Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)
What you'd do
This position is located at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. This position has the primary responsibility for implementing and managing the medical center's Radiation Safety Program.
Major duties
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Sets up all work and trains in all areas of radiation safety, including, but not limited to, machine-produced radiation and radioactive materials; Implements and evaluates tests, procedures, and reporting mechanisms to ensure proper radiation safety measures within the facility; Consults with facility medical staff and scientists, equipment vendors, and operations personnel to resolve very complex and unprecedented issues arising from clinical uses of radioactivity and radiation-producing equipment, research protocols, new X-ray equipment capabilities, applications, or environments; Plans and implements a radiation safety program for a clinically complex institution and its satellite clinics, which typically include clinical consultation and/or research functions; Represents the organization in agency and peer group committees, as well as the affiliated university, to develop new policies and procedures; Develops and recommends evaluation criteria and guidelines for assessing radiation safety programs; Communicates extensively with all regulatory agencies (i.e., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), National Health Physics Program (NHPP), State Radiation Control Program, Joint Commission, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Serves as a contractor officer representative; Advises medical center administration on all aspects of health physics, including disaster planning for accidents involving radiation exposure or radioactive contamination; Oversees the use of all radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines within the research and clinical domains, responsible for ensuring the required audits, surveys, and QA evaluations of all radiation-producing equipment utilized across the Medical Center; Designs, implements, and evaluates strategies to improve radiation program assurance and quality management; Instructs personnel in the use of monitoring equipment, safe laboratory practices, decontamination methods, and related procedures; Provides initial education and training to new employees on safety procedures for all personnel using radioactive materials and/or radiation-producing equipment, and continuous training to existing employees, including physicians, nurses, biomedical engineers, technologists, etc.; Evaluates all areas of ionizing radiation use for proper security, shielding integrity, usage, and ventilation in appropriate areas. Develops, implements, and maintains written policies and procedures appropriate for the monitoring, use, and control of radioactive materials and radiation machines; Provides expert, comprehensive quality assurance oversight for imaging to a segment of a large, complex biomedical research facility; Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.
What you need to qualify
English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. AND To qualify for this position, you must also meet the Basic Educational Requirement, Specialized Experience requirement and the Selective Placement Factor. Basic Educational Requirement: Successfully completion of a bachelor's degree (or higher) in natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics and/or calculus. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. OR A combination of education and experience that includes courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics (copy of certification must be submitted with your application materials), plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described above. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. AND Specialized Experience Requirement: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying radiation safety and health physics knowledge for a limited scope license that consists of radiology, research, nuclear medicine, brachytherapy, and lab services; detecting and measuring the types of ionizing radiations used by a medical center, such as wide energy range of X rays, gamma rays, and beta particles; and managing a facility-wide radiation safety program, ensuring full compliance with directives, NRC license/permit conditions, OSHA requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations by maintaining current policies, procedures, and training that reflect the latest regulatory and accrediting agency expectations. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position. Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT) - Selective Placement Factors (SPF) have been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. The SPF for this position is: Must possess a Radioactive Materials (RAM) License (35.100, 35.200, 35.300, and 35.1000 level classifications) and/or Nuclear Regulatory Commission Form 313A (RSO) documentation. (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO RECEIVE CREDIT) PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: It is highly preferred that applicants possess the following: - Experience working with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). - Previous experience serving as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). - Knowledge of Record Controls Schedule 10-1.7250 and N1-015-02-005 for Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Safety Records Management. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
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