Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)

Job Description

Radiation Safety Officer directs the managerial aspects of the Radiation Safety Program, ensuring all procedures and regulatory requirements are following Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRG) rules and regulations. This position is located within the VAPHS, serving thousands of unique patients and providing more than 117,000 radiological procedures annually. Supports clinical operations, research programs and teaching activities that deal with ionizing radiation and radioactive material.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below. Please note, this position requires and individual occupational requirement in addition to qualifications for the GS-11 grade level: Basic Requirement (Individual Occupational Requirement): Successful completion of at least a full 4-year course of study 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. OR, Combination of both education and experience that includes 30 courses semester hours in Health Physics, Engineering, Radiological Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and/or Calculus, 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 of described Health Physics, Engineering, Radiological Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and/or Calculus. AND Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience working in patient safety to include dealing with radiological product/waste. Knowledge of and skill in applying qualitative and/or quantitative, methodologies, and techniques of analysis and evaluation to plan, and conduct a variety, of analyses to assess and improve efficiency and effectiveness, and to identify and, recommend solutions and, strategies: to complex problems associated with the management of a complex health care system. Skilled to plan, organize, and develop studies/projects, and to direct team study work and integrate the work of others into a cohesive final product to develop policies, directives, and procedures, to addressing complex and controversial issues. Knowledge of a variety of Management Information System(s) various computer software programs and automated data processing concepts and systems in accomplishing assignments, developing, and implementing reviews and studies to generated products; plan and schedule studies/reviews; gather data; prepare charts, graphs, and reports; etc. Knowledge of the pertinent accrediting agencies and regulatory bodies, standards, regulations, and policies such as: The Joint Commission, National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP), International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAMP).. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or successfully completed (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree if related to Health Physics, Engineering, Radiological Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and/or Calculus. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond . Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held on your resume. You must provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format). Experience must be related to or in Health Physics, Engineering, Radiological Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and/or Calculus. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Compliance Hazardous Materials Health Physics Technical Competence 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: While there are no standard physical requirements for this position, work is sedentary in nature and requires the ability to cope with diverse projects and frequent time pressures, as well as managing situations that require diplomacy. There are times that projects demand that the incumbent can work under stress, the ability to meet short deadlines and cope with changing priorities and ability to handle multiple projects and tasks of varied nature simultaneously. Occasional travel is required within the University Drive and H.J. Heinz facilities. Some slight physical effort may be required such as walking and carrying light to medium items. Incumbent's work demands use of computer terminal. Work is generally performed in an office setting. Travel to any of the VAPHS CBOCs may also be required. 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/.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Department Information

Agency

Veterans Health Administration

Department

Department of Veterans Affairs

Location

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States