The Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer) reports to the Medical Center Assistant Director. Directs the managerial aspects of the Radiation Safety Program ensuring all procedures and regulatory requirements are in compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules and regulations. Position plays the lead role in policy development for the organizations multicenter radiation safety program with technical and or expert assistance and support to other groups outside the organization.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements - Health Physics Series 1306 Basic Requirements: A. Degree: Natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and/or calculus. B. Combination of education and experience - Courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics, plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described in paragraph A. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Preferred Experience: 5+ years of experience in Radiation Safety. Minimum Qualification Requirement: GS-13 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Planning, directing, performing the execution of the radiation safety programs, Consultative of each different scientific/research/dental/medical areas. Advising other health physicist, researchers, technical, and medical personnel relative to the use of radioactive materials and devices producing ionizing radiations. Reviewing experimental procedures, clinical therapeutic dosimetry calculations, occupational dosimetry determinations for employees, and evaluative measurements for patient absorbed doses. Act to control and prevent ionizing radiation hazards. Developing and implementing radiation safety program and training. Managing the storage, handling, transportation, and transfers of all radioactive materials and decontamination policies and procedure. Calibrating radioactive sealed source. Mathematically and practically determines radiation shielding needs and the associated dose assessment model. Determining radiation dose assessment and Federal Regulatory requirements for internal/external contaminations, establishing the emergency response to radiation accident incident. Establishing proper technique associated with physical detection and quantitative measurement of radiation. Applying radiation safety standards associated with the interaction of ionizing radiation exposure and contamination upon living tissue. Establishing and overseeing the programs for all acquisition, storage, and use, of radioactive materials; and maintaining a budget with oversight of radiation safety equipment and personal dosimetry programs. There is no educational substitution for the GS-13 level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Duties includes but are not limited to: Prepares correspondence, license amendments, applications and such other written communications required with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Instructs as needed all personnel using sources of radioactive material, but not less than once annually, concerning the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) program, safety procedures, disposal policy and procedures and compliance with regulations and local policy and procedures. Provides instruction using sources of ionizing radiation concerning the ALARA program, safety procedures, and local policy and procedures. Investigates overexposures, ALARA exceptions, accidents, spills, thefts, unauthorized receipts, uses, transfers, disposals, medical events, and any other deviation from approved radiation safety practice and implement corrective actions. Inspects all facilities where radionuclides are used and stored as needed by not less than once each year for compliance with Federal regulations and local policy and procedures. Maintains inventory records and performs required surveys and wipe tests for all facilities and sources assigned to the Radiation Safety Office. Manages the timely distribution and collection of personnel monitors and maintains records of personnel exposure including accounting for all missing or lost badges. Maintains written records of all activities of the Radiation Safety Office/Officer. Provides radiation safety support for each clinical therapeutic case. Completes other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)~/675-06536-0 Physical Requirements: The work involves a certain amount of strenuous activity associated with small work spaces to change radioactive material activated charcoal air flow filters, preparing radioactive materials waste in 55-gallon drums and the handling of such drums, lifting heavy boxes of liquid scintillation vials and other solid waste materials for disposal, as well as facility roof surveys via tall ladder and small space access for motor contamination prior to equipment maintenance. Work is divided approximately equally between sedentary desk work and walking, bending and climbing required to inspect laboratory and equipment installations. Some occasional crouching, stooping, reaching, and pushing of moderately heavy items such as carts may be required. Lifting up to 45 pounds in weight may occasionally be required.