following address: IPA-application@iter.org.

Upon selection by the ITER Organization, the selected Home Institute and the ITER Organization sign an Implementing Agreement that covers the general conditions of assignment of all the Home Institute's IPA(s). Then, for each IPA under the Implementing Agreement, and individual Nomination Form will be signed by the Home Institute and the ITER Organization describing scope of activity, timeframe, financial conditions, other implementation aspects, etc.

Average Total Time Frame: 5 to 10 months

In accordance with the IPA process time frame (see question above), the ITER Organization will duly contact the Home Institute at each step in the selection process.

IPA assignments shall, in principle, not exceed 4 years in total. Part-time IPA assignments can be arranged.

IPAs are not ITER Organization staff members and they are not subject to Privileges and Immunities. However, they benefit from certain facilities and arrangements. The ITER Organization provides support for administrative formalities to stay and work in France.

The Director-General may decide to grant the IPA a monthly Living Adjustment Allowance in addition to the salary paid by the Home Institute, to grant an Installation Allowance to be paid upon arrival, and to reimburse IPA's travel costs upon arrival to and departure from the ITER Organization. The granting and determination of such payments is at the discretion of the ITER Organization. In particular, no allowances shall be paid to IPA with no or limited relocation costs (e.g. if they live locally or are the spouse/partner of a person living locally, such as an IO staff member). In addition, Implementing Agreements and/or Nomination Forms may include other financial provisions.

As employer of the IPA, the Home Institute has obligations both on occupational health and safety as well as on training of its employees prior to the start of and/or during the assignment.

The ITER Organization is subject to French law regarding occupational health and safety, so the Home Institute must ensure that the IPA's employment conditions on health and safety matters are compliant with the French regulations.

In particular, the Home Institute is responsible for ensuring that the IPA:

• undergoes medical visits with an occupational doctor as determined based on the occupational hazard job description established by the Home Institute prior to the start of the assignment and in line with the mandatory requirements of the ITER Organization,;
• is trained on health and safety aspects related to their activities;
• is granted the required work authorizations, unless the ITER Organization agrees being delegated this responsibility.

Mandatory safety trainings that are relevant to the ITER Site are provided for free by the ITER Organization. Any other safety/technical training or certification relevant for the IPA's activities (e.g. electrical certification) is under the responsibility of the Home Institute, and should normally be arranged before the start of the assignment. Otherwise, it may be arranged by the ITER Organization, but in this case it will be invoiced to the Home Institute as employer and responsible party for these mandatory French regulatory aspects.

The Home Institute is also responsible for providing adequate safety and protective mandatory equipment to the IPA. If provided by the ITER Organization, it shall be invoiced to the Home Institute.

Upon agreement with the Home Institute, the ITER Organization can facilitate additional technical trainings during the assignment, that the organizer will invoice to the Home Institute.